MPS Records, the now legendary German label based in the Black Forest region, has been put back to life a couple of years ago with reissues and new artists on the updated roster. Now, Gilles Peterson, the British DJ and label head (Talkin’ Loud Records, Brownswood Recordings) has taken on the task of putting together…
Are you listening to the same old Christmas songs again? Even though I have to admit that I return to the tried and tested Xmas records year after year (Herb Alpert, Bert Kaempfert, Erin Bode, Rosemary Clooney, June Christy, Peggy Lee, George Shearing, etc), it is always refreshing and highly appreciated to receive original songs which have…
“It’s not supposed to be a special place or city, it’s more like a search to find your home, anywhere”. For someone touring the world over, that’s something that you can easily relate to. Born in Israel and based in New York, guitarist Gilad Hekselman is currently on tour in Europe to support his latest…
The 24-piece Splitter Orchester opened this year’s Jazzfest Berlin last night before a sold-out audience. The 45-minute piece “Creative Construction Set” was written by trombonist George Lewis and featured a strange, if somewhat entertaining mélange of several electronics and prepared field recordings with more traditional instruments like clarinet and violin, but played in alienated fashion, uncharacteristically,…
Texas-born saxophonist and bassist Wilton Felder formed The Crusaders together with Joe Sample and Stix Hooper. Together, they became one of the most revered jazz fusion groups of the 60s and 70s, with several major international hits, like the immortal “Street Life” (1979). But Wilton was also a sought-after studio musician and played on hundreds…
Happy birthday to one of the most dynamic and interesting drummers, composers and producers of our time: Terri Lyne Carrington celebrates the big 50 today and there is more to celebrate: a new album (which will be exceptional after the first quick listen to some of the songs) which will have a lot of fantastic…
Rudresh Mahanthappa opened the final day of the 40th North Sea Jazz Edition. And even though he was offering the music from his most recent Charlie Parker-inspired project, I couldn’t really draw the line to the saxophone hero. But nevertheless, the band was delivering, especially 20-year old Adam O’Farrill (yes he’s from that family). Curtis…
One of my all-time favorite records is a duo album by the magnificent Irene Kral and the equally brilliant Alan Broadbent from 1974 called “Where Is Love?”. So I was pretty curious to listen to Lauren White‘s new album which was inspired by the recordings of Irene Kral. Lauren is a Los Angeles-based vocalist performing…
Ola Onabule, the brilliant Soul and Jazz singer from the UK, has signed with Dot Time Records. His new album “It’s The Peace That Deafens” will be released in the fall. In the press release statement from the label, Ola is quoted as saying that “It’s The Peace That Deafens is as much a work…
It is an incredibly sad week with so many of our good ones leaving us. Louis Johnson, one half of the Brothers Johnson, passed away yesterday at only 60 years old. My first encounter with his amazing slapping technique was with their hit song “Stomp”. But that wasn’t the only one of course. “Strawberry Letter…