The 27-year old singer, songwriter and pianist Sarah McKenzie‘s new album was produced by Brian Bacchus in New York. 11 songs, partly American Songbook, partly originals plus Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter frame her new album. Brian gave her a lot to listen to, according to a Skype interview I was able to make with…
Here is an album for the upcoming fall/winter season: the Lithuanian pianist Egidijus Buozis has recorded a beautiful, almost engrossed album of three Lithuanian folksongs, one Danish folksong, and originals by producers Caecilie Norby and Lars Danielsson. “I Went Out on A Summer Day” starts off in a somber and melancholic mood as a piano…
Omnipresent bassist Christian McBride brought his trio to the legendary Village Vanguard in New York last December and the sessions were recorded live during the three days of December 12th to 14th. The album starts impressively with Wes Montgomery‘s 1963 classic “Fried Pies” from his Boss Guitar LP. Both Christian Sands on piano and the…
Gina is heartily enjoying the warm, late-summer period here in Berlin. She had a lot to celebrate in recent weeks and now prepares for the next garden party which will take place on Sunday in beautiful Rosenthal in Northern Berlin. She also slowly but surely changes her fur these days and helps reaping all remaining…
Singer Amy London has not only assembled a group of new vocalese singers, but also invited five of the legendary artists of that genre, probably the last five still alive. What Lambert, Hendricks & Ross started in the 50s, is what Amy London, Darmon Meader (of the New York Voices), Dylan Pramuk, and Holli Ross…
Lizz Wright originally wanted to do an album of covers only. In the end, she decided not to do so and so on her new record, there are (thankfully) only two covers: Nick Drake‘s “River Man” and “To Love Somebody” by The Bee Gees. Produced by Joni Mitchell producer Larry Klein, Lizz returns after five…
Leon Bridges, the classic soul singer from Texas who is bridging the gap between 50s and 60s style soul à la Sam Cooke and Gospel, is currently on a European tour supporting his “Coming Home” album which came out in June. Leon performed a showcase concert in Berlin in May and I had the pleasure…
Three years ago, Jamison Ross won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition as best drummer. The Florida native now released his debut album and not only shows his drum chops, but also his talent as singer, producer, and composer. With “Deep Down In Florida”, he starts out on a bluesy note with a song…
The Detroit Jazz Festival is the world’s largest free Jazz Festival and takes place each year over the Labor Day weekend. Four stages, hundreds of artists, the Homecoming Series and the annual artist in residence (this year: Pat Metheny) all guarantee a knockout holiday weekend. I’ve already heard some great reports and stories from this…
The concert series for contemporary jazz in Berlin is in its sixth season and has started yesterday with concerts from Michael Moore & Achim Kaufmann, Michael Abramovich, and Filter Bubble. The series continues on September 24th with three more concerts: the Sugar Quartet consists of Grégoire Simon on viola, Paul Valikoski on violin, Boram Lie…