Thursday, September 28, 2017

Arturo Sandoval Comes to Casselberry FL Sept 30, 2017

Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
10 time Grammy Award Winner
Emmy Award Recipient
6 Time Billboard Award Winner
2015 Hispanic Heritage Award Recipient
2016 Honorary Doctorate recipient in
Fine Arts/The University of Notre Dame

This year’s most exciting El Sentinel’s Latin Jazz & Art Festival at Lake Concord Park will feature 10-time Grammy Award Winner, Arturo Sandoval!  Blazing and technically flawless, this trumpeter from Cuba will dazzle the large jazz-loving audience at this FREE lakefront concert from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2017.

Arturo Sandoval, one of the most brilliant musicians of our time, has been seen by millions at the Oscars, the Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Awards. Arturo is also the 2013 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the 2015 Hispanic Heritage Award Recipient. He has performed with Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Rod Stewart, Patti LaBelle and many more.

During the concert, stop by City Hall and see vibrant works of art from some of the best Latin artists in the Central Florida area in the Artista Siempre Art Exhibit open from 5-8 p.m.

Bring all of your family and friends to this spectacular FREE concert featuring Arturo Sandoval! Space is limited so please leave your coolers at home. There will be plenty of on-site food and beverage vendors.   Parking is available at Target, Home Depot and Fifth Third Bank. Ongoing bus shuttles are available from the parking lot area across the street from Northland Church on 530 Dog Track Road in Longwood (MAP). Come early to get the best seats and bring all your friends and family to this amazing Latin Jazz & Art Festival featuring Arturo Sandoval. This FREE event is sponsored by El Sentinel/Orlando Sentinel and WLOQ 107.7 HD-2 Orlando’s Smooth Jazz. For more information, call 407-262-7700 ext. 1122 or 1507.

Friday, September 22, 2017

Jazz Spotlight On Sinatra-Nancy Barell’s “In The Pocket” Broadcasts

Melody Breyer-Grell, Contributor
09/21/2017 12:42 pm ET

In my March article, I discussed Mary Foster Conklin’s weekly broadcast, A Broad Spectrum. Jazz and Vocal Standards.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jazz-and-vocal-standards-mary-foster-conklin-regales_us_58d31dace4b002482d6e6e40

Today we look at Nancy Barell’s Jazz Spotlight On Sinatra.

As mentioned, in these days of YouTube, Spotify and other video and streaming services, deciding what music to enjoy can be overwhelming. Thus, the curated shows like those of Ms. Conklin’s and Nancy Ann Barell’s offer a way to just go online and have an opportunity to hear music carefully selected by connoisseurs of almost every type of music, from opera to jazz and beyond.

With all the “Sinatra” stations out there, Barell’s Jazz Spotlight on Sinatra offers an especially wide range of tunes. Some are sung by “The Chairman,” while a great part of the program includes jazz and standard singers, who have been influenced by Sinatra and his repertoire. Which means practically everyone.

I met Nancy over a decade ago, when I was booking singers for the Ninth Avenue restaurant, Chez Suzette. Unlike most of the people I came across, she was not looking for a gig—Nancy was actually an artist’s manager (for pianist David Hazeltine and singer/pianist Dena DeRose) and great fan of jazz music. I was honored to become her friend and have followed her return to a pastime that she has a great passion for—radio.

Melody: How did you get bitten by the jazz bug, The Great American Songbook, and ultimately Frank Sinatra?


Nancy: My Aunt Jenny worked for a record company. Don’t remember which. She brought me records starting when I was ten or eleven. I got introduced to Sinatra, Doris Day, Jo Stafford, Stan Kenton, and so many more. That was just the start! Jazz, I got from listening to the radio late at night. I was very young and picked up stations from Chicago, Philly, NYC, and Boston. I was exposed to instrumentalists like Erroll Garner, Gerry Mulligan, Dizzy and the rest of the greats. When I was a senior in high school I made a little money, and then bought records. Sinatra’s In The Wee Small Hours was the first, and Erroll Garner the second.

read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jazz-spotlight-on-sinatra-nancy-barells-in-the_us_59ba297ce4b06b71800c36d9

