The Festival today announced the programme for its 25th anniversary. It will be held January 9-11. Festival director Fritz Schmücker brings back an artist who was among the roster of the very first one back in 1979 (the Festival takes place every two years): Jasper van’t Hof will be on stage with Markus Stockhausen and…
I remember interviewing Jack Kleinsinger in his Manhattan home many years ago when his Festival was still held at PACE University and after the interview he generously gave me two concert LPs, one of which was a recording of the December 12, 1985 concert at NYU with Doc Cheatham on trumpet and George Kelly on…
“Anat’s Dance”, the first song clarinetist Anat Cohen played at her show at Berlin’s A-Trane last night, probably is the best introduction to her versatility: she extends so much joy from stage to audience it is really infectious. That particular song was written by pianist and keyboarder Jason Lindner who has learned with Barry Harris…
I’ve been an admirer of Raul Midón’s work ever since he came on the scene in about 1999. One of my favorite songs still is “Cerca De Mi” which can be found on the brilliant Louie Vega album “Elements Of Life”. Pure Bliss! Raul has been touring the world over several times since then and…
Millions of people are out on the streets this weekend to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down. Gina of course was among the crowd – she walked all the way through Mauerpark and back trying to catch the balloons….
Congratulations to Ann Hampton Callaway and Kari Strand! After a seven year engagement, they finally married! We wish them both all the best and many many beautiful years together. I remember going out with them both and a couple of friends several years ago when she last visited Berlin. We had so much fun in…
Gina today woofed a special Happy Birthday to the one and only Joni Mitchell. “Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced” will be released on November 17. This is a 4-CD boxed set with 53 previously-released tracks which have all been remastered. “Night Ride Home” is one of my favorite…
It really happens quiet often that prejudices are proven true in the end. When I read the names of the ten artists on the cover of the new Nina Simone tribute album “Round Nina – A Tribute To Nina Simone”, I immediately thought that especially three artists wouldn’t do anything to me or enhance this…
The Trumpeter, pianist, and composer from Cuba was one of the founding members of the famous group Irakere. He was a protégé of Dizzy Gillespie and while touring through Europe in 1990, he went into the American Embassy in Rome to ask for his defection from Cuba. In December, 1998, Sandoval became an American citizen….
The producer, label founder and label head received the “Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland” (Order of the Federal Republic of Germany) from president Gauck last Monday. Loch has received numerous awards over the years. He has also made it a tradition of inviting journalists to his home during the Berlin Jazzfest. Last weekend, the turnout there…