The father of modern Gospel music, Andraé Crouch, was hospitalized late last year for heart failure and again early this year for a heart attack. His sister Sandra released this statement yesterday: “Today my twin brother, womb-mate and best friend went home to be with the Lord. Please keep me, my family and our church…
I don’t have any children but I can easily find joy and pleasure in Lori Henriques‘ children’s album “How Great Can This Day Be” because there are lots of interesting influences and arrangements which put this work beyond the “for children only” niche. The opening title track reminds me of the best Bob Dorough songs…
The BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards have been announced. Ann Hampton Callaway is the “Queen of Broadway”, she has garnered the most votes and is now officially “Performer of the Year”. Congratulations Ann! In the “Best Jazz Vocalist” category, there is a tie between Jane Monheit, who has won two years in a row, and…
Through its Competition and wide range of year-round programs, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is committed to identifying and training the world’s leading young jazz musicians who will preserve the traditions of jazz while expanding the music in new directions. That’s what is said on the Thelonious Monk Institute Organisation website and this past…
Pianist, producer and composer Meeco a/k/a Michael Maier delivers his fourth album “Souvenirs Of Love” next week. He has been under the radar more or less – but not in jazz and soul musician circles. Just a quick look at the line-up of the new record tells you why he is a respected producer and…
Singer, keyboardist, composer, producer and artist extraordinaire Frank McComb did not celebrate the holidays at home. Instead, he is on an extensive tour through Europe and plays Perugia in Italy tonight. Also coming up are performances in Sassari (Jan 5th and 6th) and Bolzano (Jan 9th). On January 10th, he’ll play London’s Jazz Café where…
Just last November, guitarist Jeff Golub had been diagnosed with a rare brain disease; an aggressive and untreatable degenerative disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy to which he finally succumbed on New Year’s Day at age 59. Golub had lost his eyesight inexplicably in 2011 and since then had recorded what is now his final album:…
Several releases for 2015 have arrived in recent weeks. All are scheduled for January and February and more are coming in. Make sure to check back here for reviews of, among many others, new albums by producer, composer, arranger Meeco who has assembled a stellar cast of performers for his new album “Souvenirs Of Love”….
The legendary drummer is celebrating his 90th birthday next March 13th and New York’s famous Blue Note Club will be the artist’s party location. Haynes, who started his career in 1945, will be at the West Village club from March 13th-15th and each night will feature two shows and a different special guest artist: Bassist…
The famous clarinetist died on Wednesday in Florida at the age of 91. DeFranco was the most popular bebop clarinetist who joined Gene Krupa‘s band in 1941 and later those of Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, and Glenn Miller. After those big band and swing years, he was one of the very few who took the…