The Most Intriguing Performance in Jazz 2011
Jazz, Math, Tech & Lyle Mays
One of the most intriguing events in jazz this year that went largely unnoticed was something that I accidentally stumbled upon. Read more
Paul Winter on The 32nd Annual Winter Solstice Concert
Last June I interviewed the Grammy-Award winning artist Paul Winter about his annual Summer Solstice concert. As we approach the winter season and solstice, the legendary saxophonist is preparing for his 32nd Annual Winter Solstice Celebration which takes place December 15th, 16th and 17th at The Cathedral of St. John The Divine. Read more
Bill Frisell Covers John Lennon
As the anniversary of John Lennon’s death paid tribute to his life and musical contributions, I found myself listening to the latest album from guitarist Bill Frisell titled All We Are Saying. Read more
A Reason to SMiLE
The greatest rock and roll album never completed was The Beach Boys SMiLE. Recorded shortly after the groundbreaking Pet Sounds album in 1966, it found lead Beach Boy and legendary composer Brian Wilson (at only 24) at the peak of his creative prowess merging his Southern California branded popular music into new and abstract sonic territories. Read more
A Brush with Dizzy
In 1991, I had the honor of meeting Dizzy Gillespie while covering the Monterey Jazz Festival for the bulletin board version of Jazz Online (pre web) and KJAZ. My press credentials gave me access to the artist lounge which was located directly behind the main stage area. Everyone, who was anyone, hung out there during the festival especially from the late afternoon until the wee hours of the morning. Read more
Sonic Payton
Shooting Nicholas Payton’s Sonic Trance band @ Yoshi’s in Oakland back in the day was truly a blast and a highlight of the many video shoots that we produced from the mid 1990′s into the mid 2000′s. On this evening, we had three cameras and a 32 track audio truck parked right outside to capture Nick and the guys performing. Read more
Celebrating John Coltrane
Today we celebrate John Coltrane born September 23, 1926 and throughout the day we will honor Trane and share never before heard commentary episodes from the Traneumentary podcast series and more. Read more
Vintage Stan Getz Quartet Live
A good friend sent me a link to a historic and incredible video featuring a live performance of the Stan Getz Quartet from 1965 or 66 featuring Gary Burton, Steve Swallow and Roy Haynes. It was shot for a BBC series titled Jazz Goes To College. Read more
Return To Forever – The Complete Columbia Albums
Contributed by guest blogger Douglas Payne
After a prodigious session career in the 1960s, several solo albums that toyed with both the traditional and freer forms of jazz and a mercurial period of experimentation with Miles Davis between 1968 and 1972, pianist and composer Chick Corea crystalized the notion of his first “group” endeavor, to be known as Return to Forever. Read more
Amy Winehouse Covers “Round Midnight”
In case you missed this rare track, a few years ago the late singer Amy Winehouse recorded a funky interpretation of the Thelonious Monk classic “Round Midnight” on the b-side of her single “Take The Box.” Read more
Jazz Stylist Stan Getz
Contributed by guest blogger Douglas Payne
Tenor saxophonist Stan Getz (1927-91) is one of jazz’s best and best-known sax players. His warm, lyrical sound transcended many fads and fashions in jazz and was remarkably consistent throughout his long and varied career. Although he played everything from bebop to cool jazz, he is best remembered for popularizing the warm wave of the Brazilian Bossa Nova in America during the early 1960s, scoring huge, timeless hits with such songs as “The Girl from Ipanema.” Read more
Winter’s Solstice
Legendary musician, and Grammy-Award winner, Paul Winter has pioneered music that blends jazz, classical, world and environmental sounds into his brew of what he calls “Earth Music.” For nearly fifty years Winter has traveled the world with his Consort ensemble exploring vast music traditions and spreading his vision, desire and message of a balanced music-ecological community around the globe. His goal with his art and humanitarian message is to create a vital celebration of the creatures and cultures of the whole earth. Read more
