Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader The harp has always been an oddity in jazz music. Its two most notable practitioners, Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby, were most active decades ago; both musicians had roots in postbop forms and found fascinating ways to translate the cascading sounds associated with the classical instrument into rhythmically elastic settings—though each … Read More
The Council for Living Music and AFM, Local 802 are excited to present the next Jazz Mentors panel, “Stoking the Starmaker Machinery: Facebook Promotion & Your Career,” with expert Jesse Markowitz, on Tuesday, June 5th at 6pm. The panel will be held at the Local 802 Clubroom, located at 322 West 48th Street, NYC. Event is … Read More
Joerg Schmitt, Sonic Soul Ja zum Hier und Jetzt. Aber immer mit dem Wissen um die Errungenschaften der Vergangenheit. Freelance ist eine Musiker-Gemeinschaft aus Harlem – sechs Musiker ghören zum engeren Kreis und allesamt haben ausreichend Erfahrungen in diversen Kollaborationen mit den vermeintlich Großen des Soul- und Jazz-Geschehens gesammelt. Und diese werden jetzt in einer 13-teiligen … Read More
Ralph A. Miriello, Notes on Jazz A recent project from local, Atlanta pianist Kevin Bales and a previously unknown vocalist to me, Keri Johnsrud, from Chicago, caught my attention. Titled Beyond the Neighborhood:The Music of Fred Rogers, the two artists came together two years ago when they discovered a mutual admiration for the music that was played … Read More
William Kates, Bill’s Music Blog Don Braden – Earth Wind And Wonder, New Interpretations of Songs by Earth Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder; Jazz Doesn’t Get Any More Joyous Than This For a musician of Don Braden’s accomplishment, there wouldn’t seem to be a project more potentially enjoyable, thrilling, and fulfilling as creating new … Read More
Ron Schepper, Textura Five Questions with Jonathan Barber: All of us experience turning points in our lives, drummer Jonathan Barber no exception. A particularly devastating one occurred in November 2016 when the Hartford, Connecticut native learned of the death of his only brother, an event that prompted Jonathan to struggle with life’s meaning and his … Read More
Tom Schnabel, KCRW New York-based upright bass player Adi Meyerson follows with her song “Little Firefly,” where she both plays bass and sings lyrics that she penned. Her debut album is called Where We Stand. Meyerson was born in San Francisco to American parents, but moved at the age of two with her family to Jerusalem, where she … Read More
Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News Pianist Oscar Hernandez earned his salsa stripes recording with conga master Ray Barretto in the early 1980s. But he became a major player as music director for the popular Grammy Award-winning band Seis Del Solar, which served as a vehicle for some of Ruben Blades most innovative and literary songs. … Read More
Robin Lloyd, KNKX Steven Kroon was raised in Harlem and Queens, and what he learned there has taken him on 15 world tours and given him 50 years in the business of professional percussion. Growing up, Steve listened to his father’s mambo and Latin jazz records, then he’d hang out with his friends who were … Read More
Soulbounce Harlem-based music collective Freelance dropped their debut album Yes Today and it is 13-tracks of spirited and inspired brilliance. The insanely talented and relatively young band consists of keyboardist Chad “Asuar the Ambassador” Selph, saxophonist Craig Hill, guitarist Yasser Tejeda, drummer Justin Tyson, bassist David “DJ” Ginyard and Tim “Smithsoneon” Smith on vocals. Individual members have played with the industry’s elite — including Takuya Karoda, Solange, Robert Glasper Experiment and Esperanza … Read More