JamaicaMusic OFFBEAT

Jazz stylist Nicole Henry returns to Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival this Friday

2012-01-23T15:34:00.000-05:00

Jazz stylist Nicole Henry returns to the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in Trelawny this Friday January 27, 2012 and according to spokesman Dennis Ostern the singer is excited to perform the Jamaican festival again.

Coming off a 1-week, eight-show performance at the The Cotton Club in Tokyo, Japan where she is critically acclaimed, Nicole Henry is the billed straight-ahead jazz act on the festival night usually designated for the young pop fans.

But, Nicole has released three TOP 10-selling CDs in the last four years and toured internationally and throughout the United States. The multi-award winning singer since fell in love with the freedom, melodies and lyrics of jazz subsequent to the release of a debut jazz CD, The Nearness of You, to critical acclaim.

Billboard wrote that “Henry is a jazz vocalist poised on the cusp of bigger things,” and indeed she continues to be. Her follow-up CD, Teach Me Tonight with the Eddie Higgins Trio reached #1 in Japan and again earned her honors and being named the “Best Vocal Jazz Album” of 2005.

Now, Nicole comes to Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival on a new CD release, Embraceable that is greatly acclaimed and elicit tour of the US, Spain, Japan, and Jamaica.

Earl Klugh brings smooth jazz to Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival this Saturday

2012-01-22T22:55:00.000-05:00

American master guitarist Earl Klugh has been lauded as a prodigy, a groundbreaker, a defining figure and a true statesman of contemporary jazz. His portfolio comprises 44 albums, including 23 Top Ten records, 5 number ones on the Billboard Jazz Chart.

Despite this and his collaborations with various jazz artists and the media's categorization of his work, Klugh does not consider himself a jazz musician, as he explained,

"There is an element of jazz in my music, but basically it's pop. I have trouble with the label 'jazz.'…. Some musicians are purists, but my music derives from what's on the radio“ . But ,it’s a convenient way to market his music that draws a wide categorization that includes smooth jazz, crossover jazz, jazz fusion

Nonetheless, Earl Klugh managed to create a distinct place for himself in the music world, one that has attracted a large and appreciative audience, which come Saturday, January 28, 2012, will also include the audience at the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in Trelawny, Jamaica.

YolanDa Brown launches seminal CD, performs at London's Hammersmith Apollo

2012-01-16T14:51:00.000-05:00

WBGO Jazz88 preserving, promoting and presenting jazz in the New York tri-state area

2011-11-08T11:08:00.000-05:00

Radio WBGO FM is an independent, community-based, public radio station proported to be one of the bastions of the art of jazz in the New York tri-State area. Broadcasting since 1979 from studios in Newark, New Jersey, the mostly jazz radio is heard 24/7 free-to-air on 88.3 FM, via the Internet and mobile applications.

“ Fans from around the globe tune in for jazz, blues, R&B shows on the weekend, and award-winning news. Jazz88 has won the "Keeping the Blues Alive" Award and twice won the Gavin Report's "Jazz Station of the Year" Award“ .

A National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, WBGO is the third most listened to public radio station in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area and has a significant history of success with the weekly JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater currently carried by over 130 stations nationwide.

“ Jazz 88's dedication to preserving the uniquely American art form of jazz for future generations has spawned a Children's Jazz Series, now in its eleventh year. The series offers eight free concerts that are presented annually by top-name musicians who develop their programs specifically for young people”.

Dobet Gnahore: From Africa with energy

2011-10-25T11:32:00.000-05:00

Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

The statement that Ivory Coast's Grammy Award winner Dobet Gnahore is the most energetic singer ever to perform in Jamaica cannot be proved. But it could be true.

To take the title, Gnahore would have to beat the numerous high-voltage dancehall, soca and rock performers who have entertained audiences in the island. That fact should give music fans who did not see Gnahore's concert at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts on Sunday evening an idea of how exciting the show was.

Gleaner Review @ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111026/ent/ent7.html

Dobet Gnahore sparkling performance at the Phillip Sherlock Centre (UWI) in Jamaica

2011-10-25T11:27:00.000-05:00

Dobet Gnahore is compared to Africa's great legends... gave amazing performance in Jamaica

2011-10-17T09:12:00.001-05:00

Dobet Gnahoré, Africa's new voice, a dancer and percussionist from the Ivory Coast, has been compared to genre legends and cultural ambassadors like Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masakela.

But, she's a rarity who on stage exudes an inner strength and commanding presence. She is mesmerising even before she opens her mouth to sing. With such voice filled with emotion and range Dobet, it is said, moves through ranges of heartfelt ballads, funky stuff, and danceable songs all performed in a wide range of African styles.

Dobet Gnahore dances and the true depth of her amazing talent shines through. Acrobatically she leaps across the stage in rapid quick movements and at just 24 years old she seems to have gotten it all, an exceptional voice, amazing dance skills and the engaging aura reserved for artistic greats.

Dobet Gnahore is arguably African music’s most exciting young talent.

Dobet Gnahore Live @ AB Brussels!
Dobet Gnahore musicians:
Dobet Gnahoré : vocal, percussions
Colin Laroche de Féline : guitars, vocal
Clive Govinden : bass, vocal
Boris Tchango : drums, percussions, vocal

Karen Smith O.D.: Jamaican jazz vocalist extraordinaire

2011-10-02T16:48:00.000-05:00

Karen Smith, Jamaican jazz vocalist extraordinaire, has been described as a performer with a combination of smooth sophistication and sprightly energy who never fail to deliver a knockout performance.

The warmth and clarity of her vocal styling and easy mastery of musical genres in the range of pop and jazz, reggae and R&B has earned the cabaret star an ardent fan base. Invested with her country’s insignia, Commander of the Order of Distinction O.D.(Officer Class)for service in the field of music, Smith’s top class acts not only charms her cross-genre audiences but also made her a nine-time winner of the Jamaica Music Industry (JAMI) Awards and numerous other accolades.

Karen Smith gave an excellent show and left her audience demanding more… by the end of her stint on stage [she]once again proved that she is a Jane of all genres and master of all… - says Jamaica Gleaner.

Performance as is reputably described is not exclusive to Jamaica; Karen Smith weaves her class, style, movements and voice too across the United States, Canada and throughout the Caribbean.

Stevie Wonder tribute to Miles Davis opens London's O2 concert

2011-09-11T01:06:00.003-05:00

Legendary R&B great Stevie Wonder captured live at London’s O2 Arena before a capacity crowd of 15,000 on September 30th 2008 opening his “Live at Last” concert with Miles Davis “All Blue”

[Jamaican guitarist] Seretse Small leads 10-hour album recording [of Jazz for Hope 2011]

2011-08-30T19:19:00.000-05:00

The 10-tracks Jazz For Hope 2011 CD, a pre-recorded studio album that preceeds the annual Jazz for Hope (United Church) concert held July 2011, is the latest production by All About Jazz guitarist and Griot Music head Seretse Small.

Jazz for Hope 2011, recorded at Harry J studio in Kingston on a 10-hour deadline, is a treasure trove of love songs, gospel jazz, jazz standards, and interpretations of Jamaican music.

Produced by Small, the made for charity CD project engaged the services of Jamaica's talented but mostly unsung musicians in saxophonist Ian Hird, vocalist Andrew Lawrence, Dale Haslam (bass guitar), Aaron Vereen (percussions), Kamla Hamilton and Kenrick Lawrence (keyboards), Obed Davis (drums)and leader Seretse Small (guitar).

See full story @ JAZZ FOR HOPE 2011!

Jamaica's Jolly Boys covers Amy Whitehouse defining Rehab hit

2011-07-25T15:04:00.000-05:00

Esperanza Spalding captured live at Montreaux Jazz Festival 2011

2011-07-15T05:35:00.000-05:00

Sonny Rollins takes top honors at Jazz Awards

2011-06-13T09:08:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK – Saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins isn't slowing down at age 80, winning musician of the year honors at the Jazz Awards.

Rollins, currently touring New Zealand, was also named best tenor saxophonist at Saturday's awards ceremony at the City Winery club - AP

Swedish jazz-influenced band played Ocho Rios Interantional Jazz Festival

2011-06-10T16:18:00.001-05:00

Swedish group Mynta performed in Kingston at the opening of the 21st Annual Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival and at the Fathers Day closer in Ocho Rios.

Mynta presents an eclectic mix of rhythms with band members coming from diverse places such as India, Africa, Latin America, Cuba and Brazil.

Celebrating over 30 years of making music, the group, founded in 1979 by Swedish bassist Christian Paulin, has evolved from its original make-up as a typical jazz band into one of the world's top ensembles, creating a true fusion of jazz-influenced world music.

Mynta has performed at several major festivals in Dubai, India and China, as well as Hungary, Belgium and Denmark

Piano legend Monty Alexander receives proclamation from Broward County

2011-05-30T19:52:00.000-05:00

Sunday, May 22, was declared Monty Alexander Day in Broward County following the outstanding performance of internationally acclaimed jazz performer, Monty Alexander, C.D., during the first annual Reggae Jazz Fusion (Maxi Priest, A. J. Brown) at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

Broward County Commissioner, Dale Holness presented a proclamation in honor of the 50th anniversary of the piano legend, which has earned him a place in the top five jazz artistes in Hal Leonard’s book titled: ‘The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of all Time.’- South Florida Caribbean News

Anthony Wilson: A sensitive, gifted accompanist, formidable guitar soloist,

2011-05-09T09:44:00.001-05:00

Born May 9, Anthony Wilson’s career in jazz began auspiciously, and as a creative artist he continues to expand and impress. His first, self-titled CD received a Grammy nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Recording in 1998; his second CD “Goat Hill Junket” was featured prominently on many jazz critics' Top-Ten lists for that year; and his third CD “Adult Themes” earned a rare “5 stars” in Downbeat Magazine.

In May 2001, Groove Note Records released Wilson's “Our Gang,” a trio recording, which has also received raves in Downbeat and other publications.

Sensitive and gifted accompanist as well as a formidable soloist, Anthony Wilson has been recording and touring the world with the celebrated vocalist/pianist Diana Krall since he joined her in 2001 for her Grammy-winning CD/DVD “Live In Paris”. Recent recordings and concert appearances with the likes of Al Jarreau, Aaron Neville, and Madeleine Peyroux have served to spotlight Wilson’s growing artistry, musical maturity, and improvisational authority - All About Jazz website

Michael Franks puts finishing touches on "Time Together" album

2011-05-08T23:12:00.003-05:00

Jazz soulman Michael Franks is in studio putting the finishing touches on his highly anticipated new album "Time Together". In an e-mail message this week the apparently delighted singer told fans
"It's been a wonderful 6 months and I can't wait for you to hear it all".

On this latest project, Michael Franks reconnected with many old friends: Chuck Loeb, Gil Goldstein, Mark Egan, Charles Blenzig, Scott Petito, Veronica Nunn, Billy Kilson, Mike Manieri, David Spinozza, Romero Lubambo, Till Brönner and Eric Marienthal to name a few.

With his last CD "Rendezvous in Rio" dropped way back in 2006, the new album, "Time Together", Franks said, will be available in a few weeks.

Monty Alexander commemorates 50 years of music with new album

2011-04-10T13:30:00.000-05:00

SOURCE: SOMETHING ELSE!
S. Victor Aaron
via All About Jazz

Kingston, Jamaica's own Monty Alexander looms as large a figure in Jamaica's jazz world as Bob Marley does for its homegrown reggae. A virtuosic pianist in the Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson tradition, Alexander often melds Tatum and Peterson with the dancehall, calypso and reggae idioms from his homeland, and nobody does it better.

Regardless of the particular style of jazz he chooses, his piano playing lies at the heart of his artistry. He's truly a thrilling, joyful player with a flair for trills, block chord bombardments and amazing single note runs.

