Contributors' Corner - Feature Stories
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Bill Bruford’s Earthworks (Reissue Series w/Bonus Tracks & Interview Discs)
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Bill Bruford needs no introduction. His legacy began many years ago with Yes, Genesis briefly, King Crimson (before he went solo) and the rest is history. If you look at those three bands alone, they are probably the most influential of their time in regards to the development of progressive rock. A good chunk of that development and its...
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Viewpoint by Keith 'MuzikMan' Hannaleck
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A Tribute To Ray Charles at the Hollywood Bowl
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Tonight's entry in the Hollywood Bowl's 2005 Jazz Series was co-titled as An Evening With Concord Records and A 75th Birthday Tribute To Ray Charles. The cream of the label's roster of artists were on hand, performing three sets. The bands of Gary Burton and Poncho Sanchez were each featured individually, while The Concord All-Star Big Band closed the...
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Concert Review by Edward Kane
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Carl Saunders And Med Flory Plus The John Heard Trio
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Charlie O's is one of the top jazz clubs in America (and the world for that matter). On August 5th, their stage was graced by some of the icons of the jazz milieu. Appearing was Carl Saunders (a trumpeter without peer) and Med Flory (the irrepressible founder of Super Sax and an alto player who has long been a star in the...
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Concert Review by John Gilbert
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Jazz Legend Teaches New Dogs Old Tricks
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It was Monday night, and I was looking foward to the "Jazz Jam" at our local coffee house. I decided to see if any of the guys from my favorite music store, Guitar Haven, felt like having dinner. Co-Owner, Ted Katz, agreed that some ribs at Meg O'Malleys sounded too good to pass up, and off we went.
Our conversation...
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Viewpoint by Richard Gangi
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Jamie Baum in Washington
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Since the demise of the One Step Down, Twins Jazz, along with its sister club Twins Lounge, remains one of the few active jazz clubs in the Washington DC area, and the main alternative to the considerably pricier Georgetown establishment Blues Alley. Founded in 1986 by Ethiopian twin sisters, the club is still run in the most hands-on style,...
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Concert Review by Peter Westbrook
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Ilona Knopfler and Sean Jones at Blues Alley
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It is a rare treat to hear two powerhouse artists in a single show, but the double bill from Mack Avenue Records in Washington, DC's Blues Alley on July 27 delivered deluxe. The acts — French-American vocalist Ilona Knopfler and trad bandleader and trumpet player Sean Jones — are separate artists both promoting their second CDs on Mack Avenue....
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Concert Review by Jeffrey Epstein
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Jazz meets Classical Music at the Hollywood Bowl's Gerswin Cleberation
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The Hollywood Bowl is a deservedly legendary summer institution, a beautiful natural amphitheater nestled in the Hollywood Hills where great music is the norm. Each year, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association puts together an eclectic lineup of shows presenting not only its own orchestra, but some of the greatest musicians in the world representing all types of music. The...
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Concert Review by Edward Kane
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Boriken Danza Meets Jazz
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Danza is a style of music popularized by Juan Morel Campos and Manuel G. Tavarez in Puerto Rico. Angel David Mattos creates jazz interpretations of music by these innovators and composes his own Danza jazz. His playing can be likened to notes fallin’ off the piano like butter. Angel David Mattos & the Jazz Boricua Quartet shared their unique...
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Concert Review by Bryan Zoran
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Chicago Blues Reunion in Hollywood
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Watching Chicago Blues Reunion perform last weekend in Hollywood, a term from the film industry came to my mind: this is a high-concept group. An ensemble cast of players from legendary blues bands like the Electric Flag, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Siegel-Schwall band and the backing bands of such greats as Howlin' Wolf, Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan,...
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Concert Review by Edward Kane
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Adrian Belew Strong at B.B. King's in NYC
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Adrian Belew has always had a cartoon character quality about him. The ease with which he does the seemingly impossible and the unique mannerisms that accompany each task make for one entertaining evening. His trio is extremely tight and playing heavy, progressive music. They came flying out of the gate with several pieces of newer material, including "Writing on...
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Concert Review by Bryan Zoran
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Mouthing Matt's Mantra
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Matthew Shipp, William Parker and Mat Maneri constitute a group seemingly impervious to pursuing anything other than the apotheosis of what they do. These musicians demonstrate such confidence in their attitude, approach, and propensity for simply diving into making their music that bringing it into question… well… that would reveal a complete lack of vision, interest, and willingness to...
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Concert Review by Lyn Horton
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Swing is Good Medicine for Jazz
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A wealthy jazz fan and medical newsletter publisher has combined his love of swing with his professional audience of Physicians to form McMahon Jazz Medicine. Ray McMahon began his odyssey by buying a tenor sax, self training books, and every tenor master’s CD that he had heard and enjoyed in the ‘50's, proceeding to learn from Lester Young to...
