Happy 4th of July! It seems that everyone is talking about Kamasi Washington and his album “The Epic” since its release in early May. He has now announced his tour dates for the US and Europe. Kamasi opens the American leg of his tour in Seattle on July 30th and the final gig will be…
It was the perfect weather for the open-air concert of Gregory Porter and the Metropole Orchestra last night during the Citadel Music Festival. After the 60-piece orchestra took their seats, Gregory entered the stage and started out his majestic set with three of his mellower numbers which actually was a very pleasant start for the…
Kenny Barron, one of my all-time favorite pianists, and Mark Sherman, a highly respected vibraphonist who started his own label Miles High Records in the late 90s and who has recorded with a lot of vocalists, most notably with Peggy Lee, but also with Gloria Lynne, Ann Hampton Callaway, Lena Horne, Laverne Butler, and Ruth…
There has always been a shortage of male Jazz singers even though in recent years a few more interesting artists have come along. Anthony Strong started his career in a West End musical in London and has signed to the French Naive label a couple of years ago. On his new album, he mixes old…
This is Maysa‘s 12th album and her 8th for the Shanachie label, once again partly produced by Chris “Big Dog” Davis. There is a lot of drum and synth and keyboard programming here but it is her majestic voice that shines through all the tracks. The title track comes in two different versions – there…
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…
Passion and romance as told and described in various parts of the world – that’s basically the concept and idea behind the new album by singer Kurt Elling. The last time I saw him he didn’t make a good impression but it wasn’t his fault, but rather the strange arrangements of the leader of the…
According to an article in the New York Times, the Blue Note Jazz Club is expanding. Opening new clubs in early 2016 in Hawaii and Beijing, the brand will then have seven outlets: its original club in Manhattan’s East Village, three clubs in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya), and its only location in Europe in Milan,…
That the words and lyrics of legendary poet Gil Scott-Heron are still valid today, not only speak for his artistry as one of the most socially conscious commentator of his time, but also show us that unfortunately, much of what he was criticizing in the late 60s and 70s, is still true today. Mark Ruffin…
Trombonist Steve Davis dedicates his new album to the great hardbop trombone giant J.J. Johnson, who not only was a master on his instrument, but wrote a lot of timeless pieces as well. Steve plays with a band he’s been playing with over the years at Manhattan’s Smoke club and in the group One For…