Some people never get old. It is hard to believe that George Benson is 80 now. The last time I saw him perform live was at last year’s North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam. The music of George Benson has accompanied us since childhood so we’re celebrating today listening to everything from tracks of one…
HighNote and Savant Records, the two labels working out of a basement on the Upper West Side in New York, just announced two new releases for April. Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, a mainstay at the label since the 2000 release “Alexander The Great”, is hailed as one of the most ambitious and influential saxophonists of…
Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt started his recordings with New York-based HighNote Records back in 2010 with “Men Of Honor”, an album which features J.D. Allen on tenor sax, Danny Grissett on piano, Dwayne Burno on bass, and Gerald Cleaver on drums. He released four albums on MaxJazz before that and his debut on Fresh Sound New…
One of our favorite artists, Jarrod Lawson, currently tours the UK with his solo programme. After last years’s brilliant cover version of the Isley Brothers’ “Footsteps In The Dark“, Jarrod today released his take on the Prince classic “I Would Die 4 You”. His voice sounds better than ever. It’s an incredibly rich and super…
We’ve already mentioned new music coming up from Everything But The Girl, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Smokey Robinson. All three have just released new singles from their upcoming albums. Smokey’s second single after “If We Don’t Have Each Other” is called “How You Make Me Feel”. It’s a forceful, yet still subtle soul burner, typically…
I have always admired the piano playing of Eric Reed. I first encountered his music with his two albums on MoJazz (“It’s All Right To Swing”, 1993, and “The Swing And I”, 1995); both records brimming with originality and an impeccably soulful approach. Both also including intense Gospel moments, whether on a beautiful version of…
Vince Mendoza is back with a new, 9-piece album featuring music for and with the Metropole Orkest. Vince has worked with countless musicians in the past, like Joni Mitchell, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Melody Gardot, or Gregory Porter. He has two tracks on his latest album with two of the most precious singers around: Dianne…
Please feel free to open Gina’s weekly playlist of newly released tunes. Have a great Sunday. The list includes new music from Eric Reed, Chris Hyson, Reel People, Jeremy Pelt, Ben L’Oncle Soul, Billy Childs, and more. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IfBCjsuxoWwTzN5uSpAjN?si=85514a9d533d44a4&pt=c61873a297bf62c43ed5b08d2118b7d9
On tour with his latest project “On & On: José James Sings Erykah Badu”, the singer told an almost sold-out Paradiso crowd last night that a jazz singer of today is supposed to celebrate contemporary artists, instead of reworking the classics by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Even though he keeps admiring both vocalists (he…
Gina is spending a few days at her cottage in the Netherlands. We toured the city of Lemmer earlier today and she was not amused when I told her to pose for a photo. José James will play Amsterdam tomorrow and Rotterdam on Wednesday and so we’re really looking forward to his show playing music…