I’m currently reading Ben Sidran‘s fascinating, behind-the-scenes biography of one of the most pivotal producers of the past decades, Tommy LiPuma. He has produced almost everybody from Miles Davis to George Benson, Barbra Streisand to the Manhattan Transfer, Rickie Lee Jones to Michael Franks. And he also produced Diana Krall who reflects: “Tommy was my…
Coming from a Gospel and Soul background and singing backing vocals for Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, or Kirk Franklin, it seems fitting that Loren Oden collaborates with arranger, producer, and composer Adrian Younge, who has recently worked with Roy Ayers and Marcos Valle for his “Jazz Is Dead” series. It seems as if…
It was back in March, just days before the Corona lockdown in Germany, when Sam Gendel‘s “Satin Doll” album came out. He totally destroyed a dozen or so standards and put them back together in a hilariously unique, fantastic way. Now he comes up with a space-age sounding follow-up. “DRM”, named after the Electro Harmonix…
“Love Letter”, the final album of one of the greatest saxophonists and composers in jazz, Jimmy Heath, was finished shortly before he passed away in January of this year. It features three original compositions in addition to five songs from Kenny Dorham, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday & Mal Waldron, Gordon Parks, and Billie Holiday and…
Growing up in the late 70s and early 80s with lots of listening to BFBS radio, I came into contact with British Funk and Soul music early on. The group Light Of The World was one of the father groups of this scene, with members like Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick who late formed Incognito, Paul “Tubbs”…
A new star in the making? He is only 13 years old and sounds like a seasoned pro on his forthcoming debut “Gruv Kid” (Shanachie), coming out on November 13th. His keyboard skills remind me of some of the groovier, funkier cuts that Bob James recorded in the 70s and 80s, mixed in with some…
We are almost done with this season which as you are all aware, has been an incredibly strange and difficult one. We were not able to stage a single concert this year. However, since our opening in mid May, daily business has been pretty good. So thanks to all who came out for a visit….
The man who got me started into music turns 70 today. Happy birthday Stevie Wonder! Another essential artist for this writer is Roy Ayers. A new track has been found while digging through his older material for the re-release of the 2003 album “Virgin Ubiquity”, which featured unreleased material from his amazingly fruitful period 1976-1981…
One of the highlights of last year’s North Sea Jazz Festival, which will not take place this year due to the corona crisis, was a duo concert by two brilliant improvisers: Edmar Castaneda (harp) and Grégoire Maret (harmonica). What they both delivered on stage in terms of musicianship, teamwork, improvisation, and the creation of a…
Nina Simone‘s “Fodder On My Wings” was recorded in 1982 for the French Carrere label and has now been released on hi-res audio on LP and CD on Verve. The album was re-released in 1988 on the French Cy label and included three additional tracks, also included here. Nina had already moved to Paris and…