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Piotr Turkiewicz: Putting Wroclaw On The Jazz Map

By IAN PATTERSON 
September 18, 2017

At just thirty seven years of age it's hard to believe that Piotr Turkiewicz has been pulling the strings of Jazztopad for almost a decade already. The festival, staged each November in the Polish city of Wroclaw, was already a few years old when Turkiewicz became Artistic Director in 2008, but under the canny stewardship of Turkiewicz and General Director Andrzej Kosendiak, Jazztopad has been transformed, in both style and substance, to become one of Europe's more progressively minded jazz festivals, though one with a strong sense of the music's historical roots.

Alongside cutting edge Polish, Japanese, Korean and Turkish jazz/improvised music, the Jazztopad program has embraced American legends of the genre such as Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd, William Parker, Wadada Leo Smith and Anthony Braxton, to name but a handful.

Almost immediately upon being appointed Artistic Director, Turkiewicz set about radically altering the Jazztopad's artistic vision.

With so many jazz festival line-ups and formats alike, Turkiewicz has made Jazztopad stand out for the original music that he commissions. Of course, Jazztopad is not the only jazz festival that commissions new work from musicians, but how many festivals can provide the musician in question with the use of a philharmonic orchestra, a chamber ensemble or a choir?

When Turkiewicz took over the Jazztopad reins in 2008 he had clear ideas what direction he wanted the festival to take: "I thought it would be great to have new pieces in the festival to add an element of celebration. Program-wise it should be special. You come to Jazztopad and you can only hear the music here. Hopefully the music will go on to have its own life, but Jazztopad is the place where you can experience something that you have not experienced before."


Jazztopad audiences have experienced new music by the likes of Erik Friedlander, Nate Wooley, Wadada Leo Smith, Jason Moran, Charles Lloyd, William Parker, Uri Caine, Anders Jormin, John Surman and Wayne Shorter. It's no small feat on Turkiewicz's part to have succeeded in persuading these jazz luminaries to engage with such a progressive idea—that's to say the fusing of jazz/avant- garde music with classical aesthetics—but it's the result of much groundwork, often over several years. "It's a matter of long conversations, and talking about what already happened in the festival so as not to repeat the same things," explains Turkiewicz. "It's very much a discussion about the forces and the instruments. It's great fun."

read more: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/piotr-turkiewicz-putting-wroclaw-on-the-jazz-map-maciej-obara-by-ian-patterson.php

Monday, September 18, 2017

TONI REDD releases the single “Take Me To Paradise”

John Pizzarelli & Daniel Jobim - Jazz San Javier 2017


● © For any questions regarding copyright issues related to video materials, please contact us via email at copyright.jbr@gmail.com
● Tracklist: 01. Bambles, Bangles & Beads 02. Agua de Beber 03. Meditation / Corcobado 04. Useless Landscape / Change Partners 05. Fly Me To The Moon 06. Antoine's Song 07. Two Kites 08. Bonita 09. Concentrate / Wave 10. She's So Sensitive 11. So Danço Samba 12. Aguas de Marzo 13. La Chica de Ipanema 14. Canto Casual 15. Aquela Coisas Todas
● Personnel: John Pizzarelli - vocals, guitar Daniel Jobim - vocals, guitar, piano Helio Alves - piano David Carn - bass Duduka da Fonseca - drums
#JohnPizzarelli & #DanielJobim - Jazz San Javier 2017 Live at XX Festival de Jazz de San Javier, Murcia, Spain, July 15th, 2017 ▶ The Best JAZZ VOCALS - Live Performances - http://bit.ly/2vjJ7Fo ▶ John Pizzarelli - Full Length Concerts - http://bit.ly/X7DNmR ▶ Jazz San Javier 2017 - http://bit.ly/2gY2OzG ▶ Jazz San Javier - Full Length Concerts - http://bit.ly/1G8ql2s

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Sunshine Jazz Celebration

The Sunshine Jazz Organization was created in Miami, FL in 1986 by avid jazz fans who often gathered at the home of Jazz Radio icon, Charles "China" Valles, and his wife Thelma. China was elected president and, from the onset, "SJO" has presented year-around concerts, workshops, community outreach events, newsletter, Arts in Parks and Community Centers etc. SJO sponsors services and events including The Annual South Florida Jazz Hall of Fame Inductions, founded by International recording artist Alice Day.

