John Lee

Cory Weeds: Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon

by Jack Bowers
August 14, 2025

A proper response to the statement Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon could well be “it's about time!" Although widely separated geographically--Weeds is Canadian, Weldon a native New Yorker--these masters of the tenor saxophone have been brightening stages and delighting audiences at venues in the U.S. and around the world for decades. And even though they have 'met' professionally more than once, it is only now--in 2025--that Weeds and Weldon have joined forces and pooled their enormous talents to produce a ...

Corey Weeds: Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon

by Pierre Giroux
August 1, 2025

Tenor saxophone battles are a rich tradition in jazz, dating back to the vibrant days of Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon and especially the fiery partnership of Eddie Davis and Johnny Griffin. With Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon, the torch is passed with style, swagger, and an infectious swing. Weeds, the Canadian impresario and saxophonist, teams up with seasoned tenor giant Jerry Weldon, whose commanding tone and blues-inflected phrasing offer both a challenge and a source of inspiration. Their interplay ...

Carl Allen: Tippin'

by Pierre Giroux
February 19, 2025

Drummer Carl Allen's release Tippin' is an opportune occasion, as it is Allen's first album as a leader in over twenty years. For this storytelling experience, Allen brought together two luminaries of modern jazz: the internationally renowned bassist Christian McBride and the phenomenal horn player Chris Potter. The trio created a cohesive and compelling narrative, resulting in an album that stands out in its ability to balance spontaneity and structure. It is a free-flowing experience that feels both natural and ...

Brian Charette: You Don't Know Jack!

by Pierre Giroux
February 2, 2025

Brian Charette's release You Don't Know Jack! is a heartfelt acknowledgement of the influence of the legendary organist Jack McDuff upon his career. This began unknowingly when Charette purchased his first Hammond B3 and learned it once belonged to McDuff. In this spirited endeavour, Charette has enlisted several bold-name players, including tenor saxophonist Cory Weeds, guitarist Dave Sikula and drummer John Lee. This quartet delivers a high-energy tribute while injecting a fresh contemporary vibe into the jazz organ tradition.

Carl Allen: Tippin'

by Dan Bilawsky
January 23, 2025

Save for a pair of co-led albums with bassist Rodney Whitaker, it's been more than two decades since master drummer Carl Allen released an album under his own name. Rectifying the situation, he delivers this high-appeal, in-the-pocket trio program with bassist Christian McBride and tenor saxophonist Chris Potter. When choosing the personnel for Tippin', McBride was the obvious bass choice from the beginning. There's tremendous shared history here--McBride appears on more of the drummer's recordings than any ...

John Lee: Second Wind

by Pierre Giroux
August 5, 2024

Second Wind, which, as the title indicates, is John Lee's sophomore recording, is a vivid example of the art of the trio featuring the estimable rhythm section Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. It had long been Lee's dream to play with these two legends and the result is a collection of favourites and some new material that swings with both vigour and subtle intimacy. The opening track is “It's A Blue World," ...

John Lee Sanders, Multi-instrumentalist, Vocalist And Recording Artist, To Perform With San Jose-based Jazz Ensemble “nineteen”

Source: Eric Bolvin
October 8, 2014

2014 “Jazz Nights with Nineteen” Concert Series Features Jazz, Blues and Roots Music Artist Performing Original Compositions SARATOGA, CA – Today, the South Bay-based big band, Nineteen, directed by Eric Bolvin, announced a guest- artist concert featuring the talents of jazz, blues and roots music artist, John Lee Sanders, on Saturday, November 1, 2014, at the Theatre on San Pedro Square in San Jose, California, at 8:00 p.m. Multi-instrumentalist, Emmy nominated composer, and arranger, John Lee Sanders comes from deep ...
read more

Blues Legend John Lee Hooker Jr. Plays at the Iron Horse in Northampton on August 24

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts
August 21, 2010

John Lee Hooker Jr, Detroit's legendary bluesman, is performing at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Tuesday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 in advance and can be purchased online, or $15 at the door. As a child in the 1970s, Hooker learned the blues from Delta blues masters, including his father John Lee Hooker and blues harp legend Jimmy Reed. His 2004 album, Blues with A Vengence received a Grammy nominiation and marked his transition as a ...
read more

Bassist John Lee's New Jazz Label, "Jazz Legacy Productions"

Source: DL Media
July 16, 2009

JAZZ LEGACY PRODUCTIONS, A NEW JAZZ LABEL FOUNDED BY BASSIST JOHN LEE AND DISTRIBUTED BY ALLEGRO, LAUNCHES WITH FOUR NEW RELEASES FEATURING VETERANS CYRUS CHESTNUT, HEATH BROTHERS AND STEVE DAVIS, AND THE DEBUT OF SAXOPHONIST SHAREL CASSITY JLP'S MISSION IS TO FILL A JAZZ VOID BY RECORDING THE UNDERDOCUMENTED AND UNDOCUMENTED THE CHESTNUT AND HEATH CDS STREET AUGUST 4; DAVIS AND CASSITY CDS ARRIVE SEPTEMBER 8 At a time when major jazz labels are shrinking their coverage and signings, and ...
read more

John Lee Hooker Jr Interview

Source: All About Jazz
March 25, 2009

This interview is part of the book project “under your skin" which includes Interviews with: Anthony Braxton, Ornette Coleman, Chuck D - Public Enemy, Taj Mahal, Yusef Lateef, Melvin Gibbs, Bob James, Skip Mcdonald, Erika Stucky, Living Colour, Rhonda Smith, Dj Rob Swift, Marilyn Crispell, Dick Griffin, Billy Bang, Kahil El Zabar, Michael Ricci - All About Jazz, Val-Inc, Chico Freeman, Esperanza Spalding, Eddie Henderson, J. Mascis - Dinosaur ...
read more

John Lee Hooker Jr. Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
November 25, 2008

For many, growing up in someone else's shadow is daunting, particularly when that someone is a looming, legendary figure known worldwide. Eclipsed by that someone, a musician may constantly hear comparisons drawn as they try to establish themselves and their career. This is not the case for John Lee Hooker Jr. Born the son of blues great John Lee Hooker, he acknowledges the significant contribution his father made to music, and knows he was never overshadowed by his father. Rather, ...
read more

Shout! Factory Honors Master Bluesman John Lee Hooker with First-Ever Career Box Set: 'Hooker'

Source: All About Jazz
July 31, 2006

Deluxe 4-CD Set Represents A Half Century Of Blues And Boogie

Includes Performances with Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Van Morrison, Ry Cooder, Jimmie Vaughan, Charles Brown and Los Lobos

In Stores October 31

LOS ANGELES - John Lee Hooker, master bluesman and undisputed father of boogie, recorded for more than 30 labels over a span of nearly 50 years. Amazingly, he has never had a definitive career box set - until now. On October 31, 2006, ...
read more

John Lee Hooker: Eight Decades of the Hook

Source: All About Jazz

In 1989, blues singer/guitarist John Lee Hooker exploded, again, onto the music scene with an extraordinary recording. The Healer, which might have easily been a denouement in a luminous career, served as a new beginning, marked with a Grammy award for “I'm in the Mood," a re-sculptured duet with singer/slide guitarist Bonnie Raitt. While the record was well received for its all star cast, including Raitt, Carlos Santana, Keith Richards and Canned Heat, critics accused the bluesman of spreading himself ...
read more