He avoids being overly showy due to the Peterson-like elegance in his playing style; he's a hard swinger and always respectful of tradition even when he branches away from it. This guy is a real legend.

Released March 8 ahead of his Birdland shows, Uplift, a collection of live recordings taken from assorted concerts between 2007 and 2010, isn't one of those tribute or stylistic exercise records he likes to make from time to time, and which are usually enjoyable excursions. Rather, it's straight up acoustic piano trio jazz containing a healthy mixture of standards and originals, which remains the best way to fully appreciate what a phenomenal player Mr. Alexander truly is.

Joining Alexander are Hassan Shakur on bass and either Herlin Riley or Frits Landesbergen on drums. These aren't household names, but they know well how to bolster the leader without competing for attention.

Reggae interpretation of Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" released, musicians unknown

2011-04-09T09:26:00.001-05:00

Reggae Interpretation of Kind Of Blue, a tribute to Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue, is an album too long in waiting of which California based reggae artist manager Issa Aryanpure dubbed “one of the most unique albums of its kind”.

According to Aryanpure, in 1981, a group of Jamaican musicians got together under the direction of New York University Prof. Jeremy Taylor, a jazz musician and educator, the result a masterpiece album. It is unfortunate, however, that Taylor passed away shortly after recording this album and it was never released until 2009.

Posthumously Secret Stash Records worked with the family of Prof. Taylor to turn this project into a reality. Prof. Taylor, who was fascinated by Jamaican music for a long time, traveled to the island several times to study the home-grown music with some of the best players of the time.

In his 1979 book, “A Space Between” Taylor wrote, “My first trip to Jamaica (May 1977) was the most eye-opening musical experience of my life. I met so many incredible players who had been brushed off by the snobby musical establishment…..I had to find a way to showcase their unparalleled talent in a different medium and this was the spark that lit the fire to create this reggae tribute to Miles Davis’ best selling jazz album of all times.

Kind of Blue put it in the hands of formidable Jamaican musicians result in the unparalleled Reggae Interpretation of Kind Of Blue. The album offers 5 tracks along with a dub of each one for a total of 10 tracks!

TRACKLIST
01.So What
02.Freddie Freeloader
03.Blue in Green
04.All Blues
05.Flamenco Sketches
06.So What Dub Version
07.Freddie Freeloader Dub Version
08.Blue in Green Dub Version
09.All Blues Dub Version
10.Flamenco Sketches Dub Version

Seretse Small: one passionate guitarist

2011-04-01T13:57:00.001-05:00

Jamaica Observer story

Watching musician Seretse Small on guitar you wouldn't have the slightest idea that guitar was not his first love! But, according to Small he really wanted to play the saxophone and then go on to drums but his dad could afford neither

" I got caught, not with a guitar bug, but a music and culture bug in the 70's primarily from being with my mother as she innovated Caribbean theatre at the Cultural Arts Centre at UWI," recalled Small about his journey into music. Read more: Seretse Small

Dionne Warwick takes a walk on the jazz side

2011-03-23T19:06:00.000-05:00

Among the myriad voices that surfaced throughout the 1960s, Dionne Warwick remains one of the most distinctive and most enduring. The first decade of a career that now spans 50 years was defined by a steady stream of million-selling hits custom-crafted for her by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

In 1990, Warwick made her first recorded foray into jazz, crafting an album of Cole Porter standards for Arista under the direction of producer Arif Mardin. But Clive Davis, then head of Arista, deemed the original sessions too jazzy and the tracks were re-recorded.

Now, 21 years later, Warwick is revisiting jazzland, this time with 13 Sammy Cahn tunes on Only Trust Your Heart.

Prior to the album's release, the legendary singer discusses her new album, her appreciation for jazz, her 50th showbiz anniversary, and her work with such jazz legends as Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Joe Williams with JazzTimes’ Christopher Loudon @
Dionne Warwick jazz walk

Visually impaired Kamilia 'Candy' Isaacs deliver an Ella Fitzgerald-esque set at Gospel Jazz event

2011-03-18T10:42:00.001-05:00

Jazz singer Myrna Hague takes 'First Cut' of reggae

2011-03-06T22:00:00.001-05:00

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Myrna Hague's Melody Life album is an unusual project for the lady who is much more easily identified with jazz than reggae. Among the tracks on the 1972 Studio One album are Melody Life, First Cut Is The Deepest, Our Day Will Come, How Could I Live, What About Me, Time After Time and On a Clear Day.

Hague tells The Sunday Gleaner that the album was not only her introduction to some of the songs but also singing reggae. More on Melody Life

Chamber Music Society tops Billboard Jazz Album Chart after Grammy awards

2011-03-03T17:19:00.002-05:00

Chamber Music Society moves into #1 last week on the Billboard Jazz Album Charts following Esperanza Spalding bolt from the blue Best New Artist Grammy win.

Before the Grammy, Spalding’s third album, which is hailed among the US jazz community, peaked at #3 before put on a slide down the best-selling jazz album list. But, what a difference a Grammy makes in the life of a jazz bassist who only genre ficionados saw as the next big thing in jazz.

Still, Chamber Music Society was not nominated for a Grammy award and, including Spalding herself, almost none believed the little-known performer had a ghost of a chance to hold the statuette prize. No jazz artist as before won Grammy’s Best New Artist award.

Now a bemused music world not only is taking stock of jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding but also is reaching out tangibly in making her the top-selling artist on Billboard over the fortnight and also placed the Heads Up CD at #34 – Billboard Top 200 (across genres), # 11 – Digital Album Chart (download), #16 – Tastemakers Album Chart (Independent Retailers), and moving up 42 positions to #5 on the based on listener's requests Jazz Week Radio Chart(see sidebar)

Twenty-eight weeks on chart, Chamber Music Society unseated the longstanding Crazy Love album (Michael Buble) at the top of the Billboard Jazz Album Chart. The Canadian’s latest album so far spent 73 on the US Chart.

Indeed! There is something about Jazz

2011-02-28T21:04:00.001-05:00

There is something about jazz that makes it comparable to a large glass of chilled 'brackish' (just enough sugar) Jamaican lemonade on a warm summer day.

Perhaps it is the way it soothes the soul, whether the songs are gospel, folk, fusion or secular, or just on the edge like the ideal glass of lemonade that is not too sweet or too sour it can be very enjoyable.

Snippet from Jamaica Gleaner Writer Marcia Rowe's rave review of the annual concert 'Blues on the Green', organized by Embassy of the United States (US), held at Emancipation Park in Kingston.

Wait, Who Is This Esperanza Spalding?

2011-02-20T13:56:00.002-05:00

Credit: NPR Jazz

Forget the Arcade Fire: The biggest upset of the 2011 Grammy Awards, held Sunday night, was when jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding won for Best New Artist

A broad contingent of Spalding's fans, especially within but certainly not limited to the jazz community, knew she has winning musicianship. But few believed she had even a puncher's chance at the actual award. Especially for its highest-profile categories, the Grammys tend to reward top-selling acts signed to major record labels, regardless of musical merit.

And with teenage heartthrob Justin Bieber in the running — not to mention Drake,... But wait, who is Esperanza Spalding? Find out in this telling NPR Music Esperanza Story!

And the JAZZ GRAMMY goes to................

2011-02-13T12:40:00.005-05:00

BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM

BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM

BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
Track:A Change Is Gonna Come (Herbie Hancock)

BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM

BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM

Dennis Rushton plays the Heineken Star Stage @ Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival

2011-02-09T00:05:00.002-05:00

Photo by Noel Thompson
noelsamt@hotmail.com

Celebrating 66 years of Jamaica's reggae king BOB MARLEY

2011-02-06T14:38:00.002-05:00

Bob Marley was the Third World’s first pop superstar. He was the man who introduced the world to the mystic power of reggae. He was a true rocker at heart, and as a songwriter, he brought the lyrical force of Bob Dylan, the personal charisma of John Lennon, and the essential vocal stylings of Smokey Robinson into one voice.— says Jann Wenner, at Marley’s 1994 posthumous introduction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 1999 Time magazine chose Bob Marley & The Wailers' Exodus as the greatest album of the 20th century. In 2001, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a feature-length documentary about his life, Rebel Music, won various awards at the Grammys.

In 2006, the State of New York renamed a portion of Church Avenue from Remsen Avenue to East 98th Street in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn "Bob Marley Boulevard".

Internationally, Marley’s message also continues to reverberate amongst various indigenous communities. The Aboriginal people of Australia continue to burn a sacred flame to honor his memory in Sydney’s Victoria Park. Members of the Native American Hopi and Havasupai tribe consider Marley to be the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. And, many in Nepal, Marley is considered to be an incarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu.

Celebrating 66 albums viz;
16 Official albums
4 Official live albums
33 Compilations albums
7 re-Mixed albums
6 Tribute albums

ountless many have recorded the Marley catalogue in jazz (Monty Alexander, Charles Hunter), bossa nova (Bossa 'n' Marley)and in other genre.

Laura Izibor performed an excellent set at Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival

2011-02-06T12:36:00.002-05:00

Photos by Janet Silvera
silverajanet@hotmail.com

Laura Izibor , Irish recording artist, musician, songwriter and producer, came to Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival 2011 not only as a relative unknown but also was billed on closing night ahead of current reggae star Tarrus Riley, American songstress Natalie Cole and international acclaimed, Jamaican-favoured group Air Supply.

A daunting task for any greenhorn but by the end of a riveting 45 or so minutes on Saturday, January, 29th patrons were overheard suggesting that Turn Key Production, organizer of the annual festival, brings her back for an encore next year.

Arriving centrestage during a nagging, intermittent rain, Laura Izibor was excellent in returning life to a rain-drenched event.

Still, nothing less should have been expected from an artist whose music has been compared to recording artists Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys and whose writing talent draws comparison to that of Carole King and Joan Armatrading.

Diana Krall mass appeal draws fullhouse on Quiet Night tour

2011-02-02T20:30:00.004-05:00

Younger jazz musicians do not ordinarily have the mass appeal to sell out tickets in large concert halls; Diana Krall changed that as full house are turning up to her Quiet Night album tour to revel in the delight of her acoustic jazz improvisation and interpretations of old standards, her intimate ballads and bossa nova.

The husky-voiced Canadian was raised on jazz by both parents who were jazz pianists, and she studied piano at age four. Later Diana Krall would draw inspiration from Nat King Cole and from piano-playing singers, particularly Carmen McRae. She played in the school band, but by age 15 had a gig three nights a week in the town of Nanaimo.

At age 16, she won a Vancouver Jazz scholarship to study at Boston's Berklee College of Music for the next year. Afterwards, the Canadian Arts Council awarded her a grant to study with pianist great Jimmy Rowles in L.A. The next few years she bounced between Toronto, Boston, and New York, studying with master jazz musicians and playing in small clubs.

Diana Krall began singing against the rhythm, developing a sultry but pure voice compared most to Julie London. She built a small following and released a few albums.

Those few albums debuted with Trust Your Heart, a 1995 album tribute to Nat King Cole was successful, but All For You in the same year remained in the Top 10 of Billboard's Traditional Jazz Charts for over a year and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz vocals. 1997's Love Scenes, filled with smooth ballads like “They Can't Take That Away From Me," also received Grammy nominations. Throughout the 1990's, she was building both a catalogue and a following well beyond jazz idiom.

1998 and Diana Krall reached new levels of popularity with When I Look in Your Eyes, an album with a diverse repertoire including hit parade favourite from the 20's, 50's and won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal performance, Best Non-Classical Engineered Album, and was up for Album of the Year against Santana, the Backstreet Boys, and the Dixie Chicks. Though she didn't win, everyone now knew the name Diana Krall.

