Billie Holiday would have been 100 years old this month (April 7th), so it is only natural that we get several tributes this year. Young British singer Rebecca Ferguson and José James both have contributed already and here comes Cassandra Wilson with her new album. Produced by longtime Nick Cave mastermind Nick Launay, the album…
David Sanborn’s latest 9-song collection was produced by Marcus Miller and features two of the alto saxophonist’s own compositions: With “Drift”, he wanted to show respect for the work of D’Angelo whose output he admires. The result is a lush, soulful number with great 70s keyboard sounds by Roy Assaf and the lyrical wailing of…
The 71-year old singer is in ICU in a Los Angeles hospital after being unconscious at her Bel Air home. Her Twitter account from this morning says this: “Joni is currently in intensive care in an LA area hospital but is awake and in good spirits. More updates to come as we hear them.” According…
Her new album was actually recorded in Sao Paulo and is the first one she recorded in her home country ever since she came to the US in 1981. But does it make any difference? The album was, again, produced by her, her husband Marc Johnson who also plays bass on the record, and Steve…
Over 72 million records sold, 28 albums making the Billboard charts, co-founder with Jerry Moss of A&M Records, nine Grammy Awards, a new album last fall (“In The Mood”), and a recent 12-day run at New York’s Café Carlyle – Herb Alpert celebrates his 80th birthday today. The last time I saw him perform live…
“As I’ve gotten older, I’m more interested in the overall feeling of the record.” That’s how guitarist Russell Malone sums up the essence of his new HighNote Records album “Love Looks Good On You”. He once met fellow guitarist Mundell Lowe who explained to him: “Kid, it’s just living. After you’ve lived for a while,…
One of the songs José James performed last night during his brief showcase concert at Berlin’s Apple store on Kurfürstendamm was the moving ballad “Tenderly”. It is one of nine tracks from the fine and fitting tribute to the singer he discovered at a very early age in life. Earlier that day, we talked about…
Both guitarists play acoustic and electric guitar on their new album plus bass, piano, and keys. And they wrote four of the songs together, like the opening track “Morning Sun” which actually hints vaguely at “Here Comes The Sun” in some harmony parts. A nice opener. Kevin continues with a solo on Gershwin’s “Summertime” playing…
It would have been his 65th birthday today. While writing this, I am listening to his brilliant 1988 LP “Joy” which sums up the amazing artistry of Teddy Pendergrass. Eight classic tracks, mostly mid-tempo swayers with extraordinary background vocals and tight production. Even though the album was recorded in the late 80s when bizarre keyboard…
Copacabana and Greenwich Village are supposed to be feted in this 11-song collection of Brazilian music called “Copa Village” by singer Carol Saboya, harmonica player and vibraphonist Hendrik Meurkens, and pianist Antonio Adolfo. They even manage to come up with an interesting arrangement on the too worn-out “The Girl From Ipanema/Garota de Ipanema” with a…