Contributors' Corner - Feature Stories
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Full house in Soho for Soweto Kinch
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It is a full house at The Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho, with people lining up outside, trying to squeeze in for tonight's gig, the second and last by Soweto at the club - after which he is to continue with his hectically busy touring schedule.
Soweto proves to be an excellent be-bopper, and also an amazing hip-hopper: not...
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Concert Review by Lara Bellini
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Emerging Jazz Vocalist visits Los Angeles
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It appears that the Pearly Gates were left open for a little on Tuesday night allowing Los Angeles to enjoy a voice from above. Jacki DePiro wowed a packed house at Level One Supper Club to a diverse and flavorful set of originals and jazz standards.
Exuding confidence, Jacki entered the stage waving to fans and smiling; enjoying the...
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Concert Review by Sam Giamendi (Guest Writer)
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Jane Bunnett and the Spirits of Havana Live at Victors in San Diego
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It must be the pure love of the music that drives them – Jane Bunnett and husband Larry Cramer. The rigors of the road can take a toll as they shepherd their ever-evolving band of Cuban artists and they do it in a home-style relaxed manner with Trumpeter Larry Cramer also serving as road manager for the crew. For...
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Concert Review by Turiya Mareya
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Osby: Wizard
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[For a description of the remarkable old, old-school rococo, slightly funky Chicago institution The Green Mill, please refer to my concert review of the Matt Wilson Quartet elsewhere on this very site.] The 40-something Greg Osby is one of the premier alto saxophone wizards of his generation, that generation of musicians whose commitment to jazz is unwavering, but...
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Concert Review by Mark Keresman
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A Great Weekend in Long Beach
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The Long Beach Jazz Festival is an event remarkable for the way it involves and reflects the community it serves. It is not designed for jazz purists; popular artists are booked, players that can project a certain vibe and know how to create and sustain a good groove. The musical fare is heavy on smooth jazz, R&B...
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Concert Review by Edward Kane
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A Tribute To Charlie Parker by Freddie Redd
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To call last nights performance a 'gig' is like calling the Bolshoi Ballet a dance team from Russia.
A very expensive lithograph of Charlie Parker was on display near the bandstand and it was more than just decoration it was a reminder that this presentation was honoring a man who changed the course of musical history with his genius....
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Concert Review by John Gilbert
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Suzanne Pittson Quartet
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It has often been opined by your 'humble correspondent' that the human voice is the ultimate musical instrument. The ability of the voice to give life to a tune not only by way of the lyrical aspect but by the nuances that it can generate, makes it unique.
Certainly the brasses and the woodwinds and some percussion ie; the...
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Concert Review by John Gilbert
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Wayne Shorter: Life & Music
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Wayne Shorter stands as one of the living giants of jazz, a towering presence over the last half-century of the music both as a saxophonist and a composer. With his seventieth birthday coming on August 25th, a celebration entitled “Wayne Shorter: Life & Music” was held at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the Wednesday Night Jazz...
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Concert Review by Edward Kane
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Improvisation as Salvation
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Southern California area fans of avant-garde improvised music received a rare treat on Monday night when New York reed player Rob Brown gave his first area solo performance on alto saxophone and flute, followed by the first public performance by the locally based free jazz trio of Dan Clucas, Henry Grimes and Rich West, the trio marking a further...
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Concert Review by Edward Kane
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Nu-Jazz at the Jazz Café - Nuspirit Helsinki
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Okou: Vocals; Daddy Ous: Vocals; Teppo Mäkynen: drums; Abdissa ‘Mamba’ Assefa: percussion; Jukkis Kiviniemi: bass; Kim ‘Kasio’ Rantala: keyboards; Jukka Eskola: Trumpet; Aleksi Ahoniemi: sax; Matti Lappalainen: trombone; Tuomas Kallio: guitar/sampler.
Nuspirit Helsinki couldn’t choose a better venue for their London gig – the Jazz Café (www.jazzcafe.co.uk,) its lounging atmosphere and the coolest of reputations, proved the perfect frame for...
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Concert Review by Lara Bellini
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Gilad Atzmon at the Ealing Jazz Festival
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Gilad Atzmon - Alto and Soprano Sax, Clarinet;
Yaron Stavi - Double Bass;
Frank Harrison - Piano ;
Steve Keogh - Drums.
Gilad Atzmon’s extensive touring activity has finally landed in one of the richest, most interesting summer jazz festivals in London: the Ealing Jazz Festival, known for the free-stage formula that allows audiences of the most diverse backgrounds to...
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Concert Review by Lara Bellini
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René Marie Telling Her Story in Song
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“My niche is that I’m nicheless. I like taking music that you don’t normally think of as jazz, changing it all around and playing it as jazz. If jazz is really improvisation, let me improvise.” - René Marie
Singer/songwriter/storyteller René Marie brings us into her life in song whether it is the interpretation of a time trusted standard...