The Live in Paris 2002 album earned Diana Krall a Grammy. The 2004 release, The Girl in the Other Room was more pop than jazz, but fans never complained. Quiet Night 2010 is her ninth studio album.

Natalie Cole was the class-act of Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival 2011

2011-01-31T23:19:00.001-05:00

American singer, songwriter and commanding stage performer Natalie Maria Cole, the daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, duly substantiate the jazz reference in the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival. She was unanimously the class-act of the three-day fest held at Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny, Jamaica over last weekend.

Cole not only woo the large turn out on Saturday night but became the darling of the Jamaican Dailies.

Gleaner writer Janet Silvera wrote that 'After three nights of the 'Art of Music', the question of who was the best, is a toss-up between the sophisticated, elegant class act who goes by the name Natalie Cole and Jamaica's very own, Tarrus Riley.

Dazzling the audience in an exquisite dress, Cole, sparkled and so did the diamond microphone that she held in her hand.

Having lost [some] weight, Cole looked like jazz legend Nat King Cole's little girl, but when she opened her larynx, she brought out the woman.

This was no child act, "This is Prime Plus," shouted university lecturer and Sunday Gleaner columnist Carolyn Cooper. Yes, Natalie Cole has upstaged Prime Time, and showed herself to be among the artistes of this world capable of bringing audiences to their knees.

"I like when you sing with me," she told the thousands that stood on the greens at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, waiting to hear her belt the Grammy Award-winning 'Record of the Year', Unforgettable, and this she did, but not before flirting her prowess through the words of Miss You Like Crazy, the uptempo Mr Melody and the anthem Inseparable.

By the time Cole reached that juncture in her performance, she could easily have ended there, but she didn't. The star performer continued, unwilling to short-change her clients'.

Air Supply, Natalie Cole steal the show, screamed The Jamaica Observer newspaper's headline.

'Preceding Air Supply was the daughter of one of the greatest singer ever lived - Natalie Cole. Her dad shoes fit just perfectly as she came on stage and delivered an ultra smooth performance.

Her sweet, clear voice rang out in the cool morning air, warming the hearts of her listeners.

Wynton Kelly was a superb accompanist with Jamaican roots

2010-12-02T11:13:00.007-05:00

Son of a Jamaican mother and a Trinidadian father, Wynton Kelly was born in Brooklyn, New York December 2, 1931 and he started his professional career as a teenager, initially as a member of R&B groups. After working in the big band and small groups led by Dizzy Gillespie, he was a member of Miles Davis' Quintet from 1959 to 1963.

Wynton Kelly, the uncle of fiery bassist Marcus Miller and grand niece of Lil'Kim, was one of the most prolific sideman pianists of his era, performing on scores of jazz albums, and led albums under his own name for the Riverside and Vee-Jay labels. After leaving Davis's group, along with Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb, he formed a trio which worked regularly during the 1960s.

A superb accompanist, loved by Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley, Wynton Kelly was also a distinctive soloist who decades later would be a strong influence on Benny Green. He grew up in Brooklyn and early on played in R&B bands led by Eddie Vinson, Hal Singer, and Eddie Davis. Kelly, who recorded 14 albums for Blue Note in a trio (1951), worked with Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lester Young during 1951-1952.

After serving in the military, he made a strong impression with Washington (1955-1957), Charles Mingus (1956- 1957), and the Dizzy Gillespie big band (1957), but he would be most famous for his stint with Miles Davis (1959-1963), recording such albums with Miles as Kind of Blue, At the Blackhawk, and Someday My Prince Will Come. When he left Davis, Kelly took the rest of the rhythm section (bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb) with him to form his trio. The group actually sounded at its best backing Wes Montgomery.

Wynton Kelly died in April 1971

Desi Jones: Most sought after drummer on Jamaica jazz scene

2010-12-01T19:45:00.001-05:00

Jamaican drummer Desi Jones, leader of the Skool band and celebrated drummer of the international reggae band Chalice, was in 1976 introduced to the legendary trumpeter and big band leader Sonny Bradshaw, and purely by chance.

“I was playing congas for the Eddie Thomas Dance Group at CARIFESTA and the drummer for the Sonny Bradshaw Seven met in an accident. I was then introduced to Mr. Bradshaw by [saxophonist] Dean Frazer as a stand in. He took the chance and allowed me to play for the band that day. Later in the year I was offered the job and I took it," Jones reminisced.

Today Jones is an expert drummer and with Chalice being inactive, is probably the most sought after drummer on the Jamaica jazz scene. Still, musically, his style runs the range of reggae, jazz, Latin and Jamaican traditional beats, a diversity that led him to Skool since 1988.

"I get inspiration from the knowledge that with just a simple beat I can make people dance. The drums can also make a person's mood change from joy to sadness," he said.

Although he has never released a solo album, Desi Jones, produced, arranged and played on a number of CDs for Mutabaruka, Carlene Davis, Peter Ashbourne, Dr. Kathy Brown, Skool Band and (the album) The Art Of Reggae Drumming".

Pianist Dr. Kathy Brown seeks opportunities to perform overseas

2010-12-01T02:49:00.003-05:00

The little girl from mid-island Jamaica played the family piano at age 5 and by late teen she knew exactly what she wanted to be in life, a musician. Her parents being academicians counseled on the fickleness of the music business suggesting instead a career in medicine.

KathyBrown was performing small gigs throughout medical school all the time honing her piano playing skills, then she discovered jazz and found her niche. “My music is definitively a crossover between jazz and indigenous forms of music whether it is reggae, Latin and afro-Brazilian styles”.

Today, KathyBrown M.D. pianist, composer, bandleader, recording artist is a consummate jazz pianist with a CD Kathy Brown: A Musical Journey and lead her KathyBrown & Friends band, a favourite on the Jamaican jazz landscape.
The Jamaican pianist’s intense desire to play overseas got on the road in August 2007 when she was invited to play at the Island Soul Festival in Toronto, Canada. And, so began a musical journey that has taken her to Suriname, Antigua & Barbuda, Grand Cayman, Austria, New York, and Florida where she appeared with outstanding cabaret singer Sabrina Williams at Bistro Soleil on Marco Island, Naples prior to a raved performance at the Jazz Gallery at Miami jazz radio WDNA 88.9FM.

Dr. KathyBrown appeared several times at the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival opening for Roy Ayres (2007) and Latin music heartthrob Jon Secada (2010), Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival, and Port Royal Music Festival. She has shared stage with Jamaica’s great guitarist Ernest Ranglin, famed trumpeter Mickey Hanson, Japanese multi-reedist Hiroaki Honshuku, and veteran bassist for Monty Alexander and music producer Glen Browne.

With jazz a spatter on the Jamaica music landscape, KathyBrown, the All About Jazz musician, avidly seeks opportunities to perform her “true crossover” of “different music style” to audiences overseas.

Dennis Rushton is Jamaica's smashing jazz pianist

2010-11-30T03:30:00.007-05:00

Dennis Rushton relationship with the piano began at age 9. He was classically trained, but, in later years, studied other music styles but with an emphasis on jazz. The founder/director of DenRush Productions, consisting of a music school and recording studio, is the executive producer of the concert series "Creative Praise”.

Rushton albums are Sail On (2002), The Star, a Christmas special, also in 2002, and Quiet Time released in September 2003. Active in the Jamaica Cultural Development Corporation (JCDC) national festival competition, his own production The Extra-Ordinary God won the JCDC Gospel song competition.

He has opened for Kirk Franklin and CeCe Winans in Jamaica and in 1999 won the Best Instrumentalist category at the annual Tri-State Music Awards held in New York, and has accepted distinguished service award from the Gospel Music Industry in Jamaica.

Dennis Rushton (piano), Dale Brown (bass)and Bobby Stewart (drums) made history being the first Jamaican Gospel Group to be featured on B.E.T. jazz channel. He performed for many Jamaican government officials, cocktail hour at the Prime Minister Independence Gala celebration, jazz series, weddings and corporate occasions.

Known as the Smashing Pianist, a Dennis Rushton performance is greatly entertaining, highly theatrics with elbows, knees and feet smashing into ebony and ivory of the keyboard. And, the fans love every moment.

Maurice Gordon: A Jamaican guitarist of great versatility

2010-11-28T23:00:00.004-05:00

Unambiguously smooth jazz and reggae guitarist Maurice Gordon describes his music as contemporary jazz delicately flavored with hints of reggae, R&B, funk, rock and fusion. Whatsoever the label, he is an artist of great versatility one who is well admired in jazz circles for his fluid technique, dexterity and highly personal style that has earned him wide-ranging appeal from Canada to the Caribbean, from South Africa to South America.

Quietly respected as a credible musician and composer, Maurice Gordon has recognized and draws upon the great wealth and tradition of many styles in music by studying with the likes of Bobby Edwards, John McLaughlin (saxophone) and Frank Falco in Toronto, Canada. His own influences are Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis, George Benson and Bob Marley.

Although quite fluent in a variety of musical idioms his love and devotion to jazz have remained constant. A Bachelor of Arts degree (Hons)in Music from York University, the former head of the Department for the Caribbean Latin and Jazz Program at the Jamaica School of Music and private teacher performs regularly in various settings as solo, duo, trio and as a quartets.

Maurice Gordon performed festivals in the Caribbean including Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, St. Lucia and Martinique Jazz Festivals, Ramajay Festival (Trinidad), Grenada Spice Jazz Festival. In 2001 he recorded "Jazz in the Sun" for BET jazz which is still being aired on cable. Currently he entertains as a solo guitarist at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay. Three CDs to his credit, Jamaica Time Celebrating Festival Vol 1, Jamaica Flora and Irie Mood.

Jolly Boys launched Great Expectation CD in Paris, taped French TV Special on European tour

2010-11-24T16:05:00.000-05:00

Jamaica's premier mento band, The Jolly Boys, launched their “Great Expectation” album in Paris concurrently taping a TV Special for French national TV.

The veterans of Jamaica indigenous mento music from picturesque eastern Jamaican town, Port Antonio breaks from the city of light and romance for further engagements that will take them to Germany, Ireland, Scotland, England and The Netherlands.

Jolly Boys December 2010 Tour Dates

•02 Ampere Munich, Germany
•04 Frannz Club Berlin, Germany
•05 Brotfabrik Frankfurt, Germany
•06 La Maroquinerie Paris, France
•08 Knust Hamburg, Germany
•10 Pavillion Bar & Nightclub Cork, Ireland
•11 Button Factory Dublin, Ireland
•13 Oran Mor Glasgow, Scotland 400
•14 Night and Day Cafe Manchester, UK
•16 HMV Institute Birmingham Birmingham, UK
•17 Earls Court London, UK 13812
•18 Melkweg Amsterdam, Holland

The Sacred jazz of Deanna Witkowski

2010-11-21T23:00:00.003-05:00

Pianist, vocalist, composer and winner of the 2002 Great American Jazz Piano Competition, Deanna Witkowski is one of the more important sacred jazz artists today.
With a very original and virtuous style, she mixes contemporary and Latin jazz genres doing so from a spiritual perspective.

Based in New York, Deanna has worked in different projects relating to sacred jazz. Most important is her album From this Place that mainly focused on liturgical music and feature saxophonist Donny McCaslin, bassist John Patitucci, drummer Scott Latzky and vocalists Laila Biali, Peter Eldridge, and Kate McGarry.

Deanna has recorded three other sets: Having To Ask, Wide Open Window and Length of Days. Her involvement in composing congregational music resulted in her work appearing in the hymnals Singing the New Testament (Faith Alive) and Swing a New Song to the Lord

Canada's Jazz Air (LP) launch flights to Montego Bay

2010-11-14T14:34:00.009-05:00

JAZZ AIR LP ("Jazz") launch Boeing 757-200 airline services from Toronto to Montego Bay with early morning flights departure to the Jamaica's tourist resort capitol, the headquarters of Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival 2011.