Numerous renowned musicians have collaborated with the SJO over the years including Lou Donaldson, Freddy Cole, Lonnie Smith, Diane Schuur, Monty Alexander, Houston Person, Stanley Turrentine, Carmen Lundy, Melton Mustafa, Duffy Jackson and many more.

We are very pleased to be featuring another founding SJO member and world-renowned Saxophone treasure, Mr. Richie Cole, with his Alto Madness Orchestra as entertainment for this 31st Anniversary celebration. The festivities will take place in the ballroom with full dinner and bar service, and ample free parking. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Friday, September 15, 2017

Hiromi Uehara - Caravan

https://academy.jazz.org/listening-parties/

Join us for free Listening Parties, as musicians and scholars play for you legendary records that shaped the course of Jazz history. Hear from some of today’s greatest artists as they share with you the albums and artists that inspired them. All Listening Parties are free and open to the public. Unless otherwise indicated, seating is available on a first come/first served basis.
UPCOMING LISTENING PARTIES
The Irene Diamond Education Center (IDEC)
Time Warner Center, 60th Street and Broadway
5th Floor
September 19 at 7 pm
THE VENERABLE JAZZ BANJO:  Stars & Music from Speakeasies, Vaudeville, Concert Halls and More
Hosted by Cynthia Sayer
When people hear the word “banjo,” they typically associate it with bluegrass, folk and country music. However, it was the 4-string jazz banjo  that defined the hot rhythm section sound of American pop music of the Roaring 20’s and early 30’s. Some of the major music stars of the early 20th century played the 4-string jazz banjo, the aristocratic cousin of the 5-string bluegrass/folk instrument. Jazz banjo was found in speakeasies, concert halls, vaudeville houses, and musical theater pits of the day.  It remains an integral ingredient of America’s traditional jazz sound, embraced by players and listeners alike in today’s resurgent hot jazz scenes.
In this evening’s Listening Party, award-winning 4-string jazz banjoist/bandleader and American Banjo Hall Of Fame inductee Cynthia Sayer will discuss the banjo’s eventful history, from its African slave origins to its venerable place in jazz. Along the way, she will demonstrate the instrument’s broad range and influence in various musical genres, as well as pay tribute to some of America’s historic 4-string banjo stars.
Ms. Sayer’s performance will be supported by Dennis Lichtman on clarinet, Mike Weatherly on string bass, and Larry Eagle on drums. More information about Cynthia Sayer is available at www.cynthiasayer.com
September 28 at 7 pm
Celebrating South African Jazz
Join host Seton Hawkins, pianist Eli Yamin, and vocalist Melanie Scholtz as they explore South Africa’s incredible Jazz history! With a mix of classic recordings as well as live performance by Melanie and Eli, the event will showcase the extraordinary breadth of styles and incredible array of artists that have contributed to the country’s jazz scene.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Magda Giannikou and her Banda Magda

Hi Claudio,

When you're away, a lot of your stress stays home. That's magnified many times over when you're living far from home and have left loved ones behind. 
That's a normal state of affairs for a lot of people for sure, but there aren't too many who can take that pain and turn it into this amazing music that I hope you'll take a listen to, where geopolitics meets luxuriant strings, multi-language prose, punches of brass, hammered dulcimer and tubular bells, and dances with it all to maracatu and forro rhythms.

Maybe you know Magda Giannikou and her Banda Magda. If you do, let me tell you her new album Tigre is her best yet.

If you don't know Magda, treat yourself and click the link.

TOUR DATES, tunes, bio, pics---> Banda Magda - Tigre Burning Bright: Banda Magda’s Cinematic Tales of Courage and Persistence


09/15/2017
That spark of insight, nurtured by a diverse, close-knit band, grew into the rainbow-bold meditations on courage, confidence, and resisting fear on Tigre, the band’s third, wildly cinematic album. (September 15, 2017; Verve Label Group)


Play - Download Album

(I know you hear from other publicists, and might surmise correctly that I am jumping in mid stream to this campaign. Forgive me if you know all about Tigre already, and if that's the case feel free to ignore me.)

