The Montreux Jazz Festival has announced its programme for the 51st edition. I used to visit the festival for many yeears in the 90s and early 00s when you were always in for special treats when artists would play together in situations where you wouldn’t normally see them play. Also, there was always this great…
Argentinia-born guitarist Dominic Miller, who is living in the Provence region in France and has worked a lot with Sting over the years, has come up with his first album for the Munich-based ECM Records. And it turns out to be Gina’s third five-paw album of the year (after Kurt Rosenwinkel and Richard Galliano). The…
This year’s Palatia Jazz Festival in the beautiful Pfalz region (Riesling paradise!) has announced its line-up. The party begins with a duo concert by Vincent Peirani and Émile Parisien at the Gedächtniskirche in Speyer on May 27th. Also on the menu: Dieter Ilg Trio, China Moses, Lars Danielsson Group, Tingvall Trio, Omer Klein Trio, Ambrose…
The great Arthur Blythe has passed. The alto saxophonist was 76. Arthur was founder of the Underground Musicians Association and over the years has recorded dozens of great albums, often with unusual instrumentation. He was also known for group counterpoint and his expressive and swinging way of playing, both in the bop and the avant-garde…
Already lined up for this year’s North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam is an amazing group of artists which you will never see anywhere else over a three-day period I think. Friday, July 7th will feature Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles, Usher & the Roots, Wayne Shorter Quartet with Casco Philharmonic, Steve Winwood, Makaya…
I’ve been listening to a lot of new music recently. Actually I’m constantly listening, the first thing in the morning after getting up is not walking into the kitchen to make a coffee and it is not going into the bathroom, but it is always putting on the stereo. You will only see me with headphones…
Now it’s Patti Labelle‘s turn. Nine years after her “Back To Now” album, which had her reunited with Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx as Labelle, the legendary singer will release an album of standards. With the occasional song from the Great American Songbook on her individual albums and by including songs like “Over The Rainbow”…
We just wanted to thank Tommy LiPuma for playing such a vital part in the soundtrack to our life, bringing us unforgettable albums and songs from Natalie Cole, Barbra Streisand, Patti Austin, David Sanborn, Brenda Russell, Miles Davis, Bob James, George Benson, Michael Franks, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Al Jarreau, Michael Brecker, Randy Crawford, Joao Gilberto,…
At first I thought I was listening to a new Donald Fagen album – the similarities are really significant on the opening title track to Raul Midón‘s new album where he plays guitar, sings, raps, plays percussion and is responsible for some programming, too. Except for the rap in the middle of the song, that’s…
Growing up with “We Are Family”, “He’s The Greatest Dancer”, “Got To Love Somebody”, “Lost In Music” and dancing to those tracks in various clubs around Cologne, the music of Sister Sledge has played an important part in our lives. My favorite track is “Thinking Of You” from their 1979 “We Are Family” LP, produced…