Jazz Air is Canada's largest regional airline and the second largest airline in Canada, based on fleet size and number of routes operated. Now in its 15th year, The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival parades a galaxy of top flight international and local stars and is scheduled for January 23-29, 2011.

Miami-based WDNA FM plays Jazz With an Accent every Wednesday

2010-11-08T22:00:00.002-05:00

JAZZ, the quintessential American art form, has become a global language, a language many artists around the world are using to tell their stories.

Jazz With an Accent, a weekly one-hour program that began November 3 on Miami based 88.9FM WDNA, is produced and hosted by writer and critics Fernando Gonzalez, and he plays jazz from around the world.

"It is jazz for the 21st century, informed by swing and the blues but also flamenco, tango, African music, the European classical tradition, bomba y plena, and more", blurts the station's promo.

There is a world of jazz to be discovered every Wednesday at 7 pm at www.wdna.org.

Nine Women In The Room: A Jazz Musicians’ Roundtable

2010-11-03T23:34:00.003-05:00

Roundtable sisters: From left to right: (top row) Geri Allen, Ingrid Jensen, Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, Tineke Postma and Helen Sung; (bottom row) Nona Hendryx and Gretchen Parlato

by Tom Cole
Over the summer, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington brought together some pretty high-profile musicians from all over the world to record The MOSAIC PROJECT: pianists Geri Allen, Helen Sung, and Patrice Rushen; bassists Esperanza Spalding and Mimi Jones; percussionist Sheila E.; woodwind players Anat Cohen and Tineke Postma; trumpeter Ingrid Jensen; violinist Chia-Yin Carol Ma; flutist Hailey Niswanger; and vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Carmen Lundy, Nona Hendryx, Patricia Romania, and Gretchen Parlato. Activist and author Angela Davis even contributes spoken word to one track.

You may have noticed they're all women. That was both the point of the session — and not the point.

After a full day of recording, eight of the musicians sat down with Lara Pellegrinelli for a conversation on the topic of women in jazz. They shared some of their own experiences and discussed the media, the music business, audience, mentors, and role models.

The story, discourse at NPR Music: http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2010/11/01/130978669/nine-women-in-the-room-a-jazz-musicians-roundtable?sc=nl&cc=mn-20101102

Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival takes Gleaner Honour Awards, the CEO responds

2010-10-25T19:30:00.010-05:00

Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, formerly Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, takes the Jamaican Gleaner Honour Award 2010 in the category of Entertainment. From scores of nominees, the award is given annually to individuals and organisations that have made a difference by positively enhancing Jamaica's quality of life.

Since 1996, the festival has brought thousands of tourists to the Jamaican north coast and January 2010 staging in a new venue, the Trelawny Multi-purpose stadium, attracted over 20,000 patrons over three days. From Ziggy Marley and George Benson at its first staging, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Kenny Rogers, Lionel Ritchie in between, to Babyface, Gladys Knight in 2010 the festival has featured well over 100international and local stars.

Big names are being eyed as Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary January 23 -29, 2011.

YolanDa Brown woke to an "amazing gift" from Yamaha Music UK

2010-10-17T18:38:00.009-05:00

YolanDa Brown woke up recently to a special delivery of a brand new saxophone from Yamaha Music UK, the world's largest and most successful maker of quality musical instruments with global network extends across 20 countries.

The jubilant multi-award winning Brown posted a thank you on Twitter "Thanks so much to Yamaha UK for my amazing gift! I can't stop playing this beautiful sax - a great sound! aha".

YolanDa Brown, popular young UK sax player with Jamaican connections, recently graduated from a London University with a PhD degree.

Michael Bublé 's "Crazy Love" tops Billboard Jazz Album charts

2010-10-16T20:24:00.004-05:00

Canadian jazz crooner Michael Bublé's fourth studio album CRAZY LOVE (2009) stays comfortably atop Billboard Jazz Album charts concurrently as it straddles the Top 200 Album (Pop) at #124 after peaking at #1.

The tracks of CRAZY LOVE; 1. Cry Me a River 2. All of Me 3. Georgia on My Mind 4. Crazy Love 5. Haven't Met You Yet 6. All I Do Is Dream of You 7. Hold On 8. Heartache Tonight 9. You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You 10. Baby (You've Got What It Takes)11. At This Moment 12. Stardust 13. Whatever It Takes.

Michael Bublé (pronounced "booblay") winning stratagem is in taking the old (Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin) and made them new again. He combines pop standards from decades past with a splash of original tunes for a mix that has brought him international acclaim. And, his fans adore him, to the point of swooning like school-aged girls.

And, Michael Bublé is not down yet, find him elsewhere on this week's Billboard charts in the Catalog Album category where IT'S TIME is at #36 having gone to #1 and the recent HOLLYWOOD is at #10 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Since 2003, Bublé's made a quick trip up the ladder of success with bestselling albums like 2005's IT"S TIME and 2008's CALL MR IRRESPONSIBLE.

YolanDa Brown: A jazz saxophonist with affiliation in academia

2010-10-04T15:12:00.012-05:00

Jazz has a preponderance of musicians of high academic achievements who have PhDs, Masters, Bachelors degree behind their names. Maybe the converse holds that high academic achievers, who are musicians, are invariably attracted to this great and wonderful music.

A recent addition to the list of A-Graders is YolanDa Brown,
British born jazz saxophonist, 2008 MOBO Award Winner "Best Jazz", 2008 Urban Music Award Nominee "Best Jazz", Women in Entertainment and Arts Award 2009 "Best Musician", who recently been awarded a Honourary Doctorate of Art degree from the North East London University joining a multitude of jazz musicians with affiliation to academia.

Born in England of Jamaican parents, the princess of sax is widely regarded as the "emerging" voice of mainstream jazz in the UK. Endorsed by Yamaha, supported by MAC Cosmetics, Brown has performed in a range of platform including the London Jazz Festival to an audience with the President of Russia. She has opened for artists including Diana Krall, The Temptation, David Sanborn and played at Royal Albert Hall and significant venues across the world.

Dr. YolanDa Brown is set to play what is undoubtedly a milestone concert at the IndigO2 at the O2, London in November.

Jolly Boys mento rocks ITunes reggae/dancehall charts in Europe

2010-10-02T22:00:00.004-05:00

Amazon.com product description underscores the Jolly Boys' Great Expectation CD as "a stunning album of Mento interpretation of contemporary songs", eliciting comparison to Cuba's Buena Vista Social Club.

Released in Europe September as the main clutch of a hectic tour of the continent, Great Expectation, this week, tops all current reggae and dancehall artistes on nine Itunes' Reggae/Dancehall online music store charts.

With even greater expectation, the CD album is expected to be released in the US towards mid year 2011.

Glen Browne's acoustic guitar still strums

2010-09-26T21:03:00.004-05:00

Though he has been a bass player for over 30 years, Glen Browne is best known for his distinctive acoustic guitar work on Untold Stories, one of the hit songs from Buju Banton's classic 1995 album 'Til Shiloh.

"I didn't expect the song to take off, really, but it was a great communication that hit the mark," Browne said recently. When he got the call from Banton's mentor and producer, Donovan Germain, to play on 'Til Shiloh, Browne was already an established musician

He played for years on the north coast circuit, and toured and recorded with high-profile acts like Jimmy Cliff and Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

Full Story: Glen Browne!
Visit Glen Browne at All About Jazz!

Brazil's beat seduces jazz greats

2010-09-19T14:30:00.003-05:00

OLINDA, Brazil (AFP) - Brazil's unique tropical blend of samba-rock-guitar known as MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) has exerted an irrepressible influence on modern jazz, masters of the genre say.

"Since I played with John Coltrane in 1961, I started using open intervals on the chords, distributing the notes of each chord broadly on the piano so the other musicians could play their solos," McCoy Tyner, a US pianist considered one of jazz's all-time greats, told AFP.

That technique mirrored one also used in MPB, a trademark, urban Brazilian style that emerged in the 1960s as an evolution and a reaction to the smooth, languorous Bossa Nova wave. Tyner and fellow musicians Mike.....
Read Complete Article!

Esperanza Spalding's Chamber Music Society CD progressing on jazz charts

2010-08-15T17:12:00.012-05:00

Esperanza Spalding August 17 release on the Heads Up label, Chamber Music Society is progesssing on the jazz charts. Chamber Music Society is her follow up to the 2008 release, Esperanza, which sat atop Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart for over 70 weeks.

About the CD:
On the opening track of her much-lauded, self-titled major label debut, Esperanza (Heads Up, 2008 ), bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding covered Milton Nascimento’s timeless gem, “Ponta de Areia.” Rather than covering another of the singer/composer’s tunes on Chamber Music Society, Spalding recruits Nascimento to perform on her own “Apple Blossoms.” It’s but one example of a highly intriguing set that blends her classical training with jazz, pop and soul tendencies.

Read the full AAJ review:Chamber Music Society

Howard “Flagga” Duperly plays reggae on Florida’s serious jazz radio

2010-07-17T22:44:00.010-05:00

Howard “Flagga” Duperly plays strictly reggae on his highly popular three -hour slot, The Reggae Ride, heard on Florida based, mostly jazz, radio station. WDNA 88.9 FM, a non-profit, no commercial radio station, is widely known throughout its reaches as South Florida’s premier jazz station, attests to by its designate, ‘Serious Jazz”.

With its foundation set on jazz, WDNA FM’s programming, however, targets, in the main, habitants of multinational, multi-cultured South Florida in airing a melting pot of music that includes Latin, Brazilian, Indian, Afro pop, and other public-centric genre.

Kingston,Jamaica born Howard Duperly is the Sales and Marketing director at WDNA 88.9FM and he being the main man among colleagues responsible for bringing diverse and innovative programs to the station. One such innovation is the Fine Arts Concert series that couple jazz with photographic and art exhibition, the most recent concert presented Dr. Kathy Brown Trio (Desi Jones, Dale Brown) alongside acclaimed photographer Howard Moss.

The monthly Fine Art concert brings art and jazz lovers together as WDNA radio exhibits artists rarely seen in South Florida.

Reggae Ride

Reggae being one of the multicultural music on the WDNA 88.9FM schedule, “Flagga”, one of reggae’s most knowledgeable personalities, stakes a claim that The Reggae Ride, which he hosts every Saturday, 12-3pm, plays “Reggae the way it ought to be, and music you don’t hear on the average station – if ever.”

A product of the 1960s music, Flagga brings a wealth of first-hand experience to his now worldwide audience. With his ‘old school’ groundings, the radio jock firmly believes that to effectively promote reggae it must be presented in all its forms – ska, rocksteady, roots, and lovers rock – such is The Reggae Ride show, which, he avers, ignores quick profit fluffs that uses rehashed rhythms, lewd and violent elements as a ploy.

Duperly is a graduate of the University of Miami and has spent his career in sales and marketing as an account executive for a number of South Florida radio stations whose formats included big band, classical, jazz, news, R&B, and adult contemporary. He also worked as a print media journalist contributing to several international publications including Caribbean Today where he served as Music and Entertainment Editor.

Except for its recent staging, Flagga, for the past 3-4 years, leads a team of WDNA FM personalities to broadcast their daily, weekly shows live from the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival.

Flagga believes that WDNA 88.9 FM, the ‘Serious Jazz’ station, draws about 100,000 listeners each week, even as Arbitron, the radio ratings service, estimates the station's audience at closer to 90,000 a week. Additionally, WDNA attracts regular listeners as far away as Moscow, London, Toronto and in Jamaica through its webcasts.

