Earlier today, I went to the press conference for this year’s Jazzfest Berlin which is the first one with Richard Williams as artistic director. Richard attended the first Berlin Festival back in 1969 and has written for Melody Maker, the Times, and Time Out and has also written several biographies. So as it turned out,…
Chicago-based singer Dee Alexander‘s concert at the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival ended up on the New York Times list of the best shows that year. With her new record, she “wanted to pay tribute to my mom while I still have her”, as stated in the liner notes to the new disk and “when I…
Earlier this month, the Luther Vandross Estate, Hidden Beach Experiences, and Marcus Miller have announced plans for a semi-biographical musical which will star a who is who of artists. The Power of Love Experience – A Tribute to the Life of Luther Vandross is the exact title of the musical narrative which will tour through…
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…