IT’S RARE FOR AN ARTIST TO TAKE A SABBATICAL OF ANY KIND IN THE MIDDLE OF A CAREER. SONNY ROLLINS MOST FAMOUSLY TOOK TWO, BUT NEITHER OF THEM WERE AS LONG AS THE 5+ YEARS TIME OUT OF THE STUDIO…
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WRIGHT MOVES…Lizz Wright: Freedom & Surrender, Terri Lyne Carrington: Mosaic Project-Love and Soul
Vocalist Lizz Wright is one of those artists who always seems just on the edge of breaking through to major recognition and appreciation, but never quite breaks the tape at the finish line. Maybe because the race isn’t over yet.…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Harold Mabern: Afro Blue
Pianist Harold Mabern has made a career out of being a reliable sideman for guys ranging from James Moody, George Coleman and as of late Eric Anderson. Here, he finally gets his due, as he forms a trio with John…
Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock@Granada Theatre 03.22.15
“What you think we’re gonna do…we ain’t gonna do it!” So joked Herbie Hancock as he and fellow jazz icon Chick Corea conversed with the packed Santa Barbara crowd at the acoustically adroit Granada. The Chameleon wasn’t kidding, though, as he…
Andreas Varady: Andreas Varady
Quincy Jones, after all these years, still has his fingers and toes in the jazz scene. He’s always on the lookout for new artists, and this European gypsy guitarist is his latest promising discovery. This disc has Varady in a…
Boz Scaggs/Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin/Eliane Elias@ The Hollywood Bowl 07.16.14
One of my best friends (who is a businessman) always says, “Everything is sales.” Once you think about it, he’s right; dating, raising kids, going to church and even playing music involve a degree of salesmanship. Wednesday on a perfect…
A BOWLFUL OF BLESSINGS
Does anything exemplify Los Angeles more than the Hollywood Bowl? OK, maybe Dodger Stadium, Pinks Hot Dogs and Tommy’s Burgers (let’s not go there with In ‘N Out). But still, a summer night taking in the sounds of the LA…
Dianne Reeves: Beautiful Life
One of the major voices on the jazz scene, Dianne Reeves takes her husky and tonally perfect delivery into the world of smooth jazz/R&B this time around. She uses the keyboards and programming of Robert Glaspar with Terri Lyne Carrington…
MUSIC WITH MESSAGES…Red Hot & Fela: Red Hot & Fela, Kentyah Presents M1, Brian Jackson & The New Midnight Band: Evolutionary Minded
Music has inherently been used to convey a message. Since people sang along with Moses after crossing the Red Sea to thank God for deliverance, music has reflected the religious and political scene. Here are two albums with messages that…
Robin McKelle & The Flytones: Soul Flower
Here’s a lady on a digital only release that sounds like a throwback to the folk-soul of a Bonnie Raitt. Robin McKelle’s got a rich and heartfelt voice, and frames it with a band that’s got some kickin’ boots on.…