VOTE!


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…
Vanessa Rubin, one of my favorite singers, has finally released her tribute album to Tadd Dameron, “The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron”, the pianist, composer, and arranger who was a pivotal figure in the bop scene of the 40s and 50s. Dameron composed several songs which became standards, like “If You Could…
Bossa Nova singer, pianist and composer Leila Pinheiro released her very first album in 1983. Simply called “Leila Pinheiro”, it features Ivan Lins, Joao Donato, Lincoln Olivetti, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Toninho Horta. Leila later worked with Roberto Menescal, collected numerous awards, did shows with partner and friend Ivan Lins, and a tribute show to…
For an avid reader of liner notes and credits, Sheree Brown is best known to me as a frequent collaborator on several of Patrice Rushen‘s best albums, released between 1978 and 1987. She has written or co-written some of the most memorable and loved tunes for Patrice: “Didn’t You Know” for “Patrice” (1978), “Let The…
Vocalist and songwriter Kathleen Grace finally had won me over while singing “I can see it in your eyes” from “The Thrill Is Gone”, the famous Ray Henderson/Lew Brown classic which has become a standard. Her heartfelt, very subtle and vulnerable performance, backed only by pianist Larry Goldings, is one of the highlights of her…
As with most of this year’s festivities and events, Thanksgiving will be completely different. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Americans to avoid holiday travel altogether. There have been lots of streamed concerts and showcases and talks and the like which surely isn’t the same as actually attending a concert,…