I remember the final days of 2020 when we all thought that things can only get better in 2021. So far, we’ve lost my mother-in-law at the very beginning of this year. Also, Mary Wilson left us recently and now it was time for Chick Corea to pass on. My earliest memory of hearing the…
It has become both pretty popular and very needed: Live-streaming events of artists performing in their living rooms, in a studio or elsewhere so that people can still enjoy something like a mini-concert. “Live From Our Living Rooms” is an online music festival and fundraiser with all proceeds being provided for emergency relief to New…
As part of a 2-month residency at the Blue Note, Chick Corea and Gary Burton opened last night’s set with a couple of tracks from their “Hot House” album which they recorded back in 2007. You could immediately feel from the start that both artists have been playing together for a long time (since 1971, said…
We missed a lot of shows in Berlin this week fighting a cold. First, there was saxophonist Donny McCaslin whose latest album, “Beyond Now”, will be reviewed here as soon as possible. Michael Kiwanuka also presented his new album “Love + Hate” (how appropriate a title at this time) and Terrace Martin & The Polly…
Chick Corea turns 75 on Sunday. What better way to celebrate this milestone than a two-month stint at the Blue Note in New York. And to help him celebrate this special birthday, there will be a total of 80 shows, 15 legendary bands, and 60 legendary musicians performing between October 19th and December 12th. Since Chick…
This upcoming week, Berlin has several top live acts as guests. Starting on Monday, Roy Hargrove and his Quintet will grace the stage at A-Trane for three consecutive nights. Roy is bringing his current group with Justin Robinson (sax), Sullivan Fortner (p), Ameen Saleem (b), and Quincy Phillips (dr). Everybody’s darling Gregory Porter returns to…
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,…