Best, Ron

ron kadish
publicist
ron@rockpaperscissors.biz

rock paper scissors, inc. - 511 west 4th street, suite 2
bloomington, indiana  47404 usa

Monday, September 11, 2017

letter from rock paper scissors, inc.

Hi Claudio,
Tune snippets sung over Whatsapp, inspired by translated phrases from beloved 13th-century poet Rumi. Then a studio session, unrehearsed, when all the outpourings of grief, fear, and mad love came to a head. The result will prove one of the most beautiful albums of the year.

The close friendship of several culturally diverse musicians is captured on Will You (release date: September 22, 2017 by Tames Records), the latest from Iranian-American vocalist Katayoun Goudarzi and Saffron Ensemble , master sitar player Shujaat Khan, highly respected saxophonist Tim Ries (who’s played with jazz greats like Jack DeJohnette and Donald Byrd and rock icons like The Rolling Stones, Donald Fagen, and Rod Stewart), artful pianist Kevin Hays, and tabla player Dibyarka Chatterjee. Together, they have forged an unlikely ensemble that finds striking new settings for Rumi’s centuries-old yet ever-urgent words.

The result on Will You is stunningly hypnotic and shares the defining qualities of Rumi’s work in its sustained ability to resonate emotionally, across ages and across cultures.

Follow the link below to listen to the ten mesmerizing tracks, read our full press release and access the online press kit. And please let me know if I can assist in your coverage by providing press materials or arranging an interview!
Saffron Ensemble - We Should: Iranian Poetry, Indian Tunes, and a hint of Jazz Gel on Will You, Love Songs for a Heartsick World


09/22/2017
The close friendship of several culturally diverse musicians is captured on Will You (release date: September 22, 2017 by Tames Records), vocalist Katayoun Goudarzi, master sitar player Shujaat Khan, highly respected saxophonist Tim RiesStewart), artful pianist Kevin Hays, and tabla player Dibyarka Chatterjee.
Play - Download Album



Thanks,

Ben Michaels
Publicist
 
rock paper scissors, inc.
511 W. 4th St. Suite #2 - Bloomington, IN 47404

Friday, September 8, 2017

Hal Willner’s Vanishing, Weird New York

Hal Willner in his Manhattan studio. He has produced music for performers as disparate as Lou Reed and the Armadillo String Quartet. Credit Andrew White for The New York Times

Hal Willner was new in New York, working as an assistant to a record producer named Joel Dorn, when Mr. Dorn called him aside after a session one night. “You’re not going home yet, baby,” Mr. Willner remembered his boss telling him. It was 1974. Mr. Dorn had produced enormously successful records for Bette Midler and Roberta Flack, and experimental jazz albums that Mr. Willner loved.

We’re going out, Mr. Dorn told Mr. Willner. Do not tell your parents.

“We go to the Regency and Redd Foxx opens the door in a robe and underpants sticking out,” Mr. Willner said, slipping into a Redd Foxx imitation. “‘Come on in. Hey, squirt. I’m Redd. This is Billy Eckstine.’” Mr. Willner, who has been sober for 20 years, tapped an espresso pod on his chair arm and continued in his Redd Foxx voice. “‘And this is pharmaceutical cocaine. Yeah, respect the pharmaceutical cocaine.’”

Mr. Willner was 18. Mr. Foxx told an off-color joke about elephant poo.


Hal Willner, welcome to New York.

read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/08/nyregion/hal-willners-vanishing-weird-new-york.html

New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival

New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival - Florida's Annual Small-Town Big-Time Jazz Festival


Thursday, September 7, 2017

Spike Robinson, a tremendous American tenor saxophonist

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

The Dreamers need a new name

two new Lucky Thompson sets ....

