HOW DOES AN ARTIST CARVE OUT A CAREER? BY FOLLOWIN THE TRIED AND TRUE, OR GOING OUT INTO UNCHARTED WATERS? VERONICA SWIFT HAS ALL THE CREDENTIALS FOR BEING A STRAIGHT-AHEAD JAZZ VOCALIST IN THE LINE OF AN ANITA O’DAY. SHE…
Category: Interviews
STEVE DAVIS: SLIDING ON THE PATHS WITH HANK JONES
IT’S A RARE FEAT FOR A MUSICIAN TO COMPETE WITH HIS PAST, BUT THAT’S WHAT ALL STAR TROMBONIST STEVE DAVIS HAS RECENTLY ACCOMPLISHED. KNOWN AS ONE OF THE PREMIER MODERN TROMBONISTS, DAVIS HAS GRACED THE ALBUMS AS A SIDEMAN TO…
DELFEAYO MARSALIS: THE FUTURE AND MUSIC IS BRIGHT
IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF THE TIMES ONE ATTENDS A JAZZ CONCERT, IT FEELS MORE LIKE A CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE. JUST SIT DOWN, BE QUIET AND LET THE MUSICIANS DO THEIR THING. TROMBONIST DELFEAYO MARSALIS WILL HAVE NONE OF THAT. OH,…
ALPHONSO JOHNSON: THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER
WHEN I FIRST GOT ATTRACTED TO JAZZ IN THE 1970S, ONE IT’S MAJOR ATTRACTIONS WAS THAT IT WAS STILL POSSIBLE TO SEE PERFORM ARTISTS THAT ACTUALLY CREATED MUSICAL STYLES, SUCH AS SWING, BEBOP OR HARD BOP. 45 YEARS LATER, MOST…
DAVID ROBAIRE: A HOME BASS
WHILE COVID AND THE ECONOMY TRIED TO KILL IT, THE JAZZ SCENE IN LOS ANGELES IS STILL ALIVE AND THRIVING. YES, A NUMBER OF CLUBS HAVE SADLY CLOSED. BUT NEAR LAX, AT SAM FIRST BAR, SOME OF THE FRESHEST AND…
BENNIE MAUPIN: A 50 YEAR JEWEL
ONE OF THE JOYS OF JAZZ IS THAT, UNLIKE CLASSICAL MUSIC, FANS ARE STILL ABLE TO SEE THE CREATORS OF THEIR FAVORITE MUSIC PERFORM IN CONCERT. 83 YEAR OLD BENNIE MAUPIN, WHO HAS GRACED ICONIC ALBUMS SUCH AS MILES DAVIS’ BITCHES…
STEPHANE WREMBEL: THE HEART OF REINHARDT
ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES IN THE LIFE OF A MUSICIAN IS TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP ONE’S OWN SOUND AND STYLE. GUITARIST STEPHANE WREMBEL HAS TAKEN THAT CHALLENGE IN HIS EFFORT TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF GYPSY LEGEND DJANGO…
PETER BERNSTEIN: THE NATURAL TOUCH
GUITARIST PETER BERNSTEIN IS UNIQUE IN HIS FIELD. MOST ELECTRIC GUITARISTS THESE DAYS HAVE A SURFEIT OF PEDALS AND KNOBS IN WHICH TO TURN OR PRESS, CREATING DIFFERENT SOUNDS AND EFFECTS. IN CONTRAST, BERNSTEIN HAS ESCHEWED THESE DEVICES, CREATING A…
BRANDEE YOUNGER: BRAND NEW MUSICAL LIFE
THE QUESTION THAT WOULD STUMP JAZZ FAN THS USED TO BE, “QUICK, NAME ME THREE BEBOP CLARINET PLAYERS” CRICKETS… NOW, YOU CAN GET THE SAME RESPONSE IF YOU ASK FOR THREE LIVING JAZZ HARPISTS. WELL, THERE USED TO BE DOROTHY…
LES MCCANN & JOE ALTERMAN: THE SOUL OF THE PIANO
WITH THE RECENT DEATH OF AHMAD JAMAL, IT SUDDENLY COMES TO ONE’S ATTENTION THAT A CERTAIN STYLE OF PIANO PLAYING IS SLOWLY BEING LOST THROUGH ATTRITION. MANY ARE THE PIANISTS WHO TRY TO IMPRESS BY A MYRIAD OF NOTES, A…