The German pianist and his latest album “Weltentraum” is the most successful for the Munich-based ACT Music label for the past year. But that’s not all. In a press release, the label yesterday announced that Michael Wollny was voted European Jazz Musician Of The Year by the French Académie Du Jazz which gives away this…
At yesterday’s press conference to Berlin’s next XJazz Festival in early May, artistic director Sebastian Studnitzky (pictured at right) introduced some of the bands and the clubs and this year’s focus country which happens to be Israel, partly because there seem to be so many musicians from Israel playing the Berlin clubs and off scene….
Singer, keyboardist, composer and producer Jarrod Lawson, who gave us the best soul album of 2014, adds three stops to his European tour schedule for April/May. Jarrod’s album is clearly the most soulful album of the past year with stunning vocals, a superb production, deep lyrics, and crisp background vocal arrangements. I first heard him…
“The Movie Album” was released last September and features the German Symphonic Orchestra and more backing the German trumpet maestro on more than a dozen movie theme classics and songs from movies. Supporting him on the record are vocalists Gregory Porter, Joy Denalane, and Lizzy Cuesta and other artists like fellow trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval…
Premier bassist Marcus Miller is preparing the release of his next album “Afrodeezia” which should see the light of day in early March on Blue Note Records. Meanwhile, he is constantly on tour playing several Jazz cruises this month, the next and early March. In between, he will play several record release concerts in Japan…
Gina is currently losing her winter coat which is much earlier than usual so we are almost sure that winter is almost over. At least we hope so. Meanwhile, we are listening to a lot of new music and Gina is especially fond of the accordion played by Vincent Peirani (and me too). We also…
Happy Birthday José James! Returning from his indie-rock infused fifth album “While You Were Sleeping” to Jazz for his next Blue Note album, the singer with the sexy baritone pays tribute to the legendary Billie Holiday on his “Yesterday I Had The Blues” project coming out next month. In a trailer for the album, José…
From Friday to Sunday of next week, Berlin’s hip Neukölln will stage its annual Jazzfest at Kulturstall Schloss Britz. Part of the line-up are student musicians from the Paul Hindemith music school and lecturers plus music professors of the Jazzinstitut Berlin. The Duo Elégance, consisting of internationally renowned David Friedman (vibes) and Peter Weniger (sax)…
The singer from Newark has just released her 23rd album “I Give Up, I’m In Love”, another fine collection of standards and rare tunes. She’s accompanied by Warren Vaché, Harry Allen, Mike Renzi, David Finck, among others and the Glenn Franke Big Band is heard on three tracks. Says Johnny Mandel: “Marlene is truly an…
Life magazine has called it “the country’s very best music festival”. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, first held in 1970, continues to “celebrate the culture of Louisiana with the combined fervor of a gospel hymn and the joy of a jazz parade”, according to the website. Just announced: the lineup…