CD release of "Another Time: The Hilversum Concert"

Giuseppe Millaci & Vogue Trio “Songbook” album review


Dr Shahbaz Sipra, Contributor
09/05/2017 01:38 am ET

The young Italian double bass player Giuseppe Millaci has released his latest project, entitled “Vogue Trio” and his debut album “Songbook.” The album puts him alongside the French pianist Amaury Faye, who was influenced by Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau; and Belgian drummer Lionel Beuvens, who is in charge of spicing up the beat from the percussion section with his impeccable and extremely fine execution.

The sound is engulfed in a dark melancholic and velvety atmosphere. Nine tracks make up this album for a perfect 52-minute playing time.

The first track features ‘Nostalgia Op. 1‘, a bass introduction with a powerful sound. This composition has harmonic characteristics similar to Bill Evans.

‘Imagining The Fourth Dimension‘, a cliché of “Giant Steps,” as its title says, is imaginative and open to any possibility. The piano becomes the protagonist when executing fast and agile melodic lines, while being harmonically accompanied by the bass, as the percussion remains relaxed, but keeps the energy flowing.

In the third track is ‘Travel To,‘ a title that brings some mystery and curiosity to know where the group wants to take us. However, we will have to hear it to find out.


Then we enter into the ‘Unknown Land,‘ which probably answers the question posed in the previous track. This composition glows vividly through the freest improv variations. A few progressions of seventh and dissonant chords don’t hurt anyone either.

read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-jazz-talent-giuseppe-millaci-vogue-trio-songbook_us_59ae3835e4b0d0c16bb52757

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

At Zinc Bar ...


from jazz@jazzinstitut.de

5 September2017
Kirk Knuffke / Roscoe Mitchell / Houston, Texas

Francis Davis talks to the cornetist Kirk Knuffke about playing standards - which he calls "covers" -, about having gone through Monk and Mingus phases, about his latest album, "Cherryco" which contains tunes by Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry, about the choice of the cornet over the trumpet, about his fascination with the trumpeter Don Cherry, as well as about playing the cornet, yet also hearing a trombone in his head ( The Village Voice). --- Christian Belanger talks to the saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell about growing up in Chicago, about having worked with the Art Ensemble of Chicago since the 1960s and looking forward to the 50th anniversary of that group's performing under that name in 2019, about the connection between improvisation and the study of music, as well as about not slowing down and finding inspiration in constantly practicing one's instrument and then thinking about it ( Chicago Mag). --- Nate Chinen reports about the effects of Hurricane Harvey on Houston's vibrant jazz scene, talking to the drummers Kendrick Scott and Eric Harland, the pianists Robert Glasper, Jason Moran and Helen Sung, as well as to Sarah Rothenberg, the artistic director of Da Camera of Houston, a concert series of jazz and chamber music. He also talks to Warren Sneed, the current director of jazz studies at Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and the guitarist Mike Moreno, and finds that many musicians who came out of Houston think of ways how to support their hometown and its jazz scene ( NPR).
 

6 September2016
... what else ...
Scott Timberg talks to the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant ahead of a performance at the Hollywood Bowl ( Los Angeles Times). Scott Timberg talks to the singer Bryan Ferry who is the headliner of the show at the Hollywood Bowl ( Los Angeles Times). --- John Lewis attends a performance of the Dutch trio Tin Men interacting with their audience through a cell phone app ( The Guardian). --- Robert Migliorini talks to the Hammond organist Rhoda Scott ( La Croix). --- Kevin Sun remembers the saxophonist Lester Young on his 108th birthday ( The Kevin Sun). --- Arthur C. Brooks remembers the saxophonist Charlie Parker on his 97th birthday ( New York Times). --- Oliver Hochkeppel attends the Jazzfestival Saalfelden ( Süddeutsche Zeitung). --- Sabrina Kleinertz talks to Lothar Krist and Uwe Thedsen about the Jazz Club Hannover in Germany ( Rockszene). --- Christina Schönstetter congratulates the German saxophonist and educator Joe Viera on his 85th birthday ( Passauer Neue Presse). Roland Spiegel and Ulrich Habersetzer talk to Joe Viera about his long jazz experiences as musician, author, teacher and artistic director of the Burghausen Jazz Festival ( BR Klassik). --- Jonathan Stempel reports about a lawsuit which the heirs to Thelonious Monk have filed against a northern California brewery about the use of Monk's name ( US News). --- Kirk Silsbee talks to the Israeli trumpeter Avishai Cohen ( Jewish Journal). --- Melanie Taylor reports about the Balalaika Bar in Frankfurt, Germany, opened in 1969 by Anita Bohländer ( Frankfurter Neue Presse ). --- Carli Berry talks to the guitarist Aaron Loewen ( Kelowna Cap News). --- Erin Nyren talks to the pianist and singer Harry Connick Jr. ( Variety). --- Stefan Michalzik hears the German saxophonist Christof Lauer at Palmengarten in Frankfurt ( Frankfurter Rundschau). --- Mitch Myers reports about an informal poll listing 20th century record labels which enthusiasts trust most, labels such as Blue Note, ECM, Impulse, Verve or ESP among them ( Variety). --- The Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino has been criticized for "excessive instruction" techniques by the Tokyo school board of education ( The Asahi Shimbun). --- The German saxophonist Angelika Niescier is awarded the Deutscher Jazzpreis, Germany's most important jazz award ( SWR2). Congratulations!

