Articles by David Hadley Ray
Chick Corea/Steve Gadd Band At Blues Alley
by David Hadley Ray
Corea/Gadd Band Blues Alley Washington D.C. October 16, 2017 On an unusually warm evening in October, Chick Corea and Steve Gadd arrived in Washington D.C. for a highly anticipated residency at Blues Alley. The lineup was comprised of Luisito Quintero (percussion), Carlitos Del Puerto (acoustic and electric bass), Lionel Loueke (guitar), Steve Wilson (saxophone), Steve Gadd (drums), and Chick Corea (acoustic and electric piano). Chick Corea and Steve Gadd showed that incredible technique is best ...
Continue ReadingRufus Reid at Mezzrow Jazz Club and Dizzy's Club Coca Cola
by David Hadley Ray
Rufus Reid and Glenn Zaleski Mezzrow Jazz Club New York, NY August, 20, 2017 Mezzrow's is an intimate space situated in the heart of Greenwich Village. A great little after-hours haunt in the city that never sleeps. The club space is narrow, but it's well suited for solo piano or duo gigs. It's best to reserve your seats in advance in order to get one of the 10 or 13 tables that ...
Continue ReadingRufus Reid: Composer, Educator, Bassist, Gait Keeper… And Prophet
by David Hadley Ray
Rufus Reid doesn't play standards, as much as he is the standard, a well of knowledge and wisdom that this bassist was fortunate to sit down with one afternoon. All About Jazz: When you did the Elizabeth Catlett album/project, it seemed that the beauty of her work inspired you, but am I wrong in my observation that her work could also be considered somewhat “Afrocentric?" How much of that inspired you, The Afro-American/African culture? How much has managed ...
Continue ReadingJazz Karaoke anyone?
by David Hadley Ray
Venues seem to want jazz karaoke more than jazz with attitude. With decibel meters, political correctness and noise laws, is the rebel music of Bird, Monk and Dizzy being snipped and manipulated into being safe for the masses? Do folks really want their jazz neutered, or genetically modified? (It may look and taste like jazz, but it sho' nuff tastes like Kenny G.) From an outward perspective, it seems that some artists are so worried about offending people, they end ...
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