ONE OF THE MAJOR INFLUENCES IN POP CULTURE HAS BEEN THE SOULFUL SOUNDS OF THE 1970s, SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE “PHILADELPHIA SOUND”. THE O’JAYS WERE ONE OF IT’S MAJOR PROPONENTS, FILLING THE AIRWAVES WITH A MIX OF URBAN STREET…
Category: Interviews
CYRILLE AIMEE-FROM GYPSY TO SONDHEIM
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE YOUNGER SINGERS, CYRILLE AIMEE, IS CHANGING DIRECTIONS. HER FIRST ALBUMS AS A VOCALIST HAD HER CAPTURE THE GYPSY SPIRIT OF DJANGO REINHARDT, COMPLETE WITH A HOT JAZZ GUITAR COMBO IN SUPPORT. THIS PAST…
JAMES CARTER-CHASING AND CATCHING THE GYPSY
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN HIS CAREER, JAMES CARTER HAS TAKEN UP THE MUSIC OF FAMED GUITARIST DJANGO REINHARDT. THIS TIME AROUND, HOWEVER, CARTER SET ASIDE THE GYPSY SWING FEEL AND REPLACED IT WITH A MORE DOWN HOME FUNK FEEL,…
JACK DEJOHNETTE: DRUMMING THE FULL CIRCLE
AT 77 YEARS OF AGE, DRUMMER JACK DEJOHNETTE HAS COME FULL CIRCLE. ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE AND GROUND-BREAKING DRUMMERS IN JAZZ HISTORY, MR. DEJOHNETTE HAS GRACED SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RECORDINGS OF MODERN TIMES, INCLUDING MILES DAVIS’ BITCHES…
DAVE WECKL: FUSION WITHOUT CONFUSION
SINCE FIRST GAINING PROMINENCE AS THE DRUMMER FOR CHICK COREA’S ELECTRIC BAND FROM 1985-91, DAVE WECKL, HAS CARVED A CAREER NOT ONLY AS A LEADER OF HIS OWN FORMIDABLE GROUP, BUT HE’S ANCHORED THE SHIP FOR ARTISTS SUCH AS MIKE…
JEFF LORBER: FUSION WITH CHICK COREA, MIKE STERN AND KENNY G?!?!?
SO, WHAT EXACTLY COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HEAR “FUSION”? SHADES OF WEATHER REPORT? CHICK COREA? ELECTRIC GUITARS AND BIG MASSIVE KEYBOARDS? WELL, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THE FIRST TIME “FUSION” WAS USED IN A MUSICAL…
HIROMI’S SPECTRUM OF THE PIANO
Since being brought to the light by jazz giant Ahmad Jamal, pianist Hiromi Uehara has carved out an impressive and wide-ranging career. While she is best known for her trio work with Anthony Jackson and Simon Philips, Hiromi has looked…
TIM RIES: A ROLLING STONE, BUT NOT GATHERING MOSS
FEW SAXISTS SUCCESSFULLY WEAR AS MANY MUSICAL HATS AS TIM RIES. WHILE HE IS BEST KNOWN AS THE TENOR SAXIST FOR THE ROLLING STONES, HE HAS BUILT UP AN IMPRESSIVE JAZZ AND CLASSICAL CATALOG. HIS 2008 RELEASE THE ROLLING STONES…
JOE LOVANO’S MUSICAL TAPESTRY
AT AN AGE AND STAGE OF HIS CAREER WHERE HE COULD EASILY BE RESTING ON HIS MANY LAURELS, JOE LOVANO KEEPS SEARCHING FOR NEW LANDS TO CONQUER. LIKE CALEB OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, HE IS STILL LOOKING FOR MOUNTAINS TO…
ROBIN TROWER: FOR EARTH BELOW
AT AGE 74, ROBIN TROWER’S BLUES PATH HAS HAD THREE MAJOR HUES. DURING THE EARLY PART OF HIS CAREER, HE WAS THE LEAD GUITARIST FOR THE FAMED ‘CLASSICAL/BLUES’ ROCK BAND PROCOL HARUM, BEST ASSOCIATED WITH SONGS LIKE ‘SIMPLE SISTER’ AND…