I’ve been an admirer of Raul Midón’s work ever since he came on the scene in about 1999. One of my favorite songs still is “Cerca De Mi” which can be found on the brilliant Louie Vega album “Elements Of Life”. Pure Bliss! Raul has been touring the world over several times since then and…
Millions of people are out on the streets this weekend to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down. Gina of course was among the crowd – she walked all the way through Mauerpark and back trying to catch the balloons….
Congratulations to Ann Hampton Callaway and Kari Strand! After a seven year engagement, they finally married! We wish them both all the best and many many beautiful years together. I remember going out with them both and a couple of friends several years ago when she last visited Berlin. We had so much fun in…
Gina today woofed a special Happy Birthday to the one and only Joni Mitchell. “Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced” will be released on November 17. This is a 4-CD boxed set with 53 previously-released tracks which have all been remastered. “Night Ride Home” is one of my favorite…
It really happens quiet often that prejudices are proven true in the end. When I read the names of the ten artists on the cover of the new Nina Simone tribute album “Round Nina – A Tribute To Nina Simone”, I immediately thought that especially three artists wouldn’t do anything to me or enhance this…
The Trumpeter, pianist, and composer from Cuba was one of the founding members of the famous group Irakere. He was a protégé of Dizzy Gillespie and while touring through Europe in 1990, he went into the American Embassy in Rome to ask for his defection from Cuba. In December, 1998, Sandoval became an American citizen….
The producer, label founder and label head received the “Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland” (Order of the Federal Republic of Germany) from president Gauck last Monday. Loch has received numerous awards over the years. He has also made it a tradition of inviting journalists to his home during the Berlin Jazzfest. Last weekend, the turnout there…
Happy Birthday to Felton Pilate, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer for the Soul Funk group Con Funk Shun. Pilate joined the group shortly after his own group disbanded in the early 70s and became the lead voice (together with Michael Cooper) and later the music center of the group until he left in 1986. …
If there would be something like a Jazz Singles Top 50 chart, the songs by pianist Neil Cowley would fit in there completely. The short songs in their first set on Tuesday night at Berlin’s A-Trane were a prime example of surprisingly pulsating pieces. Together with long time band members Rex Horan on bass and…
That’s 25-year old Jeff Lorber on the cover of his first album from 1977. The Jazz Funk Soul keyboard player, composer, and leader celebrates his 62nd birthday today. He has worked with Miles Davis, Lalah Hathaway, Janet Jackson, Dave Koz, and lots more and just a few months ago released an album of Jazz, Funk…