The years from 1979 to 1983 are the most important years in our vita – most of the LPs which I bought during those years are still vital, crucial, elemental, and timeless. Just three examples: the Quincy Jones-produced album “Give Me The Night” by George Benson, featuring, among many others, the monumental, lavishly arranged and…
The Scandinavia-oriented Scope Festival will start its second year tomorrow here in Berlin. From October 18th to October 30th, people will get an extensive overview of the Scandinavian Jazz and beyond scene. The Helsinki-based We Jazz label will present a few bands of its artist roster on October 27th at Monarch, Skalitzer Straße 134. Drummer…
We’re usually going to Italy for a week or two each year, our favorite spots being somewhere in the Tuscanny or Liguria region where you have everything: beautiful landscape, amazing food and wines, wonderful people and the beach close by. At the beach, you always have people walking around selling stuff like clothes or food…
Another homecoming record of sorts here from Dee Dee Bridgewater who recorded an album of songs associated with her hometown Memphis, Tennessee. Barbara Mason‘s “Yes , I’m Ready” starts off this mixed bag and it is clearly the most fulfilling and satisfying tune on the album. After the opening, things get worse. Her voice sounds…
Last year’s album “Cloak” is still prominently featured on my iphone playlist so whenever I’m going out to walk Gina, chances are there’s a track from Jordan Rakei playing on my headphones. The 25-year old singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer from New Zealand, who now lives in London, graced the stages of this year’s XJazz…
Ever since their debut “Be Free” album in 2012 and the title track from that particular disc, we’ve become a fan of this neo-soul and jazz indie trio from Los Angeles. With their third album “Voyager”, reviewed here a few weeks ago, they are currently on tour and stopped in Berlin last Tuesday. Singer Amber…
Songs of the south and a sort of homecoming is the topic of Lizz Wright‘s latest album “Grace” and she once again comes up with a collection of 10 little anthems to add to her repertoire. A repertoire which consists of her own folk-induced jazz and soul and gospel songs and a voice that seems…
On Wednesday, Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic, the extremely popular concert series at Berlin’s prestigious venue, already starts into its sixth season. Saxophonist, flutist, and clarinetist Magnus Lindgren will play music in memory of Herbie Mann and has dubbed his concert “Stockholm Undergound”, similar to Mister Mann’s groundbreaking “Memphis Underground” LP from 1969. Among his bandmates…
The second Scope Festival will take place again in various locations throughout Berlin-Kreuzberg October 18th to 30th. In its second year, Scandinavian artists will perform anything from Jazz to Electronic, from Folk to Singer-Songwriter. And there is a lot to explore again. Jazz from Scandinavia in all its various genres and with all kinds of…
Singer and guitarist John Pizzarelli celebrates Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim and the 50th anniversary of their joint collaboration which ended up on the 1967 LP “Frances Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim”. Thankfully, John left out the obvious “Girl From Ipanema” (except for a tiny little snippet which you’ll read about later), but…