Obituaries
We learned of the passing of the guitarist John Abercrombie at the age of 72 ( Ottawa Citizen, New York Times, Los Angeles Times,  NPR, Guitar World, The Guardian,  Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , Tagesspiegel), the singer Bea Wain at the age of 100 ( Los Angeles Times, New York Times), the British critic Mike Hennessey at the age of 89 ( Billboard, Schwäbische), the trumpeter Tony Hardwick at the age of 79 ( The Union), the saxophonist and bandleader Larry Elgart at the age of 95 ( JazzWax), the guitarist Walter Becker at the age of 67 ( Los Angeles Times, New York Times, The Kansas City Star, The Blue Moment, New York Daily News, The Guardian), the drummer Skip Prokop at the age of 73 ( Billboard), the Scottish sousaphone player James Young at the age of 84 ( Scotsman), as well as the German singer and actress Margot Hielscher at the age of 97 ( Spiegel Online).
 
Last Week at the Jazzinstitut
The 15th Darmstadt Jazzforum takes place from 28-30 September, and Wolfram Knauer was asked on radio about the state of jazz research, about the story of the Jazzinstitut and about the concept behind this year's international conference about "Jazz @ 100. An alternative to a story of heroes". The interview can still be heard online ( Deutschlandfunk Kultur ).

Should you want to attend the Darmstadt Jazzforum, you are most welcome to. No formal registration necessary, however for organizational reasons we appreciate a short message letting us know you plan to attend. While the conference is free (jazzforum.jazzinstitut.de ), you might want to secure tickets for the evening concerts by the Kirk Lightsey Quintet (22 September), the Julia Hülsmann Oktett (29 September), and by Orrin Evans (30 September). We will be happy to see you!

The German photographer Arne Reimer shows photos about "My Encounter with 'American Jazz Heroes'" at the Literaturhaus Darmstadt, an exhibition which accompanies our Darmstadt Jazzforum this month. More details about the conference, concerts and exhibition can be found on our website ( jazzforum.jazzinstitut.de); a report about Reimer's exhibition (misidentifying Carla Bley as a singer) appeared in the weekend edition of our local newspaper ( Allgemeine Zeitung). Doris Schröder who curated the exhibition will be at the Open House at Literaturhaus this Friday which the exhibition is taking part in.

Wolfram Knauer was one of two keynote speakers at the Rhythm Changes conference in Amsterdam talking about aspects of space and sound in jazz and meeting with colleagues from many different countries ( Rhythm Changes, program booklet, report at OUP blog).

Monday, September 4, 2017

Stacey Kent


Musical genius Patrice Rushen ......

Sunday, September 3, 2017

A ‘Soothe’ Moment in a Hectic World: Behind The Music of Shambhu.

BAEZ PHOTOGRAPHY

Sujantra McKeever, Contributor
09/02/2017

“We are the music-makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams,”

—from Ode by Arthur O’Shaughnessy

“You will hear everything from jazz to instrumental folk to breezy pop to world fusion and even a hint of new age on Soothe, and it all goes down silky smooth.”

