All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 02/07/2010
Not only is this the 75th anniversary of the Village Vanguard, this month also marks the 44th anniversary of the Monday night residency of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (VJO), begun in 1966 as the Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Those Monday nights are a very significant part of the Vanguard's legacy as THE premier jazz club in history...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 02/07/2010
Recorded in 1988, over two decades after the creation of the Thad Jones /Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and a decade after Jones left the band, this is also its last recording under Lewis' helm (he died two years later, 20 years ago in February, 2010). As such, it reflects Lewis' concept as well as his and the band's adaptations of Jones' charts. The instrumentation is also different than both the early...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 02/06/2010
Terell Stafford/Dick Oatts Bridging the Gap Planet Arts 2010 Jerry Bergonzi/Dick Oatts Saxology Steeplechase 2009 You can't call Dick Oatts a 'fixture'--he's peripatetic and bouncy on his alto sax and ebullient, energetic and sprightly as a person--yet he's surely been a Gotham mainstay since arriving from the Midwest a mere 35 years ago, both as reedman (33 years as lead alto in the Thad Jones/Mel...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 01/29/2010
Legendary American jazz saxophonist, composer, Grammy winner and 2010 NEA Jazz Master Bill Holman has spent many of his 82 years influencing, composing and arranging for the best musicians in the world, from Stan Kenton, Mel Lewis, Louie Bellson, Count Basie and Buddy Rich to vocalists Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and Sarah Vaughan...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 01/28/2010
DVORAK AMERICAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION (DAHA) Presents: An Evening of Jazz with George Mraz and Friends at The Bohemian National Hall 321 East 73rd Street, NYC Friday, February 26th at 7:30 PM World-renowned jazz bassist George Mraz was presented The Medal of the President of The Czech Republic for Lifetime Achievement on his 65th birthday, June 10, 2009 at the Prague Castle. Known for his historic work...
Jazz@Rochester (Free subscription) | 11/28/2009
Echoing the recent birthday "party" with octogenarian Cool jazz reedman Lee Konitz, the Eastman School of Music's Jazz Studies Department is presenting another jazz legend, the composer, valve trombonist and conductor Bob Brookmeyer to help celebrate his upcoming 80th birthday...
Media 3.0 with Shelly Palmer (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
I have a rule about business meetings. When someone’s elevator pitch includes the explanatory phrase, “We’re going to be Google for __________.” I always respond by asking, “What are you going to do when Google decides to become Google for ___________?” Invariably the pitch-person quickly answers, “Google’s not going into this, it’s not their business...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 10/26/2009
Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Renee Manning is known for her robust voice, rich tones and impeccable time making her truly a musician's vocalist. Her new release, All Grown Up, showcases those attributes in a soothing, quieter set parallel to the powerful big band selections she's known for. Her debut in the jazz world as a singer with the Mel Lewis Orchestra (from 1983-1989) was the longest tenure...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 10/22/2009
With his new quintet, Joe Lovano takes a multicultural approach American saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano is touring with his new quintet, Us Five, and their upcoming show in Prague is the highlight of this season's Agharta Jazz Festival. Born in 1952 in Cleveland, Ohio, Lovano is a powerhouse on the tenor and straight alto saxes, as well as assorted woodwind instruments. He ranks among the top...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 10/18/2009
This week, let's peruse some video clips of saxophonist Kenny Garrett, who will be in St. Louis with his quartet starting this Wednesday, October 21 through Saturday, October 24 to perform at Jazz at the Bistro.After launching his career working with the big bands of Duke Ellington and Mel Lewis, Ga...
St. Louis Jazz Notes (Free subscription) | 10/17/2009
This week, let's peruse some video clips of saxophonist Kenny Garrett , who will be in St. Louis with his quartet starting this Wednesday, October 21 through Saturday, October 24 to perform at Jazz at the Bistro . After launching his career working with the big bands of Duke Ellington and Mel Lewis, Garrett first gained wide public attention as a member of one of Miles Davis' last groups, performing...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 10/12/2009
2009-2010 Season JAZZ @ SOPAC South Orange Performing Arts Center One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ, 07079 All artists and prices are subject to change at the time of this release. For more details on the upcoming season, including a complete schedule and ticket information, visit SOPACnow.org, or contact the SOPAC Box Office at 973.313.2787 (ARTS)...
Jazz@Rochester (Free subscription) | 10/05/2009
On October 12th, the night before his 80th birthday, alto saxophonist Lee Konitz will join Eastman School of Music Jazz Studies Chair Harold Danko for a night of music in Kilbourn Hall at 8:00 pm. The concert is free. During...
RVAjazz (Free subscription) | 09/10/2009
RVAjazz will present a performance by baritone saxophonist and past Richmonder Glenn Wilson and his quartet of Rory Stuart (guitar), Jimmy Masters (bass), and Tony Martucci (drums), on Friday, October 30, 2009, at 8pm at The Camel. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door. ABOUT GLENN WILSON While living in Richmond between 1991 and 2001, Glenn performed often at Bogart's Back Room and recorded...
Bemsha Swing (Free subscription) | 09/02/2009
(104) Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster Mulligan liked to do these "meets" albums. He did an excellent one with another Ellington sideman, Johnny Hodges, and with Monk--among others. Mel Lewis plays drums. The combination of two distinctive sounds is what makes this album great. Mulligan's joyful, bouncy, and exuberant lilt, played with that baritone fullness, and Webster's whispery wistful...
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