ashabrodiejazz

Jack DeJohnette to celebrate landmark year with new CD

2011-12-05T16:02:00.001-05:00

MUTIDIRECTIONAL ALBUM FEATURES: ESPERANZA SPALDING, BRUCE HORNSBY, BOBBY MCFERRIN, AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE, LIONEL LOUEKE, TIM RIES, LUISITO QUINTERO & JASON MORAN LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMINGTRACKS FROM SOUND TRAVELS - "SALSA FOR LUISITO" & "NEW MUSE" 2012 promises to be a banner year for legend Jack DeJohnette, renowned as one of music's most adventurous artists and

Nicholas Payton - The Interview

2011-11-29T11:55:00.001-05:00

Reprinted from my article which originally appeared in JazzReview.com New Orleans trumpeter Nicholas Payton has never conformed to anyone or anything. Reading his Facebook posts and Twitter “tweets”, you sort of get an idea about how un-traditional he is. He speaks his mind and, should someone attempt to challenge him on his views, is hardly lost for words. His outspoken nature has allowed

Pianist Geri Allen releases holiday compilation

2011-10-13T14:00:00.003-04:00

A CHILD IS BORN LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACKS FROM A CHILD IS BORN Despite its time-honored traditions and universally familiar iconography, Christmas remains a holiday celebrated by each family and even each individual in their own personal style. Pianist/composer Geri Allen offers her own interpretation with A Child Is Born, a collection of traditional and original

Bassist Christian McBride set to release new CD on September 27

2011-08-04T12:43:00.000-04:00

LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE TRACKS FROM THE GOOD FEELING In a stellar career that continues to showcase his remarkable talents as a consummate musician, bassist Christian McBride reaches another milestone with the release of The Good Feeling, his first big band recording as a leader and newest release for Mack Avenue Records. For over 20 years, McBride has appeared in numerous musical settings

Stanley Jordan to release "Friends" on September 27

2011-08-04T12:34:00.001-04:00

LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACKS FROM FRIENDS In a career that took flight in 1985 with both immediate commercial and critical acclaim, guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan has consistently displayed a chameleonic musical persona of openness, imagination, versatility, respect and maverick daring. Be it bold reinventions of classical masterpieces or soulful explorations through

Trumpeter Rick Braun releases "Sings with Strings"

2011-08-04T12:15:00.001-04:00

LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACKS FROM THE NEW ALBUM Rick Braun has been playing trumpet since he was a kid. No news there for the legions of fans his richly melodic playing style has attracted since the release of his first album, Intimate Secrets in 1993. Less known is the fact that he's been a singer, and a good one (backing Rod Stewart and Sade among others, with vocals as well as

Sammy Figueroa and His Latin Jazz Explosion to release "Urban Nature" on August 30

2011-07-21T15:59:00.000-04:00

LISTEN TO AN EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACK FROM URBAN NATURE It's not every day that a distinguished sideman makes a successful transition to solo artist. But percussionist Sammy Figueroa not only has become a successful leader in his own right, but is also one of the most exciting artists in Latin Jazz today.

Bassist Kyle Eastwood to release "Songs From The Chateau" on August 30

2011-07-20T16:40:00.000-04:00

LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACKS FROM SONGS FROM THE CHATEAU Today, Kyle Eastwood is less and less known as the son of Clint Eastwood and more of a universally respected musician and leader in his own right. A virtuoso bassist on electric and upright, as well as a talented composer with a keen ear

Trindadian and US based Saxophonist Etienne Charles to release "Kaiso" on July 12

2011-07-08T23:45:00.000-04:00

LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACKS FROM KAISO KAISO is the third recording as a leader for talented trumpeter Etienne Charles, following his two well-received projects, Culture Shock, and Folklore. It continues a theme that he has embraced from the outset of his recording career: an immersion in, and a respect for the music, and by extension, the culture, of his native Trinidad: the sound of

Saxophonist Devin Phillips and his quartet to perform live at the PDX Jazz @ The Mission Theater

2011-07-06T13:08:00.000-04:00

I PDX Jazz, the presenting organization of the Portland Jazz Festival in partnership with the Mission Theater, along with The Crystal Hotel and our media sponsor KMHD Radio, is set to continue the PDX Jazz @ The Mission Theater series with the Devin Phillips Quartet on Thursday, July 28th at 8pm. Portland's beloved saxophonist, Devin Phillips will celebrate the music of John Coltrane in a

Terri Lyne Carrington to release "The Mosaic Project" on July 19

2011-07-05T11:54:00.000-04:00

When jazzy sisters meet to spend some time together, the result can be found in the highly intelligent and welcoming “The Mosaic Project”, a compilation from Boston drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. Some of the A-list female jazz musicians are on hand to lend their talent and it goes without saying that this compilation could very well become a favorite with the female audience; the male

Michael Franks returns

2011-06-20T21:31:00.000-04:00

I absolutely love this time of year if only for the bevy of jazz concerts that are happening around the nation. This is the ideal time of year to wear less clothing, pack your Tupperware with goodies and head down to one of the open-air festivals. You know, this is also the right time of year for a few Jazz releases as well. This month we welcome back Michael Franks to the fold; he is indeed an