Potentially, "We here in Miami are seeing increased enthusiasm” [for jazz], he says. "In our opinion, we've only started to scratch the surface." Consequently, the non-commercial WDNA 88.9FM, which plays much jazz and a sweep of multi-ethnic music, including reggae, is poised to grow bigger numbers among its South Floridian and International listenership.

Jimmy Cliff unplugged session at NPR Tiny Desk Concert

2010-07-17T17:05:00.000-05:00

Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae legend with a mighty stage presence is all gentleness appearing eleven minutes unplugged on the Tiny Desk Concert at the National Public Radio (NPR) Music office in Washington, DC.

Cliff who brought reggae music to millions worldwide is revered for his legendary songs on the soundtrack to the 1972 hit film The Harder They Come He was honoured with an Order of Merit from the Jamaica Government and this year inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Watch Jimmy Cliff on NPR!

Reliving Peter Tosh live at the Montreux Jazz Festival

2010-06-26T17:21:00.007-05:00

Offbeat travels back in time to July 16, 1979, 30 years past, to figuratively relive reggae legend Peter Tosh performing a devastating live set at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
The concert was performed in The Casino which is mostly known for having been burnt down eight years earlier and memorialized in the Deep Purple song "Smoke on the Water."

Watch the concert live via You Tube video 1 -16.
Peter Tosh Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival!

The band:
Lead Guitar: Darryl Thompson
Rhythm Guitar: Mikey Chung
Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
Drums: Sly Dunbar
Keyboards: Robert Lynn
Keyboards: Keith Sterling
Backing Vocals: The Tamlins

Ernest "Ernie" Ranglin in demand at 78

2010-06-19T09:05:00.007-05:00

Ernest 'Ernie" Ranglin O.D, Jamaica's legendary guitarist who pioneered Jamaica’s fertile reggae and ska scene of the late 1950s and early ‘60s and who's celebrated for his fluent and versatile guitar style, coupled with his arrangement skills is in constant demand at 78 (June 19.

In recent years, Ernest Ranglin has gone back to his roots and has made various cross cultural collaborations and concept albums including Below the Bassline on which he covers some of the greatest songs of the rock and roll era. He recorded Memories of Barber Mack as a tribute to the late Jamaican saxophonist Barber Mack.

The Search of the Lost Riddim album took Ernest Ranglin to Senegal for his first visit since the mid 1970's when he toured as part of the Jimmy Cliff band. These recording sessions represent the accomplishment of a dream he had cherished for over 20 years: returning to Africa to record with African musicians. Modern Answers to Old Problems is an adventuresome mix of jazz sophistication and Afro-pop syncopation while his penultimate Gotcha! identifies Ranglin as a somewhat perfect instrumentalist.

His 2005 Telarc release Surfin', recorded at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, explores the elusive boundaries between jazz and orld music.

Visit Ernest Ranglin!

Etienne Charles charmed on trumpet at Ocho Rios Intl Jazz Festival

2010-05-31T14:46:00.015-05:00

Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles, who is from a musical linage that runs four generation deep, was indeed a charmer on trumpet at the opening of Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

Currently based in New York, the highly touted trumpeter was making a second appearance in Jamaica this year following a cameo appearance with the legendary Monty Alexander at the earlier Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in Trelawny.

Etienne Charles gave a dazzling display of skill and talent to much appreciation from the hotel gardens audience. Alternating between the trumpet and the dejembe drum, he thrilled the audience with Douens, Mamma Malade, and Santimanite from the debut FOLKLORE album. When in Jamaica why not play a Bob Marley classic, and Charles pleased with Turn Your Lights Down Low.

Myrna Hague covers 'Broken-Hearted Melody'

2010-05-29T20:02:00.004-05:00

Jamaican jazz singer Myrna Hague has never hid her admiration for American jazz stylist Sarah Vaughn. Recently, she got the opportunity to salute her musical idol by covering Vaughn's biggest hit song.

Hague teamed with veteran session guitarist Earl 'Chinna' Smith, Oral Brown on percussions, drummer Denver Smith and keyboardist/bass player Ozou'ne to record Broken-Hearted Melody, which was a massive hit in 1959. The song will be released on the Homegrown label.

"It's really a re-enactment of the original, we stayed true to the song," Hague told Gleaner writer Howard Campbell. Though she has performed Vaughn favourites such as On a Clear Day and Summertime in her live set, Hague has never recorded any of the legendary vocalist's songs.

Myrna Hague said why in the Jamaican Gleaner story published Saturday, May 29, 2010.Link:Read full story at www.jamaica-gleaner.com!

Carmen Lundy played the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival June 13

2010-05-16T11:25:00.013-05:00

World-renowned American jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress Carmen Lundy who is also a celebrated painter, was one of several North American improv artists to have performed at the week-long, multi-venue Ohio Rios International Jazz Festival, held June 13-20.

Lundy has been performing for 3 decades, with a focus on original material, during which she has earned positive comparison to Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.
After studying at Miami University, Carmen Lundy moved to New York in 1978 and worked with Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican jazz musician Ray Barretto prior to forming her own trio in 1980. Lundy would there record for Blackhawk (1987) and Sony (1988) and appeared in the plays Sophisticated Ladies and They Were All Gardenias, portraying Billie Holiday in the latter.

Her portfolio includes 11 albums, including the debut GOOD MORNING KISS and the well thought of live set, Jazz and the New Songbook: LIVE AT THE MADRID (Theatre) in Los Angeles. In 1991 she moved to LA, recording for Arabesque (1992) and JVC. Although open to the influences of folk, R&B, and pop, Carmen Lundy, who will perform on Festival open day (June 13)in the Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, is a strong improviser.

Lena Horne: Barrier-breaking jazz star, actress

2010-05-11T06:02:00.007-05:00

(AP) — Lena Horne, the enchanting jazz singer and actress [was] known for her plaintive signature song Stormy Weather and for her triumph over the bigotry that allowed her to entertain white audiences but not socialise with them.

Horne died Sunday, May 9th at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Horne, whose striking beauty and magnetic sex appeal often overshadowed her sultry voice, was remarkably candid about the underlying reason for her success.

"I was unique in that I was a kind of black that white people could accept," she once said. "I was their daydream. I had the worst kind of acceptance because it was never for how great I was or what I contributed. It was because of the way I looked."

"I knew her from the time I was born, and whenever I needed anything she was there," actress Liza Minnelli said belatedly. She was funny, sophisticated and truly one of a kind. We lost an original. Thank you Lena."

In the 1960s Horne was one of the most visible celebrities in the civil rights movement, once throwing a lamp at a customer who made a racial slur in a Beverly Hills restaurant and in 1963 joining 250,000 others in the March on Washington when Martin Luther King Jr gave his I Have a Dream speech.

In the 2009 biography, Stormy Weather, author James Gavin recounts that when Horne was asked by a lover why she'd married a white man, she replied: "To get even with him."

Esperanza Spaulding: superb bassist, multlingual vocalist, irresistible jazz performer

2010-05-08T19:15:00.008-05:00

American born Esperanza Spalding, vivacious, prodigious bassist, multlingual vocalist, and irresistible contemporary jazz performer.

Bass virtuoso Stanley Clarke releases his 28th album

2010-05-02T18:06:00.006-05:00

Bass virtuoso Stanley Clarke, the American jazz performer, composer, bandleader who rose to prominence in the 1970s and single-handedly brought the electric bass to the forefront of jazz and R&B teams with up-and-coming star, Japanese virtuoso Hiromi Uehara, keyboard master, Ruslan Sirota, and fierce drummer Ronald Bruner Jr, in a special "sneak peak" showcase of his upcoming June 15, 2010 release, The Stanley Clarke Band, solo album number 28.

On show will be Clarke's latest genius at BLUES ALLEY in DC - Thursday, June 3rd through Sunday the 6th.

In a career that spans nearly four decades and boasts a long list of feats including Grammy's, Emmy's, gold and platinum records, bass virtuoso Stanley Clarke, known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and electric bass guitar as well as for his numerous film and television scores, is one of the most celebrated bassists in the world. His last release, May 2009, titled Jazz In The Garden on Heads Up International, included two brilliant collaborators at the top of their respective games: pianist Hiromi Uehara and drummer Lenny White.

Gerald Clayton supposes tradition and innovation can peacefully exist

2010-04-18T13:57:00.009-05:00

At one-forth the age of jazz, New York based jazz pianist Gerald Clayton stakes his claim in the history and the present of jazz.
“Tradition and innovation can peacefully exist”, supposes the son of famous bassist John Clayton. However, his biography states, 'with Gerald behind the piano this coexistence anything but peaceful.'

‘His dynamic and award-winning sound has been praised in print by the Jazz Times and Los Angeles Times. The New York Times has saluted his “Oscar-Peterson like style” and “huge, authoritative presence” and Down Beat Magazine’s 2008 Readers’ Poll named him one of the top up-and-coming pianists to watch'.
As a composer, his work has been commissioned by the Jazz Gallery in New York City and performed overseas by the BBC Orchestra. He has received many honours including the US Presidential Scholar in the Art.
Born in the Netherlands in 1984, Gerald grew up mainly in Los Angeles with a musical family that includes his father, bassist/composer John Clayton, and uncle, saxophonist Jeff Clayton.

Gerald began an 11 years study of classical piano at age 6, later enrolled in a Jazz Studies program at the University of Southern California. Still later he would study piano and composition under masters like Kenny Barron
A current member of the siblings Clayton Brothers Quintet, Gerald can be heard on the Brothers latest release, Brother to Brother, as well as on Roy Hargrove’s 2008 Earfood, and Diana Krall’s From This Moment On. But, it is Gerald Clayton’s own New York City based trio, comprised of Justin Brown (drums) and Joe Sanders (bass) that provides the most direct opportunity to explore and expand his own thoughts in music.
Gerald Clayton’s Two-Shades CD drops in June.
Live at the Smalls: youtube.com!

Frank Consola: WDNA's walking encyclopedia of jazz

2010-04-10T21:21:00.007-05:00

He hosts 88 Jazz Place Morning, Monday - Friday 6 - 11 am, on Miami's WDNA 88.9 FM, Frank Consola, known as "the walking encyclopedia of jazz", had transplanted to Philly and ingrained himself into serious R&B and Rock & Roll. Later, however, a romantic interest would play for him a record Herbie Man at the Village Gate it was a big turn on to jazz.

Growing a jazz collection, Frank went to Miami in 1982 where he discovered WDNA, the serious jazz radio, and, in his own word, "becoming a sort of pest" he wrangled himself behind the microphone, he with his stack of jazz record. In 1989, as a volunteer, he started hosting a once a week jazz show and today Frank Consola's morning mix on the longest running jazz show in Miami brings musical order to the testy Miami morning commute

Tune in the next time you find yourself in some heavy traffic, Miami or anywhere. And if Miles, Coltrane, Parker, Kirk, and the rest of the legends don't soothe your soul, chances are you're too much of a hothead for even the coolest of jazz.

Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival 2010 honours Sonny Bradshaw

2010-04-07T19:16:00.005-05:00

The approaching 20th Annual Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival 2010 is fittingly being organised in a celebration of the life and work of music icon and event founder Cecil "Sonny" Bradshaw.

Festival co-founder, devoted and constant partner Myrna Hague heads the 'Jazz the Real Deal' 30 jazz events to be held across the island during Jazz Week, June 13-20, 2010.

Traditionally, the festival underscores valid jazz presentations by both local and international musicians and will be taken to jazz fans along Jamaica's north, south and east coasts and corporate area Kingston. In the works a 'Jazz Village', 2-day Jazz Symposium, Jazz-Art & Photo Exhibition displayed throughout the week, as well as the viewing of jazz films and videos.

Nightly jam sessions, wine & fashion, jazz Cruise, jazz Dinner, jazz Dance, visitors streaming into the island, live radio, are few of the activities of this milestone jazz festival. Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival opens at the Jamaica Pegasus Gardens (June 13) and the curtains will coming down on Fathers Day Jazz in Ocho Rios.