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Viewpoint by Dan Kassell
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Jack de Keyzer Ignites the Healey's Stage
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Guitarist Jeff Healey’s nightclub Healey’s in Toronto, has gained an international reputation as one of the finest blues clubs around. Many of the most renowned U.S. blues acts (James Cotton comes to mind, as well as the late A.C. Reed, and drummer Levon Helm’s Barnburners -- a concert whose first set the great humanitarian Sir Bob Geldof of Live...
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Concert Review by Joe Curtis
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This Jazz Legacy is Just a Groove Away
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When one speaks of saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr., considered by many to be one of the finest contemporary jazz saxophonists of his time, the word "legend' has to come to mind. His impact on the jazz world has been long-lasting and has influenced any number of today's up and coming musicians. For more than 30 years, Grover's influence not only stretched the boundaries of contemporary, soul and...
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Concert Review by Sheldon T. Nunn
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Jamie Baum Septet At Baha'i Center
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Since its dedication in January of 2004, the John Birks Gillespie Auditorium at the New York Bahá'í Center –located at 53 East 11th Street (between University Place and Broadway)-- has featured a series of jazz performances every Tuesday evening. Organized by former Gillespie pianist Mike Longo–himself a follower of the Bahá'í faith–and dubbed "Jazz Tuesdays," these regular concerts offer...
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Concert Review by Peter Westbrook
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Getting Better All the Time
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The members of Trio X are Dominic Duval, Jay Rosen and Joe McPhee. Each has his own unique sound. Taken further, the group’s capacity to put these unique sounds and their unique temperaments together result in a brilliant and common determination: to make their music unforgettably engaging.
Trio X is a young ensemble…maybe seven years old. In the beginning of...
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Concert Review by Lyn Horton
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The Continuing Redefinition of Porgy and Bess
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The story of Porgy and Bess, or rather the story of the telling of the story of Porgy and Bess, is a long and involved tale of continual adaptation. Whether it be Leontyne Price singing the role of Bess at La Scala, Janis Joplin belting out "Summertime" with Big Brother and the Holding Company at the Fillmore, or even...
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Viewpoint by Edward Kane
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Stimulating the Space
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To the uninitiated audience, a performance by the Peter Broetzmann Tentet may seem cacophonous, potentially unendurable and incomprehensible. Nothing could be further from the truth. The most salient means to identify with a performance of this group is, without resistance, to fall into the energy, sincerity and the joy underlying the making of the music.
The Tentet is a group of musicians...
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Concert Review by Lyn Horton
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Gordon Lightfoot at Massey Hall
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Gordon Lightfoot’s much anticipated 2005 Massey Hall Spring Concert Series in Toronto, Ontario, Canada started on Wed. May 18th, and ran for four successful evenings of music and mirth. This annual event is hosted by Toronto’s ‘Old Lady of Yonge St.’ -- the much revered Massey Hall. Canada’s singer/songwriter/folk music hero, Gordon Lightfoot, is as much respected and appreciated,...
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Concert Review by Joe Curtis
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Les Paul Still Doin’ His Thing
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All fans of music would enjoy the pleasure of hearing an innovator like Les Paul. With a weekly Monday night gig at the Iridium there is no reason anyone should miss this musical icon. Turning ninety years old this June, Les still has that sweet sound that made him famous. The first selection of the evening was the classic...
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Concert Review by Bryan Zoran
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World Jazz
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Friday the 13th is a day sometimes associated with bad luck, evil spirits and danger. At Joe’s Pub on Friday May 13th, there were definitely strong spirits. However, they were of the positive variety. Jack DeJohnette was celebrating the Official Label Launch Party of his new, independent record label, Golden Beams Productions. "Music in the Key of OM" was...
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Concert Review by Bryan Zoran
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Barbara Sfraga and Center Search Quest Light Up Satalla
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Barbara Sfraga has assembled an impressive group of musicians to perform their unique and soulful compositions. The complex arrangements highlight the many talents of each musician. Regarding the formation of their new, forthcoming CD, which contains many of these compositions, Barbara had this to say,
“Our original concept started when Michael “T.A.” Thompson & Mala Waldron surprised me with...
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Concert Review by Bryan Zoran
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In the Mountains with Marta Gomez
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The music of Marta Gomez is honest in its beauty and directness and maybe just a little deceitful in its complexity, seeming simpler than it actually is. The Colombian singer and songwriter seems to be using simple forms and language to express the world around her, but there is an awful lot of craft going into it and, making...
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Concert Review by Edward Kane
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Routing Out Roots
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Susie Ibarra’s recent project with Electric Kulintang speaks of her upbringing within a community of Filipinos. She seeks to bring the folk traditions manifest in Filipino culture into the setting of contemporary music. With only two of four members of the group performing, Ibarra and Roberto J. Rodriguez carried out her intention at the last concert of the Magic...
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Concert Review by Lyn Horton
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The City of Houston Was Hit By A Direct Jazz Attack
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Every city in the United States has a number of favorite jazz musicians. In the case of Houston, Texas, the crowd pleasers have always been Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot and Peter White. Collectively, their performances have always been a cornucopia of musical delight and showmanship. At various times, these guys have performed individually or as members of the...
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Concert Review by Sheldon T. Nunn
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