“Music Is Our Healing. It’s our spiritual language”, said legendary pianist Randy Weston during his duo appearance with the equally impressive Billy Harper at last night’s performance in the Madeira hall at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Randy Weston, now 89, very early in his career incorporated the rhythms of Africa, most prominently those of…
It was the perfect start to the 40th anniversary edition of the North Sea Jazz Festival last night. Jarrod Lawson & The Good People opened the night at Congo with their unbelievably funky, soulful, and intense set. Like in previous concerts I saw in Paris and Berlin, here’s a future Soul star with a mesmerizing…
After a smooth flight into Amsterdam and an enjoyable train ride to Rotterdam, I finally reached my apartment and to my surprise, it is even closer to the Ahoy location where the festival takes place than I expected. My host Mike was kind enough to give me his bike for the weekend and it only…
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…