Jazz Trumpeter Sean Jones to release No Need for Words on May 24

2011-03-17T23:09:00.000-04:00

LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACKS FROM NO NEED FOR WORDS As we've all been told, birds do it, bees do it - but anyone who's actually gone to the trouble of falling in love knows that it's a lot more complicated when humans get involved. Which can make the reality of relationships a bit disappointing for those weaned on a steady diet of radio-friendly love songs, but can also provide a

SFJAZZ Collective To Present World Premiere Of Stevie Wonder Repertoire

2011-02-24T23:27:00.000-05:00

Listen to exclusive streaming tracks of the SFJAZZ Collective Listen to an exclusive streaming track of Joshua Redman SFJAZZ Collective and Joshua Redman are set to perform at the 2011 Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Portland Jazz Festival Presented by US Bank. The eight-piece all-star ensemble, SFJAZZ Collective, will present the world-premiere of repertoire from "SFJAZZ Collective Plays Stevie

Disney releases Jazz Volume 1: Everybody Wants to Be A Cat.

2011-02-15T19:50:00.000-05:00

Given Walt Disney's fondness for jazz music dating back to the late 1920s and early '30s, it's no surprise that many artists in subsequent decades recorded interpretations of popular songs associated with his film's soundtracks. Some of the songs, such as "Some Day My Prince Will Come," from 1937's animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, became Great American Songbook standards

Fourplay soars to new heights with Let's Touch the Sky

2011-01-14T10:51:00.000-05:00

reprinted from my JazzReview.com article It could be argued that the cohesiveness that marks out super-group Fourplay from the crowd is, in part, tied to the offstage camaraderie between band members Harvey Mason, Bob James, Nathan East and Chuck Loeb. With the brand new album, ‘Let’s Touch The Sky’, this tight distinctive groove is again on display and it is interesting to ponder from

George Duke returns with Deja Vu.

2010-07-13T18:27:00.000-04:00

It’s hard to believe that for the past 40 years George Duke has been a staple of the music industry and from the looks of things, this cat plans to be on the scene for a long time to come. “I’m having the time of my life making the kind of music that I want to make. It has been a great ride, it really has and I really have no complaints.” Duke told me that being a label owner gives him the

The Lady and Her Bass

2010-07-13T18:16:00.000-04:00

reprinted from JazzReview.com Whenever she performs on stage Esperanza Spalding is hard to miss. Her signature Afro hairstyle and big upright bass gets the attention every time and although it's not so common to see a female play bass, it is even less common when the bass is an upright. However, Esperanza Spalding would not have it any other way. "People are so used to seeing big guys play it (

Jeff Lorber offers something old, something new on latest CD

2010-06-05T23:56:00.000-04:00

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Gerald Albright releases new CD - The Interview

2010-06-05T23:06:00.000-04:00

original interview appeared on JazzReview.com Gerald Albright has been bringing his A-game to the smooth jazz circuit for twenty-five years and he still continues to maintain his title as one of the more consistent musicians around. Even after all his accomplishments as a reputed jazz musician, Albright is a humble man who exudes such a positive aura; after the interview it was clear that

Litchfield Jazz Festival to honor Dave Brubeck.

2010-05-15T22:21:00.000-04:00

The months for jazz music are definitely here especially in Connecticut. It's the perfect weather for getting out with your family armed with a bag of goodies in your Tupperware and of course your blankets and pillows so you can lay out on the lawn and let the therapeutic sound of jazz music enfold you. No one does jazz concerts quite like Litchfield Jazz Festival, they've been doing it for the

Mindi Abair to introduce a mix of jazz, R&B and soul on "In Hi-Fi Stereo"

2010-05-05T09:17:00.000-04:00

Mindi Abair fans, mark your calendars. Your favorite sax player is about to drop her latest CD set called "In Hi-Fi Stereo" on May 18th. I got a hold of the demo and you are in for a treat. Let's just say that she has paired up with some really solid industry musicians such veteran drummer James Gadson, bassist Reggie McBride and then there is vocalist Lalah Hathaway who would blow you away with

Stanton Moore to release Groove Alchemy on April 13

2010-04-12T14:34:00.000-04:00

Just listened to Stanton Moore's latest CD entitled Groove Alchemy and lovers of drum music would go crazy over this CD. Twelve cuts deep, the CD boasts funk drumming with a 20th century New Orleans feel. Tracks on here include "Squash Blossom", "Pot Licker", "Root Cellar", "Shiftless" and "Keep on Gwine" to name a few. I'm no lover of jazz drums like that but this one can really get you up and

Jazz Pianist Alex Bugnon shines on "Going Home"

2010-04-07T23:47:00.000-04:00

(originally published at jazzreview.com) Listen to Switzerland-born, piano virtuoso Alex Bugnon, and it is clear that he possesses the gift of making the kind of music that is timeless. Even today, people are still singing praises of his 1991 compilation called 107 Degrees in the Shade, a CD that has spawned the breezy title track and, of course, the soulful R&B tinged “So In Love.” This time

Bob Baldwin, Bobby Lyle for Hartford Jazz Festival

2009-05-19T09:50:00.000-04:00

Jazz pianists Bob Baldwin and Bobby Lyle are schedule to perform at the Hartford Jazz Festival on July 17 -19. The show is put on by The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz which is a non-profit organization. The festival is the brainchild of noted Hartford jazz bassist and educator Paul Brown back in 1992. Now some 17 years later the festival has grown by leaps and bounds. There is no admission