One of our favorite pianists around, Kiefer, who studied with Kenny Burrell at UCLA, has come up with a new track “Dreamer”, released today. It sounds like a perfect addition and progression to his fantastic work on albums like “Superbloom” (2019) and “When There’s Love Around” (2021). Check it out here: https://kiefer.bandcamp.com/track/dreamer
It was during Samora Pinderhughes‘ set when the thunderstorm hit. You could hear the thunder inside the hall while he was just announcing his next song. Samora played tunes from his formidable album “Grief” and he had the pleasure of working with the North Sea String Quartet which happened to be special guest for several…
It was even hotter on Saturday than the day before and there were a lot of weather warnings on and off stage. But I had a good shot of freshly squeazed juice out of spinach, celery, fennel, lemon, and cucumber which easily got me through the day. Newcomer Jalen Ngonda opened the Congo tent in…
So here we are again. North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam has started on a sweltering day. My first show of the festival was a classic: pianist Kenny Barron, who recently turned 80 and who remembered the days at The Hague and couldn’t really tell when he first started to play at North Sea, played a…
Here is another artist to watch out for: singer Jalen Ngonda, originally from Maryland in the US and who moved to Liverpool in 2014, has already had headline shows in London and Geneva and supported Lauryn Hill, Martha Reeves, and Laura Mvula. His voice both rich and tender, with a falsetto sound reminiscent of Russell…
British keyboardist, vocalist and producer Reuben James, one of the UK’s most interesting soul/jazz artists to emerge on the scene in recent years (remember “So Cool” from 2020?), has just released his second album called “Champagne Kisses”. It came out on his own Rufio Records and even though it clocks in at less than 30…
British singer and songwriter Yazmin Lacey is on tour this fall. Earlier this year, she released her debut album “Voice Notes” on Own Your Own Records, a brilliant collection of neo-soul tunes. Her voice is like a combination of Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. Check the gatefold double-vinyl! And don’t miss her live: 11/15 Warsaw…
Italian jazz artist, composer, remixer, producer, and DJ Nicola Conte has just released his latest album called “Umoja”. The guy who presented Rosalia De Souza back in 2002 with “Garota Moderna” and who also released an album on Blue Note, the still brilliant “Other Directions” in 2004, has come up with a pretty sophisticated, both…
Berlin-born jazz singer Lisa Bassenge is back with a wonderful trio album called “Wildflowers”. Her choice of material is superb as the repertoire includes music from Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Depeche Mode, or Death Cab For Cutie. She opens the set with an intensely intimate and vulnerable “Till I Get It Right”, the Tammy Wynette…
Producer, composer, and keyboardist John Carroll Kirby, the man who gave us the brilliant “Septet” and other soothing and calming albums such as the piano solo “My Garden” (2020) or “Conflict” (2020) and teamed up with Eddie Chacon for his two wonderful releases “Pleasure, Joy & Happiness” and “Sundown“, will release “Blowout” tomorrow on Stones…