For the details: Visit www.ochoriosjazz.com!

Barbara Streisand's new jazz CD: An exquiste cover

2010-02-25T21:30:00.010-05:00

Barbra Streisand, the entertainment grande dame, returns with one of her most beautiful albums in a long time. An exquisite cover, Love is the Answer, the deluxe, double CD edition, Orchestra version and Quartet version with Diana Krall's jazz ban is truly marvelous recording.

Co-produced by Tommy LiPuma, the exquisite Streisand album is summarily a perfect collaboration between Diana Krall, LiPuma, Streisand and Johnny Mandel. At 67, Streisand's voice is at once both mature and still stunningly beautiful.

Haitian Singer Emeline Michel introduced to U.S. on Telethon

2010-02-13T18:25:00.005-05:00

Though she was introduced to many during the January 22 "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief" telethon, Haitian singer Emeline Michel, the 'Joni Mitchell of Haiti', has been performing all over the world for more than two decades.

Born in Gonaïves, Haiti, Michel began as a member of her local church choir, blossomed in talent and traveled to the United States where she studied her craft at the Detroit Jazz Center. From America, to Paris, then Canada and over her career that includes 4 albums, Michel has performed for the Clinton Global Initiative, NPR, CBC Radio, Canadian television and at festivals like Reggae on the River and the Montreal International Jazz Festival, as well as New York City's Carnegie Hall.

More on Emeline Michel on MTV: www.mtv.com!

Monty Alexander, Etienne Charles at Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival

2010-02-04T20:46:00.005-05:00

Kurt Elling sings Grammy's Best Jazz Vocal Album 2010

2010-01-31T18:44:00.016-05:00

GRAMMY AWARDS 2010: BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM

Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman
Kurt Elling
[Concord Jazz]

Hall & Oates revisits New York's Troubador Club

2010-01-31T08:40:00.002-05:00

The best selling pop duo of all-times Hall & Oates
revisits New York's Troubador Club 35 years after they last played as an opening act delighting fans at a May 2008 gig with unforgettable hits after hits that is captured on the live CD/DVD.

The Daryl Hall & John Oates - Live at the Troubador performance will premier on New York metro area public television station WLIW21 beginning March 2010.

The duo/band which played to huge acclaim at the recent Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival received a nomination for their performance of "Sara Smile" on the live set CD.

Haitian singer Emeline Michel's moving performance of Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers To Cross" at the Hope For Haiti Now telethon

2010-01-23T08:57:00.003-05:00

Cassandra Wilson to release Closer To You album

2009-12-04T06:32:00.000-05:00

Grammy-award winning jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson will release Closer To You: The Pop Side on April 7th via Blue Note / EMI.

With her unmistakable honeyed husky voice, she has made intimate and personal statements with jazz, blues, R&B, country and pop. Closer To You: The Pop Side is a new collection of Wilson’s best covers of pop / rock hits, originally recorded by a who’s-who of top musicians, including U2, Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell, The Band, Sting, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Cyndi Lauper and The Wallflowers.

Closer To You: The Pop Side celebrates the finest pop covers from Wilson’s seven albums recorded with Blue Note during her lengthy tenure with the legendary label.

Wilson won her second Grammy Award in February, earning the Best Jazz Vocal Album honors for Loverly, her critically acclaimed 2008 Blue Note release. Blue Note Records is celebrating its 70th Anniversary as the world’s premier and longest-running jazz label with special commemorative releases.

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Mellow jazz at AA dizzying 35,000 feet

2009-11-17T19:14:00.000-05:00

The options opened to the Offbeat Blogger, provisionally confined on an American Airline Boeing 757-200 jet plying the Miami to Los Angeles route, were enough for the over 5-hour long journey.

Read the carry-on novel and do crossword puzzle, rummage through the American Way mag, sip a Cola (complimentary meal is passé) while watching the moving, picturesque landscape below, watch the hilarious Imagine That, a movie starring Eddie Murphy and cutie Yara Shahidi, or just kick back and listen to some really mellow and sophisticated blend of jazz instrumentals and vocals.

With time to spare the Blogger did all of the above.

The After Hour jazz channel certainly helped to take the edge off a 2300-mile long flight cruising at a dizzying 35,000 feet. And, Anita O’Day, Diana Krall, Miles Davis, James Darren complemented what was a smooth flight to LA.

The Sky Radio audio included Miles Davis - Blue in Green, Kevin Mahogany - Since I fell For You, Gene Harris & Scott Hamilton Quintet - At Last, Bloosom Dearie - Someone To Watch Over Me, Kenny Burrell - I’m Falling For You, James Darren - Blame It On My Youth, Astrud Gilberto - The Girl From Ipanema, Chet Baker - Time After Time, Diana Krall - Everytime We Say Goodbye, Marian McPartland - What’s New, Anita O’ Day - I Can’t Get Started.

Jamie Cullum shows change and evolve in The Pursuit

2009-11-08T14:24:00.000-05:00

While it is being strongly mooted that jazz is in steady decline and that the average jazz enthusiasts are among the geriatrics an emergent band of young musicians have not only given credence to the genre but also wining new jazz fans while garnering measurable return on a chancy investment.

Jamie Cullum , English based pop-jazz, crossover jazz singer, pianist is one such musician who stuck his neck out and earned the distinction of being UK’s biggest selling jazz artist of all times and with only three studio albums.

His fifth album, The Pursuit, released November 9, pragmatically sidles to some extent to the pop-side assuredly an effort to captivate a wider, larger market. Purposefully, the Decca Record 14-track CD/DVD Deluxe Edition opens with a Cole Porter jazz classic, “Just One of Those Things”, first of five covers, and closes out with an atypical house music track “Music Is Through” that is indicative of the roadway The Pursuit travelled.

Jamie Cullum penned the first album single “I’m All Over It”, the cheery “Wheels”, the animated swing “You and Me Are Gone”, his love songs “Mixtape” and “Love Ain’t Gonna Let You Down”. Cullum adopted Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music”, Leslie Bricusse’s “If I Ruled the World” fitted snuggly after “Wheels” (fallen off the world), Stephen Sondheim’s promise “Not While I’m Around” and another Cole Porter tune, "Love For Sale", the latter makes the DVD side of the album.

While the album cover art illustrates an exploding piano, which is the way Jamie prosecute his live performances, The Pursuit is a pop compared to the piano fireworks of Twentysomething. Yet, the intention of both Grammy-nominated producer Greg Wells and Cullum, the former British Jazz Rising Star, seemingly was to move the album outside of the expected and extends the musician’s reach.

Another point to note is that The Pursuit title has no reference in any of the composite tunes. The Grammy and Golden Globe nominated musician admits “The reason I made it the album title was that I've come to realize that life is one long pursuit. Being a musician is not about any obvious goal; it's about appreciating the journey as opposed to the destination”.

Actually, the title was drawn from Nancy Mitford’s classic novel, The Pursuit of Love. "In life, we pursue everything. Life is one long pursuit," Jamie continued, and the album is just such a pursuit”, a combination of his eclectic music tastes and enduring love of Jazz and its timeless standards.

Music Week’s Andy Morris calls The Pursuit ‘bold, experimental and the best thing Cullum's done’. His fans will offer their own superlatives of this exciting musician who admires people like Miles Davis and Tom Waits much because they “make all kinds of different records, they change and evolved over the years”.

The Pursuit shows that Jamie Cullum is changing and evolving into a more seasoned, matured, better musician.

CD TRACK LIST
1. Just One of Those Things
2. I'm All Over It
3. Wheels
4. If I Ruled the World
5. You and Me Are Gone
6. Don't Stop the Music
7. Love Ain't Gonna Let You Down
8. Mixtape
9. I Think I Love You
10. We Run Things
11. Not While I'm Around
12. Music Is Through

Smooth Jazz stars shone on Santa Catalina Island

2009-11-06T07:19:00.000-05:00

Catalina Island Casino Ballroom

The stars of Smooth Jazz shone in the Avalon Casino Ballroom on Catalina Island at the 23rd staging of the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival that is held each year over the first three weekends of October.

Organised and produced by Art Good, host of the syndicated JazzTrax radio show, the crowd that included this Blogger sailed across from the Californian mainland on the Catalina Express to imbibe on the very best of Smooth Jazz (California is awash in Smooth Jazz).

Although not a huge fan of Smooth Jazz, the show was a treat in itself and what stood out most was the high quality musicianship of all who mounted the ballroom stage. Not a misnomer, no dice roll, no gambling occurs in the The Avalon Casino Ballroom, a circular, 12-story building perch at the edge of Avalon harbour.

This year Catalina JazzTrax dates were October 2-18 and Good billed some 30 acts over the three weekends. Headliners of the multiple venue series included Marc Antoine, Peter White, Norman Brown, Nick Colionne, Eric Darius, George Duke, Kyle Eastwood (Clint's son), Gregg Karukas, Earl Klugh, Phillip 'Doc' Martin, Keiko Matsui, Pieces of Dream, and Najee.

We got to see former baseball star cum saxophonist Bernie Williams, guitarist Craig Sharmat, saxophonist Jackiem Joyner and show stopping saxman Kim Waters (who passengers applauded on the boat back to the mainland).

Offbeat highly recommends this beautiful Catalina Island and the 24th Annual Catalina JazzTrax Festival to be held First 3 Weekends of October 2010.

California the definitive Smooth Jazz hub of the US

2009-11-01T20:27:00.000-05:00

California could be dubbed Smooth Jazz hub of the United States. Smooth Jazz has its most success as a radio format and radio is the powerful force behind this fast growing music that is most popular among middle agers.

The Californian landscape is dotted with Smooth Jazz dedicate channels as we found out on a recent visit. The diehard stations are Radio Free KJLH 102.3 FM (Los Angeles), WAVE 94.7 FM (Los Angeles), The River 105.5 FM (Modesto), K Jazz 102.3FM (Palm Spring), Bridge 96.1 FM (Redding), KSSJ 94.7 FM (Sacramento), KIFM Smooth Jazz 98.1 FM (San Diego), Magic 106.3FM (Santa Barbara) KJZY 93.7FM (Santa Rosa), KMYT 94.5 FM (Temecula).

Offbeat must mention Saddleback College radio KSBR Jazz 88.5 FM, a radio station that airs New Age/World & Roots Reggae music, features much of Smooth Jazz live performance from various locations in the LA area (Kevin Melvin hosts a Smooth Jazz show on weekends).

A sub of jazz, Smooth Jazz had its influence in R&B, funk and pop and was established as a commercially viable music in the mid –late 1970. Among the early pioneers were Earl Klugh, Lee Ritenour, Grover Washington Jr, and bands such as Spyro Gyro, Foreplay. The saxophone followed by the guitar are the featured instrument of Smooth Jazz.

From San Diego Melanie Maxwell, managing Editor & Publisher, brings news of the genre in a monthly magazine called Smooth Jazz News. And, while the premier American Smooth Jazz Award ceremony commutes to different US States, California’s highlight of Smooth Jazz is the over two decade running Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival produced by Art Good, host of the nationally syndicated JazzTrax radio show and staged over three consecutive weekends of October.

Jamaican trumpeter Sonny Bradshaw

2009-10-27T08:03:00.000-05:00

'Sax sounds like me’, say YolanDa Brown

2009-10-25T18:37:00.000-05:00

By Rachel Wakefield
The Guardian

YOLANDA Brown may not be a household name when it comes to identifying popular saxophonists yet, but she beat Courtney Pine to win Best Jazz artist at the MOBOs last year. And then she did it again two weeks ago at this year’s ceremony held in Glasgow, Scotland.

