This international Jazz Festival now goes into its 19th season and will run from June 20th until August 8th in various outstanding and charming locations. That’s one of the trademarks of Palatia Jazz: most of the locations are really one of a kind. As for the artists, there will be, for example, top drummer Manu…
The International Jazz Day was launched in 2012. Back then, about 70 countries worldwide participated in daylong celebrations of this music and to spread awareness. This year, nearly all 196 U.N. member states are taking part on April 30th with special events planned on that day. Jazz Day again is presented by the Thelonious Monk…
His career spanned over seven decades, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010, and he entered hospice care about a week ago. His wife Gwen wrote on his Facebook page: “He left us peacefully, surrounded by his family, students and friends.” Two of my favorite Clark Terry albums are very different affairs and…
The Echo Jazz 2015 ceremony is scheduled for May 28th in Hamburg, a day before the popular Elbjazz Festival starts. Among the nominees are: Michael Wollny Trio (Ensemble of the year, national), Vincent Peirani & Émile Parisien (Ensemble of the year, international), Johanna Borchert (vocalist, national), Somi (vocalist, international), Julia Kadel (Piano/Keys, national), Stefano Bollani…
The 31st season of the 92Y Jazz in July Festival will run from July 21st to July 30th in the 92nd Street Y. The nonprofit cultural and community center on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan offers a wide range of cultural events the year round and has about 300.000 visitors each year. Artistic director, pianist Bill…
For almost two hours, the 65 year old Lionel Richie entertained the almost sold-out O2 World in Berlin last night with all of his hits. At one point, he divided the audience into three groups: those who have been with him since his days with The Commodores, those who came on board when he went…
Waiting for 45 minutes for the show to start at Berlins Columbiahalle is really nothing compared to the 14 years we all waited until his third album was released late last year. What D’Angelo came up with on stage was pretty impressive: a nine-piece band, among them Pino Palladino on bass, Kendra Foster on vocals…
Like Siggi Loch said in his opening remarks to the 8th Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic concert last night, the accordion was never really taken seriously until Astor Piazzolla came around in the early 70s. And he showed us in a two-hour show, how different and versatile this instrument can sound like in a jazz setting….
It is one of the better documentaries about a celebrated figure with a more than difficult life. Nina Simone, who started out wanting to be the first black female classical pianist to play at New York’s Carnegie Hall and who became one of the leading forces of the civil rights movement, is the topic of…
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,…