Bassist Stephan Crump opens the new CD by guitarist Rez Abbasi, the #1 Rising Star Guitarist in the 2013 International Critics Poll by Downbeat Magazine. He introduces the Weather Report classic “Black Market” which soon unfolds into the familiar 70s fusion piece written by Joe Zawinul. And also marks the starting point to a fresh,…
So Sam Smith is the big winner at this year’s Grammy Awards. Congratulations go out to all the winners, especially those who were not seen in the big telecast. I have collected the more important categories here. And didn’t Gloria Gaynor look amazing? The Jazz announcements were preceded by a top performance of Joe Lovano,…
The 65th Berlin Film Festival is in full gear and offers over 400 movies over a period of 11 days. One of the movies which runs in the Panorama documentary section, is a recapture of Nina Simone‘s life called “What Happened, Miss Simone?” The film, directed by Liz Garbus, will have its Berlin premiere tonight….
Stevie Wonder is a big fan of Tony’s. He especially likes his version of “Golden Lady”. No wonder that it was one of the real showstoppers last night during Tony’s two brilliant sets at Berlin’s A-Trane. He also squeezed in a little bit of “Isn’t She Lovely”. Tony Momrelle is the lead singer of British…
It’s Natalie Cole‘s birthday today. The nine-time Grammy Award winner was also nominated three times for her current CD, “Natalie Cole En Espanol”. Natalie has several performances coming up and she also has an exclusive gig in Germany in April which seems to be her only appearance in Europe so far this year. Natalie plays…
It is always a pleasure at the beginning of each year to receive the consistently brilliant independent Luxury Soul compilations. I have checked in my files and found all discs going back to 2004 with great music by Leon Ware, Frank McComb, Keni Burke, Sandra St. Victor, or Ronnie McNeir. The latest 3 CD Box…
To grow up with an aunt who owned a luncheonette in Harlem right behind the Apollo Theater and see all the stars coming in and hear them talk, must have a big influence on a future musician. Singer Allan Harris (who also plays guitar and writes songs) saw them all: from Marvin Gaye to Louis…
The incomparable Randy Crawford is back on the road for seven stops in Germany this spring. The singer was last heard and seen with the late great Joe Sample who died last year. She will have a new trio backing her for her shows which start on April 28th at the Jazzfest Gronau. Crawford, who…
Melody Gardot, who celebrates her 30th birthday today, is among the first few artists confirmed for this year’s Northsea Jazz Festival. One of the biggest indoor jazz festivals worldwide, the organisers of the 40th edition, to be held again in Rotterdam’s Ahoy venue, recently came up with the first names for the weekend of July…
February 1st is the birthday of several great musicians, like saxophonist Sadao Watanabe from Japan who turns 82 today. Another saxophonist, but from another generation, is Joshua Redman who celebrates his 46th birthday today. And then there are two artists who are no longer with us but who keep on fascinating us with their timeless…