NJ Jazz News

Sad News: Passing of Paul Abler

Abler, an accomplished jazz and blues guitarist and composer, will be mourned and missed by many in our local jazz communities.

A celebrated member of the Detroit Jazz community and a prolific composer, Abler produced over twenty jazz albums and is credited with composing and performing music for film and television. A CD and release party in May will celebrate his life and music. For more information, visit Paul's website www.paulabler.com.

News: Grammy Recognition

Photo credit: NPR.org 

Jazz pianist, Amad Jamal, and, vocalist, Nina Simone are Grammy 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award winners. Now in his eighties, Ahmad Jamal has continued to tours and record. There is much to discover about this jazz icon in every phase of his long career.

Sad News: Dave Valentin dead at 64

Dave Valentin, a jazz flutist of virtuoso control, brisk rhythmic flair and a sprawling expressive language, died on March 8 in the Bronx. He was 64 and had suffered multiple strokes over the last five years.

Valentin was celebrated in Latin-jazz circles for more than 40 years, initially as a byproduct of his cultural foundation as a Bronx-born Puerto Rican. He played variations of his instrument with ties to the folkloric music of East Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, typically traveling with more than a dozen varieties.

News: Dylan Does Standards

Bob Dylan recently announced that his new album, “Triplicate,” will be a three-disc set comprising 30 more standards. The collection, to be released by Columbia Records on March 31, includes classics from the golden age of American songwriting like “Stormy Weather,” “Sentimental Journey,” “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plans,” “September of My Years” and “The Best Is Yet to Come.” As with Mr. Dylan’s previous two albums, many of the songs are closely associated with Frank Sinatra.