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Hess
Hess: Opus 1
by Michael Askounes
If I had a nickel for every fret-banging guitar virtuoso that released a CD filled with monster RAWK chops" and warp speed arpeggios, I'd be a very rich man. Speed is certainly the most showy" of guitar disciplines, but guitarists often forget that speed alone does not make an interesting piece of music. When every accelerated axe man that can sign their name on a contract is releasing guitar albums, you've really got to show something that sets you apart ...
read moreJohnny Steele's Debut Showcases The Overlap Of Music And Chess
Source:
Outside in Music
During the varied quarantines and lockdowns of the past two years, drummer and composer Johnny Steele found himself—like so many others—caught with an unexpected excess of time on his hands. Rather than squander what could be a rare opportunity for learning, growth, and self-improvement, Steele seized the societal sabbatical when his girlfriend introduced him to the game of chess. Quickly becoming enraptured with this timeless test of logic, strategy, and dexterous thinking, Steele found both a great joy and an ...
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BBC Documentary on Chess Records
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
In my new Rock Concert book, I interviewed Marshal Chess, son of Leonard Chess, who co-founded the fabled Chess label with his brother Phil. As readers of my book know, Marshal goes into great detail on the label's founding and how Chess artists such as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley came to invent rock 'n' roll in 1955. Here's a BBC documentary on Chess Records and the vital role it played in the early R&B and rock 'n' roll revolution... ...
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The Django Announces December Schedule Featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith Tributes, Holidays With Duchess, Orrin Evans, New Year's Eve With Houston Person, And More
Source:
AMT Public Relations
The Django, downtown Manhattan’s premier jazz club, offers an impressive month of music with jazz legends and rising stars. Today’s leading artists gather on The Django stage to celebrate NEA Jazz Master Dr. Lonnie Smith in special back-to-back tribute concerts 12/9. Two leading pianists make their Django debut: Benito Gonzalez 12/3 followed by Orrin Evans 12/8 leading his new Brazilian project “Terreno Comun”. The holidays are in full swing with festive concerts by Charles Turner & Uptown Swing Dance 12/11, ...
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That Time Keith Richards Discovered Muddy Waters Painting The Ceiling Of Chess Studios
Source:
HypeBot
Host to countless legendary artists, Chess Records has become an iconic fixture of reverence in the music industry, so it should come as no surprise that some of music's biggest icons would cross paths in unexpected ways there, as in this peculiar interior decorating incident involving Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones. Guest post by Dan Reifsnyder of Soundfly's Flypaper To simply call Chess Records “legendary” would be a gross understatement. Founded in Chicago in 1950, it was the label home to ...
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Phil Chess Had A Jazz Role
Source:
Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
The many obituaries of Chess Records co-founder Phil Chess correctly note his importance in the record company that that brought attention to blues artists who went on to became famous. Chess died yesterday at 95. The Chicago company owned by Chess and his brother Leonard had on its roster Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James, Bo Didley and Howlin’ Wolf, among other blues stars. Leonard shepherded the label’s blues operations. He died in 1969. Phil took primary responsibility for early ...
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Composer-Arranger Oded Lev-Ari - Producer Of Anat Cohen, Marty Ehrlich, Duchess And More - Makes Leader Debut With Inspired Chamber Jazz Of Threading
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
Threading - to be released via Anzic Records on April 28, 2015 - presents Lev-Ari's instrumental and vocal works played by an all-star 11-piece band including Anat Cohen and Matt Wilson Composer-arranger-producer Oded Lev-Ari has crafted acclaimed albums by the likes of hit band 3 Cohens, clarinet icon Anat Cohen and woodwind sage Marty Ehrlich, as well as rising-star singers Amy Cervini, Melissa Stylianou and vocal trio Duchess. Now the Tel Aviv-born, New York-based Lev-Ari steps out with the first ...
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Three Swinging Singers - Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner & Melissa Stylianou - Make Their Trio Debut As Duchess
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
The new jazz vocal trio - whose first album arrives from Anzic Records on Feb. 17, 2015 - bottles an irresistibly fizzing style, inspired by the pioneering harmonies of the Boswell Sisters Duchess - backed by an ace band including drummer Matt Wilson - plays its album release show at New York City's Jazz Standard on March 3, 2015 This threesome devises original arrangements of mostly vintage songs, both familiar and offbeat. They understand that swinging music goes hand in ...
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"Speak" - New Fred Hess Big Band Album
Source:
Fred Hess
SAXOPHONIST/COMPOSER FRED HESS RELEASES 3rd BIG BAND CD AS A LEADER: “SPEAK” (ALISON RECORDS 117), ON AUGUST 6th Big Band features John Fedchock, Ron Miles, John Gunther, Marc Sabatella, Peter Sommer, and Matt Wilson. “Highly original! Jazz entertainment at its best! This is an excellent CD collection of what contemporary big band music is doing, and its incredibly imaginative Lee Prosser, JazzReview.com “All too often, we get so hung up on labels that we forget to listen to the music. ...
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The Duke Robillard Jazz Trio Releases "Wobble Walkin"on Blue Duchess Records
Source:
Two for the Show Media
Since he arrived on the scene in the late '60s as founder of the groundbreaking Roomful of Blues, and subsequently in a thriving solo career that began more than three decades ago, Duke Robillard has consistently exhibited boundless curiosity and undeniable panache, continually reinforcing his reputation as one of the planet's most innovative roots musicians. Robillard's journey has taken him in multiple directions, and Wobble Walkin', the debut release for his own Blue Duchess Records (blueduchessrecords.com) is one of the ...
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Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning / Complete Chess Masters (1951 to 1960) (Hip-O Select, 2011)
Source:
Music and More by Tim Niland
Chester Burnett, aka Howlin' Wolf was one of the most primordial and influential figures on the blues scene from the 1950's to the 1970's. His protean voice and harmonica, and rudimentary guitar were a force of nature. Born in Mississippi, Wolf was in a sense a transitional figure who straddled the gap between the great pre-war musicians like Charley Patton and Son House and the later blues-influenced rock 'n' roll musicians like The Yardbirds and The Rolling Stones. He emigrated ...
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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson