By Margie Goldsmith, Forbes Welcome to Birdland, the jazz corner of the world,” said Kurt Elling as he swung into Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall.” The performance was taking place in the upstairs Birdland Theatre where every wall was covered with framed photographs of jazz musicians and every seat in the house was … Read More
By Suzanne Lorge, Downbeat In a video from the 2015 International Jazz Day, filmed in Paris, clarinetist Oran Etkin and keyboardist Herbie Hancock are joking around. “I wanna say hi to all the Timbalooloo kids,” says Hancock, directly to the camera. “Thank you so much for being part of this program and thank you for … Read More
By Elisa Shoenberger, She Shreds Brandee Younger is bringing the harp to new levels, following in the footsteps of her heroes: Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby. Brandee Younger was once determined to bring her harp into unconventional places. Not the easiest to carry around, the acclaimed musician has played the harp in studios, bars, and … Read More
By Matt Micucci, Jazziz Lakecia Benjamin Celebrates Alice and John Coltrane in Upcoming Album:Saxophonist/bandleader Lakecia Benjamin celebrates the legacy of Alice and John Coltrane on her upcoming album Pursuance: The Coltranes. The album finds her leading a cross-generational ensemble of over 40 jazz musicians, including Ron Carter, Gary Bartz, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Meshell … Read More
By Robin Lloyd, KNKX This week on Saturday’s Jazz Caliente, we’ll hear Dominican pianist Josean Jacobo and his group Tumbao play an instrumental version of “Aunque Me Cueste La Vida,” a ballad written by prolific Dominican songwriter Luis Kalaff and made popular by singer Alberto Beltran. Here’s a little background: The Singer: Alberto Beltran’s singing career … Read More
By Clare Byrne, CT Examiner Philadelphia, land of the Schuykill River, home of the “South Philly Groove” as defined by Vince Ector, a dynamic jazz percussionist and leader of Organatomy Trio +, a quartet that rolled into the Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme on Friday night. Ector was incredibly relaxed, dressed in an … Read More
By Briana Younger, The New Yorker The alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin plays jazz that is sprinkled with the rich flavors of funk and soul—she’s a crafty traditionalist who remains in step with the rhythms of the young generation. (One cut on her most recent album, “Rise Up,” reimagined Rihanna’s “Stay” through the sultry tones of … Read More
By Terry Gross, NPR This week, we’re listening back to some favorite Fresh Air interviews from the past decade. Russell sang tracks from her solo album, Strictly Romancin’, during this 2012 interview and performance.
By Eugene Holley Jr, Hot House From 1955 to 1960, the legendary Café Bohemia in Greenwich Village was one of the most impactful jazz venues of its era. Originally opened by Jimmy Garofolo in 1949, as a restaurant, stage and bar, Charlie Parker offered to play there for free in exchange for drinks. Though Parker … Read More
by Robert Ham, Downbeat T.K. Blue never will forget the first time he heard pianist Randy Weston perform. Especially because when he found himself at The East, a Brooklyn-based arts education center that held jazz concerts on the weekends, he thought he was going to see Ramsey Lewis. Read more here.