“It’s just wonderful,” she gushes. “I’ve now got two bookends.”

This cheeky sense of humour is indicative of YolanDa’s charming personality. The former head girl at Beal High School in Redbridge continues. “Gaining this award is very prestigious and to be nominated for a second time and win thanks to a public vote is overwhelming. As a musician you want people to hear what you’ve created; but you also want to know that they like it.”

What’s even more stunning is that this 27-year-old Gants Hill resident, born to Jamaican parents, has not even had an album out yet. The votes were all to do with her live performances; and judging by the clips on the internet this 5ft 3in “without my heels” musician really does give her all, playing the tenor saxophone which is nearly the length of her torso.

She references jazz, Afro-jazz, gospel, reggae, salsa, hip-hop, R&B, with consummate ease, even going back to Mento (Jamaican folk music) throughout her performances, but her style and phrasing always remains her own.

“Learning to play the saxophone was a natural thing for me,” she says. “I was searching for an instrument that came from within the soul.”

It all began for YolanDa at 13, when she was given a Yamaha student sax “and I played it all over the Christmas holiday. I just couldn’t stop. My family were really understanding that year.”

YolanDa got to Grade 4 in the first year of playing and then stopped the lessons. “For me it was never about getting grades,” she says. “The saxophone sounds and feels like me; it’s a very soulful instrument. I’m not a singer but the sound of my tenor saxophone feels like it’s coming from me. It’s been very therapeutic especially when I was growing up. It was an outlet for me to let my emotions flow. Now I use it to help connect with the audience when I’m on stage.”

It’s easy to see why the public rate this very personable performer; but it’s not the Champagne lifestyle that YolanDa is now looking forward too. She is currently in the final year of her PhD at the University of Kent. Prior to that she completed a Masters in Management Science, as well as a Masters in Social Research Methods, and her undergraduate dissertation was on: “Combining SSM (soft systems methodology) and DESM (discrete event simulation) in an athletics club.”

Not only that, she has her debut album coming out in spring next year.

So how does YolanDa balance her time as a professional musician with concentrating on her career-busting studying? “It’s not easy,” she states. “I’ll not glamourise it. If you have a passion for something, you will find the time and push yourself.”

Jon Secada expresses with new jazz album

2009-10-11T15:01:00.000-05:00

Jon Secada has recorded the album he has wanted to produce for a longtime considering that he studied and obtained a Master's Degree in Jazz Vocal Performance at the University of Miami.
Since that time he has had a couple of occasions to exercise his jazz vocal skills: (1) Amor (1995) [Grammy Award], (2) Dave Grusin Presents West Side Story (1997) ["Somewhere"]. Now finally in 2009, Secada has given us an exceptionally entertaining and beautiful jazz album.
Not a smooth jazz album, it is a true straight-ahead jazz album. Expressions, a live recording- which gives it a very warm and intimate jazz club feel, is marked by a beautiful track, "I Do Love You" with a smooth scat performance by Secada. Jazz standards "Body and Soul" and "What a Wonderful World" are performed with sincerity and the vocal ability of a seasoned jazz vocalist.
Pop classics "Chances Are" and "Alone Again (Naturally)" are given the jazz treatment with Secada adding his imprint to them. Secada's own compositions: "Wishes", "Find Me In Your Dreams", "Angel", "Just Another Day", "Letter From A Friend", "Rainbows", "I Found A Reason" and "When Night Time Falls" are excellent jazz compositions and interpretations. Listeners will recognize, "Angel" and "Just Another Day" lyrically, but the arrangements and interpretations by Secada distance them from the originals and keep them in line with the straight-ahead jazz theme of the album.
Overall this is a wonderful, solid, and well produced jazz project, one that Frank. Sinatra, whom Secada recorded a duet with, would have been proud.
Adapted

Mickey Hanson: Jamaica's master trumpeter

2009-10-05T12:08:00.000-05:00

Jamaican master trumpeter Mickey Hanson has recorded with Bob Marley, performed with Dexter Gordon, Hugh Masekala, Glady's Knight, Aretha Franklin, Denise Williams and other greats.

A student of Melba Liston, an American composer, arranger and trombone player,
in that first batch of Jamaica School of Music musicians which included the likes of Dean Fraser and Dwight Pinkney, Mickey has retained a high standard of performance that often leaves his audience in awe of the beauty of the music that he plays

Ernest Ranglin: Jamaica's best jazz guitarist

2009-09-29T19:08:00.000-05:00

Jamaica's master guitarist Ernest Ranglin, has been involved in the development of all the styles of popular music in Jamaica, and is the country's best jazz guitarist. He played on many classic Jamaican recordings and performed with such artists as Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, the Skatalites and the legendary Eric Deans Orchestra, a premier Jamaican Big band during the country's dance band era in the 40's and early 50's.

He was also a member of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation Orchestra, a pioneering group of some the best musicians of the day. In the early 60's he arranged and played on Millie Small's "My Boy Lollipop", Jamaica's first pop hit produced by Chris Blackwell of Island Records, with whom, he also recorded his early jazz Albums, Wranglin and Reflections.

In 1973, he was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaica Government, for his contributions to music, and a Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of the West Indies, in 2002, for his contribution to the development of music in Jamaica. Ranglin has recorded over 20 albums.

Jamie Cullum: Leaping At Monterey Jazz

2009-09-27T15:32:00.000-05:00

As a child in the U.K., Jamie Cullum was obsessed with music from an early age, grew up with rock and pop and now studies jazz. He has just a touch of Sinatra in his voice, and, according to NPR's JazzSet host Dee Dee Bridgwater, he's all over the piano — under it, inside it, leaping off of it. A bit of an aerialist, quick-witted, charming and hyperkinetic. Cullum apparently did a totally focused set, a little of his usual stunts, in this his Monterey Jazz Festival debut.

A rave review declared Cullum as refreshing and entertaining, " it seems to mean even more when he slows down and sings a standard".

"People who have seen me play live and read things I've written will already know that I've got a very eclectic taste, but singing a song like 'What a Difference a Day Makes' — well, it is one of the hardest things you can do," Cullum says.

Fans of Jamie Callum, like this Offbeat blogger, through the courtesy of NPR Music, can hear the Monterey Jazz debut @

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113165244&sc=nl&cc=jn-20090927

Avishai Cohen: A jazz visionary of global proportion

2009-09-04T15:01:00.000-05:00

New York base, bassist/composer Avishai Cohen, born April 20, 1970 in Israel, a musician who has been called a “jazz visionary of global proportions” by DownBeat, and was declared one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, is renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, and has received a deluge of critical praise for his recent recorded output and live performances.

In February of 2005 Razdaz Recordz released At Home, an album that was arguably Avishai Cohen’s most compelling and striking new recording to date. That is until the artist conceived of, and recorded his newest CD, the spectacularly beautiful, Continuo

Karrin Allyson: Has Jazz, Will Travel

2009-08-23T20:49:00.000-05:00

Karrin Allyson is one of the busiest jazz vocalists in the US and international scene these days. Starting her musical journey studying classical piano, Allyson discovered jazz and jazz singing in college and thus claimed her future.

Over the years, Allyson has honed her singing, songwriting and piano skills and has recorded twelve CDs, this has led to three Grammy nominations in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category; the latest nomination coming in 2008 for her Imagina: Songs of Brasil CD.

A native of Kansas, Allyson tours extensively playing in traditional jazz venues all over the world as well as at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the 92nd Street Y in New York City where she now makes her home. She sings in French, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish, as well as in English and the songs she performs are drawn from a variety of genre including bossa nova, blues, bebop, standards and vocal performances of several instrumental jazz compositions.

Allyson's vocal qualities are distinctive, her emotional range is wide and she is a devoted, lyric-driven storyteller.

From All About Jazz

Can jazz be save and who's listening?

2009-08-09T19:59:00.000-05:00

The audience for America’s great art form is withering away.

In 1987, US Congress passed a joint resolution declaring jazz to be “a rare and valuable national treasure.” Nowadays the music of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis is taught in public schools, heard on TV commercials and performed at prestigious venues such as New York’s Lincoln Center, which even runs its own nightclub.

Here’s the catch: Nobody’s listening.

No, it’s not quite that bad—but it’s no longer possible for head-in-the-sand types to pretend that the great American art form is economically healthy or that its future looks anything other than bleak.

The bad news came from the National Endowment for the Arts’ latest Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, the fourth to be conducted by the NEA (in participation with the U.S. Census Bureau) since 1982. These are the findings that made jazz musicians sit up and take notice:

In 2002, the year of the last survey, 10.8% of adult Americans attended at least one jazz performance. In 2008, that figure fell to 7.8%. Not only is the audience for jazz shrinking, but it’s growing older—fast. The median age of adults in America who attended a live jazz performance in 2008 was 46. In 1982 it was 29.

Older people are also much less likely to attend jazz performances today than they were a few years ago. The percentage of Americans between the ages of 45 and 54 who attended a live jazz performance in 2008 was 9.8%. In 2002, it was 13.9%. That’s a 30% drop in attendance.

Even among college-educated adults, the audience for live jazz has shrunk significantly, to 14.9% in 2008 from 19.4% in 1982.

These numbers indicate that the audience for jazz in America is both aging and shrinking at an alarming rate. What I find no less revealing, though, is that the median age of the jazz audience is now comparable to the ages for attendees of live performances of classical music.

What does this tell us? I suspect it means, among other things, that the average American now sees jazz as a form of high art. Nor should this come as a surprise to anyone, since most of the jazz musicians that I know feel pretty much the same way. They regard themselves as artists, not entertainers, masters of a musical language that is comparable in seriousness to classical music—and just as off-putting to pop-loving listeners who have no more use for Wynton Marsalis than they do for Felix Mendelssohn.

No, I don’t know how to get young people to start listening to jazz again. But I do know this: Any symphony orchestra that thinks it can appeal to under-30 listeners by suggesting that they should like Schubert and Stravinsky has already lost the battle. If you’re marketing Schubert and Stravinsky to those listeners, you have no choice but to start from scratch and make the case for the beauty of their music to otherwise intelligent people who simply don’t take it for granted. By the same token, jazz musicians who want to keep their own equally beautiful music alive and well have got to start thinking hard about how to pitch it to young listeners—not next month, not next week, but right now

This article is reprinted from All About Jazz magazine, the world largest jazz music website @ www.allaboutjazz.com

White House celebrates the music of Stevie Wonder

2009-07-26T13:50:00.000-05:00

Twas an evening of celebration with President and Mrs. Obama at the White House in honor of legendary musician Stevie Wonder's receipt of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on February 25, 2009. Telecasted by PBS, the concert included performances by Wonder with a cavalcade of popular musicians, including Tony Bennett, India Arie, Diana Krall, Paul Simon, performing a selection of Wonder's hit songs.

The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, named in honor of the legendary George and Ira Gershwin, recognizes the profound and positive effect of popular music on the world's culture. The prize is given annually to a composer or performer whose lifetime contributions exemplify the standard of excellence associated with the Gershwins. Paul Simon was the first recipient of the Gershwin Prize in May 2007.

Join the PBS presentation @ http://www.pbs.org/inperformanceatthewhitehouse/

Jazzy "A" graders: Brown, Martin & Brown

2009-07-05T22:31:00.000-05:00

Published: Jamaica Gleaner
Sunday | July 5, 2009

The jazz genre appears to lure and engage more musicians that are academics than any other genres, at least of popular music. Recently the United States (US) National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) released survey results suggesting that jazz musicians are largely male, middle-aged and well-educated.
"The study shows that jazz musicians tend to be male and well educated, with about 45 per cent holding a bachelor's degree or higher," says the NEA. And, likewise, many women in jazz have similarly come from the crest of academia...
Photo: YolanDa Brown

Full story @ www.jamaica-gleaner.com/

Purple Rain to close Montreaux Jazz Festival

2009-07-04T20:07:00.000-05:00

The purists deem as sacrilegious the idea of pop concerting on traditional jazz festivals. But while they gripe Europe's most prestigious jazz festival as confirmed US pop icon Prince for a two-show set to close this year's Montreaux Jazz Festival.
Called a "musician of genius" by the organizers, the Purple Rain composer will be joined by Rhonda Smith, Renato Net and John Blackwell for two shows.

