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Jazz Articles about George Benson
Jean-Luc Ponty: Open Mind
by Peter Rubie
If Individual Choice was the sketchbook of Jean-Luc Ponty's (JLP) decision to take his music in a new direction, Open Mind (1984), released the following year, was a deeper exploration of the emerging world of synthesizers and sequencers and their impact on live (studio) performance. Here, complex rhythmic patterns shift in the background while new sounds appear and disappear on the surface in colorful bursts, and outstanding jazz improvisors create familiar music in new settings. It's almost an audio version ...
read moreHank Mobley: The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70
by C. Andrew Hovan
The music world has changed considerably since Michael Cuscuna and Charlie Lourie founded their boutique reissue label Mosaic Records back in 1983. From its inception, vinyl was still the preferred format, shortly to be overtaken by the popularity of the compact disc. At the cusp of vinyl's recent resurgence, Mosaic briefly got back into that format only to find themselves on the brink of closing up shop. Fortunately, the powers that be have forged on and recent CD boxed sets ...
read moreJazz At Juan 2019
by Martin McFie
Jazz at Juan Opening Weekend Juan Les Pins, South of France July 12-21, 2019 Jazz at Juan-Les-Pins has always been the boutique quality jazz festival of the South of France. The stage beside the blue Mediterranean Sea, was open-backed leaving a view through to the sunset over the Bay of Angels. The audience of 3,000 was all seated in bleachers. Live big screens showed the detail of performances. This year 2019, is the 59th edition ...
read moreCGI Rochester International Jazz Festival 2019
by Gregory Savage
The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival, held June 21st thru the 29th, was a huge success. The streets of downtown Rochester, New York, are the perfect venue to host nine straight days (and nights) of jazz. The eighteenth annual festival had a little something for everyone, including perfect weather. From high school bands, to rising stars, to NEA Jazz Masters; every level of jazz was heard and seen. The lineup included jazz greats George Benson, Eddie Henderson, Steve Gadd, Harold ...
read moreFestival International De Jazz De Montreal 2019
by Wendy Ross
Festival International De Montreal De Jazz Various Venues Montreal June 29-July 1, 2019 Billed as the largest Jazz festival in the world, the International Festival de Montreal de jazz has over its 40 years presented some 16,000 concerts with thousands of artists from all over the world. The aim is to offer a space where new and established artists perform side by side in a confluence of genres and cultures. To pull ...
read moreFreihofer Saratoga Jazz Festival 2019
by Richard Conde
Celebrating its 42nd anniversary over the June 29th weekend, the 2019 Freihofer Saratoga Jazz Festival at the Saratoga's Performing Arts center in Saratoga Springs N.Y., featured a great program presenting a wide range of music. Over 25 featured artist played over two days across two stages with headliner George Benson taking the Amphitheater stage Saturday night. Other featured artist included Norah Jones, Trombone Shorty, Joshua Redman and Veronica Swift just to name a few. This festival is a must for ...
read moreGilly’s Remembered
by Michael J. Williams
Anyone who was a jazz aficionado in jny: Cincinnati in the 1970s and wanted to hear the upper echelon musicians in the art form--the artists written about in Downbeat and whose records played regularly on the local AM station, WNOP--knew what to do. Make the 50-mile trek up Interstate 75 to Gilly's in Dayton. While the Queen City had its share of jazz spots, they mostly drew upon the local talent, which was nothing to disparage ...
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