Articles by Dee Dee McNeil

Mikan Zlatkovich: Come Together

by Dee Dee McNeil
April 15, 2010

Although The Beatles' “Come Together" is a commercially apropos title for keyboardist Mikan Zlatkovich's premier CD, it's his original compositions that are the highlights. “Four Plus One" is upbeat and very funky, with Zlatkovich employing a Yamaha ES90X keyboard to punch the rhythm while singing a repeatable melody hook with his busy right hand. The trio's rendition of Stevie Wonder's less-known “Moments Aren't Moments," from The Woman In Red (Motown, 1984) soundtrack, is beautifully introduced with a driving bass line--and ...

Babatunde Lea Quintet tributes Leon Thomas at Catalina Bar & Grill

by Dee Dee McNeil
March 20, 2010

Babatunde Lea QuintetTribute to Leon Thomas Catalina Bar & Grill Hollywood, California March 10, 2010 Four musicians quietly walked onto the Catalina Bar & Grill stage greeted by enthusiastic applause. But where was the bandleader? From the dressing room, Babatunde Lea sang to the packed room, with his strong voice filling the space like an evening prayer. He danced his way through the crowded tables, shaking a Shekere (a bead-covered gourd) ...

Betty Bryant: No Regrets

by Dee Dee McNeil
February 5, 2010

Fondly referred to as the “Cool Miss B," Betty Bryant is a native of Kansas City who relocated to Los Angeles in 1955. One of a thimble full of stalwart female pianists and vocal stylists, Bryant packed the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood in November, 2009 to celebrate the release of her appropriately titled No Regrets and her 80th birthday. By the look of the SRO (standing room only) turnout, she needn't have a single compunction; this talented lady and ...

Alan Hewitt: Retroactive

by Dee Dee McNeil
January 14, 2010

The CD artwork to Alan Hewitt's Retroactive looks like a reproduction from the old TV series, Miami Vice. Hewitt is dressed in a white suit with V-neck T-shirt, shades and shoulder-length blond hair. As a pianist and smooth jazz keyboardist, he travels on a flashback journey in both his attire and music.

Hewitt opens the recording with the title track from Shaft (1970), scored by the legendary Isaac Hayes. The pianist's rejuvenated arrangement rides parallel to the original ...

Stanley Jordan at Catalina Jazz Club, Hollywood, CA

by Dee Dee McNeil
June 8, 2008

Stanley Jordan TrioCatalina Jazz ClubHollywood, CaliforniaMay 22, 2008

On this night Stanley Jordan mesmerized the audience with his unique, spellbinding guitar mastery. Using chords that were dissonant yet stunningly beautiful, he dangled the first tune's introduction before his audience like a hypnotist's pocket watch. We tried to guess what song was coming, our eyes glued to his fingers. Then suddenly we recognized Miles Davis' “All Blues," powerfully played by the trio with gusto and excitement. ...

Betty Carter Remembered

by Dee Dee McNeil
May 13, 2006

On a smoggy summer day in the mid-1970's, Soul & Jazz Record magazine scheduled my interview with Betty “Be Bop Carter. Even then she was legendary. Lillie Mae Jones, soon to become Betty Carter, grew up traveling between Flint and Detroit chasing scat dreams. Ultimately, Lillie Mae would become the world's Be Bop Queen, donning her crown along with a new name.In her hotel suite that morning, Carter had on a silky, lounge outfit and no make-up. When ...