As reported by Reuters, Prince "last played at the Swiss event two years ago and then showed up at 3 a.m. to jam with his band at a late-night jazz cafe. That year, tickets sold out in a record 10 minutes for his performance at Stravinski Auditorium."

The 43rd staging of Montreaux, which began July 3 to end July 18th, also features Black Eyed Peas, B.B. King, Dave Matthews Band, Angelique Kidjo, Wyclef Jean and pianist Herbie Hancock in concert with Chinese pianist Lang Lang

First Lady Hosts White House Jazz Workshop

2009-06-30T15:51:00.000-05:00

Michelle Obama kicked off a series of musical workshops at the White House inviting 150 talented students from Middle and high school from across the country fanned out inside the White House for lectures and performance tips from professional jazz musicians.

The entire Marsalis family -- father Ellis and sons Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason participated, along with Cuban jazz master Paquito D'Rivera and D.C.'s own Davey Yarborough, passing along jazz tips and the larger lessons they've learned from music

The first lady referred to Jazz as "America's greatest artistic gift to the world."

NPR Music's Evolution of a song: 'Strange Fruit'

2009-06-28T13:39:00.000-05:00

Billie Holiday fashioned the haunting, poetic meditation "Strange Fruit" into a jazz landmark. She thus unwittingly invited scores of singers to try their hands at the song. Among those who did, Diana Ross, Nina Simone, Cocteau Twins, Cassandra Wilson, Sting and India.Arie

The story behind the song "Strange Fruit" is well-known in jazz circle. Shocked by a postcard bearing a photograph of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abraham Smith in Marion, Ind., Bronx schoolteacher Abel Meeropol put pen to paper. Full of unforgettable imagery, his poem "Bitter Fruit" was published under the name Lewis Allan in 1936. He later supplied a melody so it could be sung at political rallies, but jazz icon Billie Holiday and her pianist Sonny White refashioned the simple tune.

Adapted from Jazz Notes, NPR Music

Dr. Kathy Brown chit-chats on Miami based jazz radio

2009-06-18T23:09:00.000-05:00

Jamaican jazz keyboardist Dr. Kathy Brown chit-chatted on Saturday with Florida based radio 88.9FM WDNA jock Howard "Flagga" Duperly as the 'Serious Jazz' radio broadcasts live interviews from RIU Club Hotel Ocho Rios as part of its coverage of the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival from the Jamaica's tourist resort.

Brown, a medical doctor, jazz pianist, recording artist, fielded posers from the Saturday afternoon Reggae Ride host on the musician's double career of medicine and music or vice versa.

Signicantly, in a chat aired to millions of WDNA FM listeners, the 'jazzy doctor' repeatedly emphasized a yen to perform her Caribbean tinged, contemporary jazz styling overseas whether be in jazz clubs or jazz festivals.

Dr. Kathy Brown, a staple on the Jamaican jazz circuit, released the seminal, CD Mission: A Musical Journey in 2007 and is currently working on material for her sophomore set.

Miami jazz station returns to Ocho Rios Festival

2009-06-15T10:15:00.000-05:00

Miami based jazz radio station 89.9FM WDNA returns to Jamaica’s North Coast for the third consecutive year to broadcast the week-long Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival. The station crew, on-air personalities, technical staff and come-along guests will be in residence at the RIU Ocho Rios Hotel, June 18-22.

The come-along guests comprise 88.9FM WDNA listeners who purchased packages to Ocho Rios and Mr. David Singh and family who is the grand prize winner of the jazz station on-air contest. Singh is the recipient of round trip airfare courtesy of Air Jamaica, an all-inclusive 5-day, 4-night stay at the RIU Ocho Rios, as well as admission to all the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival events.

Howard Duperly, WDNA FM’s sales & marketing manager and Reggae show host, informed Offbeat that the 88.9FM WDNA party to Ocho Rios currently totals 25 persons. In addition to live broadcasts of the station's very popular Latin Quarter shows with Cary Alexander, Hal Roland and Andy Harlow, the party will attend many of the Jazz Fest activities.

88.9FM WDNA “Serious jazz’ is the only source for prime time jazz, Latin jazz and world beat music in South Florida, a market of over 4 million people.

Ocho Rios Jazz Festival bowls off June 14

2009-06-02T21:20:00.000-05:00

The Ocho Rios Jazz Festival bowls off Sunday, June 14 and for those intimately familiar with the British Commonwealth game of cricket the weeklong fest is concocted in cricket paralence.

So, jazzfest headman and chief selector Cecil “Sonny” Bradshaw picks a formidable side involving players from France, England, USA, and the Caribbean. Under the banner The Preservation and Promotion of Black Classical Music-Jazz, the Ocho Rios Jazz fest fixture begins in open air settings at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, following Jazz & Coffee in the Blue Mountains the evening before.

The matches begin with an All Jamaica Jazz 11 Team – dubbed Piano- Keyboard Giants comprized of two seasoned batsmen Harold Butler and brother Leslie Butler (Miami), team captain Marjorie Whylie, special spin bowlers Foggy Mullings and Obeah Denton ,four-pronged fast bowlers Dr. Kathy Brown, Andre Campbell, Courtney Sinclair, and Ozou'ne, opening batsmen Jon Williams and Peter Ashbourne, and fielding in the slip is vocalist extraordinaire Myrna Hague

Reserve players: Byard Lancaster (Sax/Flute), Sonny Bradshaw
COACH (Band) - Desi Jones & Skool
UMPIRES (MC): Don Topping, Fae Ellington, Anthony Cuffe

The jazz games move to homeground Ocho Rios for the rest of the week of activities the includes free public concerts, school band competition, leading up to the climax closing day show in Priory, St. Ann. Side shows are being held on the East (Port Antonio) and South (Treasure Beach) and West (Negril)coasts of Jamaica.

Dee Dee Bridgewater: consumate jazz vocalist and ambassador

2009-05-27T06:39:00.000-05:00

Born Denise Grant in Memphis on May 27, 1950 to father Matthew, a trumpeteer and teacher, few entertainers have ever commanded such depth of artistry in every medium as Dee Dee Bridgewater. And, even fewer still have been rewarded with Broadway’s coveted Tony Award (Best Featured Actress in a Musical The Wiz), nominated for the London theater’s West End equivalent, the Laurence Oliver Award (Best Actress in a Musical Lady Day), won two Grammy Awards (1998’s Best Jazz Vocal Performance and Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocal for “Cottontail” Slide Hampton, arranger “Dear Ella “), and France’s 1998 top honor Victoire de la Musique (Best Jazz Vocal Album).

Matthew Grant exposed young Denise to his love of jazz at an early age. The youngster enjoyed the many records her father played her, especially those of Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley. By the age of 16 she was in a vocal trio that specialized in R&B and rock cover versions.

Dee Dee made her phenomenal New York debut in 1970 as the lead vocalist for the band led by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, one of the premier jazz orchestras of the time. These New York years marked an early career in concerts and on recordings with such giants as Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Max Roach and rich experiences with Norman Connors, Stanley Clarke and Frank Foster’s “Loud Minority.”

In 1976 she landed her first recording contract with Atlantic Records. Her first release was simply entitled “Dee Dee Bridgewater.” Her 2007 release of “Red Earth,” is her ode to Mali and Africa, and singing in the spirit that calls on her African ancestry and with reverence for jazz tradition at its best.

Dee Dee Bridgewater was named ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1999 joining the battle against world hunger.

Clifton Anderson's many Decades of music

2009-05-24T22:41:00.000-05:00

Clifton Anderson was born in Harlem, New York City. He grew up surrounded by music. His Jamaican father was a church organist and choir director, and his USVI mother a singer and pianist. It was no surprise that Clifton exhibited an affinity for music at an early age. When he was just seven years old he got his first trombone, a gift from his famous uncle Sonny Rollins.

In 1983 Clifton joined his uncle, Sonny Rollins. Since, he has been a member of Sonny’s group and has toured extensively with him, performing throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, Canada and of course the United States. Clifton has also appeared on ten Sonny Rollins recordings.

Clifton has worked with diverse musical giants: from Frank Foster, McCoy Tyner, Clifford Jordan, Stevie Wonder, Dizzy Gillespie, Merv Griffin and The Mighty Sparrow to Lester Bowie, Paul Simon, WyClef Jean, and Dionne Warwick among others. Clifton’s credits also include the Broadway shows Dreamgirls and Nine.

Aired in Jamaica on Dermot Hussey's Riffin prog, Anderson's newest work Decade, is dedicated to the memory of his departed mother.

British choir delights with Jamaican folksong

2009-05-17T16:48:00.000-05:00

Duke Ellington among greatest composers, musicians

2009-04-29T07:43:00.000-05:00

Edward Kennedy Ellington, Born on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C., by the time of his passing in 1974 he was considered amongst the world’s greatest composers and musicians.

The French government honored him with their highest award, the Legion of Honor, while the government of the United States bestowed upon him the highest civil honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

He played for the royalty and for the common people and by the end of his 50-year career, he had played over 20,000 performances worldwide.

He was The Duke, Duke Ellington.

Diana Krall's Bossa 'n' Quiet Night

2009-04-21T20:47:00.000-05:00

Bossa Nova versus jazz reaches another critical mass with Diana Krall's Quiet Nights. And what a long way Krall has come since "Peel Me a Grape." Couched in pop literary terms, there is nothing coy about Quiet Nights.

This is Krall in full maturity sending husband Elvis Costello an audio love note... and what a love note it is. If music were a season, then Bossa Nova would be late summer—warm and humid; languid and lazy.

Krall's Bossa recital contains both Bossa classics ("The Boy from Ipanema," "Este Seu Olhar" and the Bacharach/David classic "Walk on By") and jazz classics cast in Bossa bronze ("Too Marvelous For Words," "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face," "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry" and "Everytime We Say Goodbye"). All are given a breezy treatment by Krall's quintet with strings.

Krall, as a vocal performer, is placed front and center with little to draw one's attention from her. Krall's voice is breathy and spare, as is her piano playing. Sexy is not the adjective to describe this recording. A word deeper and more dense, where the physical and spiritual mingle, is necessary; a word not yet invented

Track listing: Where Or When; Too Marvelous For Words; I've Grown Accustomed To His Face; The Boy From Ipanema; Walk On By; You're My Thrill; Este Seu Olhar; So Nice; Quiet Nights; Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry; How Can You Mend A Broken Heart; Everytime We Say Goodbye.

Personnel: Diana Krall: piano, vocals; Anthony Wilson: guitar; John Clayton: bass; Jeff Hamilton: drums; Paulinho Da Costa: percussion.

Adapted from All About Jazz

Myrna Hague's authoritative display of beat and swing

2009-04-19T13:35:00.000-05:00

by Herbie Miller

How distinctive her voice. Reigning jazz diva, Myrna Hague, has always stayed in touch with her roots. She performed recently at the Jamaica Pegasus Jazz in the Garden series as the featured vocalist with the Jamaica All Star Big Band.

Full story: www.jamaica-gleaner.com

Belafonti reflects on early life in Jamaica

2009-03-28T20:58:00.000-05:00

World Beat musicians playing for "One Love"

2009-03-28T20:40:00.000-05:00

Kathy Brown debut on You Tube

2009-03-24T20:49:00.000-05:00