You could really feel the joy singer Stacey Kent had when she was sharing the stage with a 30-piece orchestra, the Hamburg-based Ensemble Resonanz under the direction of Francesco Bossaglia. The 18 strings and four flutes built a very harmonious, lush and concentrated cushion last night at Berlin’s smaller Philharmonie venue, the Kammermusiksaal. Mostly playing…
Gina is in heat again. We urge you to put your (male) dogs on the leash whenever she’s roaming outside. Thank you for your cooperation.
We’ve already lost Marlene VerPlanck, Wilbert Longmire, and Edwin Hawkins this year. The father of South African Jazz, Hugh Masekela, has joined them now. He died peacefully in Johannesburg today at age 78. There is a statement from his family which says, “Hugh’s global and activist contribution to and participation in the areas of music,…
It’s that time of year again next month. The 68th Berlin Film Festival runs from February 15th to February 25th. And Gina will report again from the Berlinale. 23 of the 24 movies of this year’s Competition have now been announced. Among them: the International Premiere of Gus van Sant‘s “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get…
The programme for the 36th Cully Jazz Festival has been announced today. Located southeast of Lausanne and close to Montreux, the Swiss village will host some great artists again in April. From April 13th to April 21st, several venues will turn into jazz havens. The three locations are: Next Step, Chapiteau, and Temple. Among the…
Kansas City-born singer Kevin Mahogany, who this past summer moved back to his hometown after living in Miami for many years, has passed on Sunday. He was only 59 years old and had to withstand the sudden death of his wife Allene in August. Yes, he was the perfect blues and swing singer, but I…
The wonderful voice of Keely Smith first got me in the mid 80s when I discovered her “I’m In Love Again” album. Back then in 1985, after a 20-year recording break, she was already at a stage in her career where, like other popular singers such as Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Barbra Streisand,…
I came across an interview in The Vulture magazine, published yesterday, where saxophone giant Sonny Rollins was in a reflective mood with interviewer David Marchese who talked to him on the phone. “…my life has been in a reflective mode for some years now…It’s gotten more that way since I became unable to blow my…
I have good news from Detroit-based singer Kathy Kosins today. Her new album “Uncovered Soul”, a brilliant mixture of soul, jazz, and some hints at r&b, with a strong focus on actual songs, will finally be released on February 9th. Even though I have lived with the finished product for some time now, it still…
The 19th Cape Town International Jazz Festival, produced by espafrika, will be held on March 23rd and 24th in this beautiful capital of the Western Cape of South Africa. The International Convention Centre will once again be the host venue and now, the first artists for 2018 have been announced, with the second half to…