—Bill Binkelman, Zone Music Reporter

Music has the power to transform our lives and hence the world.

As I drove to work the other day my mind was spinning with all the things that were going wrong with a remodel of my new yoga studio. It was not the way I wanted to start my day. I knew just the antidote: turn on some heartfelt, relaxing music and center myself in my breathing. I chose the new album Soothe by Shambhu and it did the trick!

Reviewer Bill Binkelman from Zone Music Reporter describes the music: “Soulfulness runs throughout each track on Soothe like a slow, lazy brook winding its way through a forest, at times burbling over rocks, and other times flowing serenely with sunlight shimmering off the gently rippling surface.”

Soothe not only uplifted my own spirit but I started using Shambhu’s music as a peaceful backdrop for the yoga classes that I teach. Then I got curious about how Shambhu was able to convey a feeling of calm serenity in his music.


Shambhu’s adult life has been rooted in spirit. He discovered meditation in college and over time he was inspired to transform his rock style into a serene, instrumental flow that Feng Shui Mommy blogger Bailey Gaddis described as ‘mind medicine’.

read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/a-soothe-moment-in-a-hectic-world-behind-the-music_us_59ab70efe4b0bef3378cd940

Chamber Fest becomes giant ....

The Chamber Music Festival of Lexington presented the world premiere of Matt Ulery’s “Become Giant” Friday night at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center. Jacob Hand

BY WALTER TUNIS
Contributing Music Writer

As last night’s sold out second mainstage concert of the Chamber Music Festival of Lexington got down to its main event at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, two musical factions faced each other, seemingly ready for friendly fire. Seated on one side was a string quartet that included the festival’s artistic director Nathan Cole. Standing on the other was the jazz trio Triptych that included composer-in-residence Matt Ulery and artist-in-residence Zach Brock. What resulted was a summit in the form of an extended work from Ulery titled “Become Giant.” And, well, it did.
The composition’s world premiere, the centerpiece event of the festival, was indeed huge in scope — an 11-part, 40-minute assimilation of jazz flexibility and, at times, groove, with the more composed (as in structure, not temperament) design of the strings. At times, the two ensembles stayed true to their respective stylistic bases. At others, they merged almost without notice. They also took turns working as the dominant voicing and, in effect, a backup unit.
read more at: http://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article170952802.html




R
ead more here: http://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article170952802.html#storylink=cpy

RONNIE SCOTT'S AT THE OPERA GRILL, CHESTER


from Barbara Dennerlein ....

Jazz concert in Bad Dürkheim

Last weekend, Barbara played a jazz concert at St. Ludwig Church in Bad Dürkheim and elated her audience. The newspaper "Die Rheinpfalz" wrote: "The new pipe organ had been consecrated almost exactly seven years ago. Thanks to jazz organist Barbara Dennerlein one could experience very unusual sounds from the instrument. For those who not regularly go to church or to organ concerts might think that the organ was constructed especially for this.

The concert on Saturday turned out to be a multi media event. A large screen had been assembled in the altar room. Thus, the visitors could watch the artist playing and changing the stops. This fascinated the audience in the folly occupied church.

Barbara Dennerlein intended to elate with music instead of Palatinate wine. "It is always great to explore a new organ", she said, who already knows many organs world-wide. She began with a low organ point, the camera focused on her excellent play with the legs on the bass pedal, wearing special shoes for this. She changed from g-minor to as-minor and created tension and dynamics with the chromatic shift, as it is known from light music. She wove  in jazzy sixth chords and created sound clusters by using the palm of her hands and her under arm to move the keyboard up and down in waves. After these cluster chords she appeased the fan of classical music with quotes of Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata and Fuge, and one involuntarily wondered if Bach would be a jazz musician today.

She chose "Spiritual Movement Nr. 1" as opening piece. It provided everything: rhythm, the breathe of the organ is noticeable. The church as a concert and rest room. Inner deceleration, in reverence for the constructors of this unadorned church and the artists of organ construction and the musician who made all this visible and audible. ...