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Concert Review by James Knox
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The Mulgrew Miller Trio @ Yoshi's
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Last week, I went to Yoshi's to hear the Mulgrew Miller Trio for $8. It was cheaper than a movie and the trio was outstanding. It was also a live recording which will hopefully be used for one of his future MAXJAZZ albums. Mulgrew opened the set with the Duke Jordan composition "Jordu" and then serenaded...
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Concert Review by James Knox
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Sacred Song
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Duke Ellington’s “discovery” of Abdullah Ibrahim (then Adolf Johannes “Dollar” Brand) in the early sixties was less a case of Western jazz imperialism and more a case of Ellington discovering an authentic tributary of the jazz continuum flowing from its African source.
The South African pianist had already established himself as a musical innovator on his native continent and in...
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Concert Review by Bill Smith
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Defining Thurston
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Back in March, at the conclusion of my interviewing DJ Spooky (Paul Miller), he asked me if I knew Thurston Moore. I said: No. Paul left it at that because someone came seeking answers for some sort of performance question. Thurston’s name did not come within my spectrum of interest until I received the promotional material from MASSMoCA regarding...
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Viewpoint by Lyn Horton
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Three or More Shades of Blue
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It is always a pleasure to spend a summer evening at the Hollywood Bowl, especially when that evening features three great blues singers with ties to Los Angeles. The Bowl’s annual jazz series kicked off on July 9th with a concert featuring Etta James, Keb’ Mo’ and Ernie Andrews, each with their own individual approach to the blues....
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Concert Review by Edward Kane
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Drew Salperto / Carl Saunders Duo
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The crowd had thinned out a bit at Tony's Steak and Seafood in Ventura, Ca. The ambiance began to take on the air of a Parisian jazz club. The duo of Drew Salperto at the Piano and Carl Saunders on Trumpet were playing with finesse and controlled fury, there was an underlying sense of urgency to the beauty they...
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Concert Review by John Gilbert
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Schuur Still Shines
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One of the finest singers around, Diane Schuur continues to shine.
The two-time Grammy winner was in strong form during a recent 90-minute show at Yoshi’s in Oakland.
The evening featured a good blend of material from Schuur’s upcoming Concord Records CD, “Midnight,” as well as some songs from her past.
Produced by Barry Manilow, the new album is scheduled to...
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Concert Review by Donna Kimura
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Cuban Group Valle Son live in Juneau
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The group Valle Son is a little known Cuban group first encountered by Canadian tourists in Cuba. They were enchanted by the groups unpretentious, folkloric style and brought them to Canada, recorded them and sent them out on tour. Juneau Salsa Dancers Antonio and Heather Diaz had heard the group in Canada and for 3 years battled Visa restrictions...
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Concert Review by Turiya Mareya
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Soul at the Bowl
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The 25th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival was held over a picture-perfect weekend in mid-June at the venerable Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Featuring a who’s who line-up of performers befitting the historic nature of both the event and venue, it is all the more remarkable—and encouraging—that one of the most engaging performances of the first day came from...
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Concert Review by Edward Kane
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Mitch Holder Quartet
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There have been many exceptional performances at Michael D's Jazz Club, and a few have gone beyond exceptional, entering the rarefied realm of what is known in jazz circles as "Smokin' " or musically "tearing up the joint" On June 14th. Mitch Holder, Ray Pizzi, Domenic Genova and Steve Barnes joined a select group that have made history in...
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Concert Review by John Gilbert
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Blackout Over Albany
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“Why y’all so quiet?”
With these words Stefon Harris broke the silent expectation of the crowd at Albany’s Center for the Performing Arts, colloquially known as The Egg, on Friday, June 6th. As a low chuckle spread through the audience, someone shouted out: “We’re waiting for you!” Harris laughed.
“Well, we’re ‘bout to have some fun.” Harris emphatically remarked...
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Concert Review by Alexander M. Stern
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Roy Haynes Day
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The President of Milwaukee’s Common Council, Marvin Pratt and a jazz drummer from Milwaukee, Victor Campbell presented legendary bebop artist Roy Haynes with a Proclamation, making May 31 Roy Haynes Day. Graciously accepting the award, Roy seemed a bit surprised to receive a Proclamation from the city of Milwaukee. When he recently told a friend he had...
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Concert Review by Bryan Zoran
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Jazz festival in Turkey
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Bodrum is the yachting centre of Turkey and is nestled in hugging curves of the irregular Aegean coastline. The harbour is dominated by the 'Gulet', a large wooden motor sailor that offers chartered trips around the coast. The boats are beautifully made and quite unique, and it is this which makes Bodrum so special. It is not surprising then,...
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Concert Review by Victor Saumarez
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Krall Explores New Territory
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Judging by a rare club appearance, Diana Krall’s next album will be her most adventurous to date.
A surprise mix of blues and pop songs by contemporary songwriters made up the bulk of a recent show at Yoshi’s, a favorite Bay Area jazz spot.
Krall hasn’t played such a small club in years, but the intimate setting was the perfect...
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Concert Review by Donna Kimura
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