After Dennerlein's exploration of the organ's tonal range followed "Waltzing Pipes", a blues.
A solo on the bass pedal, similar sounds changed a bit and were enriched by additional courses. And it turned out that the organ is "fast", Dennerlein set the pipe work easily in movement.

She had composed "Sensitivity" after a stay in Brazil. A hidden switch, and the instrument released jungle sounds that no one would have expected. "Korean Smile" arouse by a trip to Seoul, the organ sounded like a Glockenspiel, meditative with slow soothing waves that she hid in her mystic billowing chords."

Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya with Terence Blanchard


http://www.abdullahibrahim.com/

● © For any questions regarding copyright issues related to video materials, please contact us via email at copyright.jbr@gmail.com
Personnel: Abdullah Ibrahim - piano Terence Blanchard - trumpet Noah Jackson - bass, cello Will Terrill - drums Cleave Guyton Jr. - alto sax , flute, clarinet, piccolo Lance Bryant - tenor sax Andrae Murchison - trombone, trumpet Marshall McDonald - baritone sax ● #AbdullahIbrahim & Ekaya with #TerenceBlanchard
Live at 52 Heineken Jazzaldia, Donosti, Spain, July 25th, 2017 ▶ 52 Heineken Jazzaldia 2017 - http://bit.ly/2g9ajDD ▶ Heineken Jazzaldia - Full Length Concerts - http://bit.ly/1AHEAXf ● SUBSCRIBE HERE ıı▶ http://bit.ly/2nqnhLC

Friday, September 1, 2017

a tribute to the late Larry Elgart ...

Arturo O'Farrill & Chucho Valdés

Chucho Valdés and Arturo O'Farrill pay tribute to their historic fathers on Familia: Tribute to Bebo and Chico. Courtesy of the artists

First Listen: Arturo O'Farrill & Chucho Valdés, 'Familia: Tribute To Bebo & Chico'

August 31, 20175:00 AM ET
FELIX CONTRERAS

It's impossible to overstate the importance of both Bébo Valdés and Chico O'Farrill to 20th century Afro-Cuban music and jazz.

Their rich and multi layered influence is evident in iconic compositions, big band arrangements written 60 years ago that still sound cutting edge, and piano playing that echo Cuban classical music and jazz pianist Bill Evans.


The curious thing is that each made those contributions on opposite sides of the Florida Straights. Bebo Valdés (1918-2013) was a pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader in Havana, while Chico O'Farrill (1921-2001) was busy leading ensembles in New York. Their paths through Cuban music reflect unbreakable musical ties between the U.S. and Cuba that defied politics and a Cold War.

read more at: http://www.npr.org/2017/08/31/546800354/first-listen-arturo-ofarrill-chucho-vald-s-familia-tribute-to-bebo-chico

VERY EARLY - JLCO with Wynton Marsalis ft. Joey Alexander


Very Early
From HANDFUL OF KEYS
Composed by Bill Evans
September 22, 2016
Rose Theater

Young piano prodigy Joey Alexander joins the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis for a lively stroll through Walter Blanding's arrangement of Bill Evans's composition, "Very Early." This is the second single off the JLCO's upcoming album "Handful of Keys," out Sept. 15.

Order "Handful of Keys" from our webstore: http://ow.ly/Jbtj30euNDG

Order the deluxe bundle of "Handful of Keys," featuring JALC 30th Anniversary gear, from our webstore: http://ow.ly/fz0D30euNBM

Personnel:
Sherman Irby - Alto saxophone
Ted Nash - Alto saxophone
Victor Goines - Tenor saxophone
Walter Blanding - Tenor saxophone
Paul Nedzela - Baritone saxophone
Vincent Gardner - Trombone
Chris Crenshaw - Trombone
Elliot Mason - Trombone
Greg Gisbert - Trumpet
Kenny Rampton - Trumpet
Marcus Printup - Trumpet
Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet
Joey Alexander - Piano
Carlos Henriquez - Bass
Ali Jackson - Drums

Florida's 12th Annual Open Harmonica Championship

Florida's 12th Annual Open Harmonica Championship Announced for October 22, 2017 in New Smyrna Beach