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Interview

Interview 2018: Marcos Valle

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 22, 2018

Next week, the legendary bossa nova pianist, singer and composer Marcos Valle will make his only New York appearance this year at Birdland. Joining him will be singer Paula Morelenbaum and cellist Jacques Morelenbaum. They toured with Antonio Carlos Jobim between 1984 and 1994. The BossaBrasil spectacular at Birdland—from May 29 to June 2—is being produced by the exceptional Pat Philips-Stratta, who each year brings Marcos and other bossa legacy artists to the club for a taste of toasty Rio ...

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Interview

UbumtuFM's Exclusive Interview For International Women's Day With Cynthia Basinet

Source: Cynthia "c." Basinet
March 19, 2018

UbumtuFM's Exclusive interview for International Women's Day with Cynthia Basinet, a multi-talented American actress, singer, supermodel, mother and activist for the Western Saharan Sahrawi people, from the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles county. Life is a journey. Cynthia's journey took her to the top of various interlocking disciplines and roads less traveled. In this exclusive interview we'll attempt to paint the full picture and put some perspective on the life and career of this remarkable woman. Thank you, Cynthia for ...

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Interview

Pandora Data Journalist Emily Blake On Artist Development Trends [INTERVIEW]

Source: HypeBot
February 8, 2018

Here data journalist and music curator Emily Blake of Next Big Sound shares her thoughts and insights on finding trends in music, as well as how artists can and should use data for leveraging success. Guest post from the Pandora Amp Playbook You would be hard-pressed to find an artist that Emily Blake hasn’t heard of yet. Emily is a data journalist for Next Big Sound, and each week she curates three exciting charts – Pandora Predictions, Pandora Trendsetters, and Pandora Top Spins. Emily is ...

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Interview

Alisa Gurova Implements Belly Dancing Techniques In Jazz Performance

Source: Harry Watters
October 31, 2017

As a performer of tribal dance, Ms. Alisa Gurova has showcased her work internationally from festivals in Italy (the Umrah Festival and Tribal Trip); the Czech Republic (Let's Dance Festival); her native Ukraine (several festivals in cities across the country); and Russia (Gala Show). She has been a unique marvel in the dance world as she engages not only typical belly dance movements and isolations (chest circles, undulations, snake arms, shimmy, etc.), but also movements of legs, feet, pirouettes, jumps ...

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Interview

Interview: Pat Senatore

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
October 23, 2017

Back in September, I posted on the V.I.P. Trio, a group featuring Cedar Walton (p), Pat Senatore (b) and Billy Higgins (d) that recorded two superb albums of standards for Japan's California Breeze label in Los Angeles in 1988. Though the albums were not released in the States, they recently were re-issued by Fresh Sound on two CD volumes. You'll find Vol. 1 here or here, and Vol. 2 here or here. Pat is the sole surviving member of this ...

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Interview

Interview: Georgia Mancio

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
August 14, 2017

Back in July, I posted on singer Georgia Mancio's exquisite new album, Songbook. On the album, Georgia was joined by pianist Alan Broadbent, who wrote all of the songs and invited Georgia to write each song's lyric. In the days that followed my post, many of you wrote asking to know more about her. Recently I had a chance to catch up with Georgia. Here's our e-conversation... JazzWax: You grew up in Croydon in south London. Tell me about your ...

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Interview

Mrs. Johnny "Hammond" Smith

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
August 7, 2017

It's unclear who gave Johnny “Hammond" Smith his middle name. In all likelihood, it was Smith himself, to distinguish himself from Johnny Smith, the well-known jazz guitarist. “Hammond" Smith was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1933 and began recording on the organ in the late 1950s just after working as singer Nancy Wilson's early club accompanist. After recording steadily for Prestige as a sideman and leader during the 1960s, Smith signed with Creed Taylor's Kudu Records in the early 1970s. ...

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Interview

Donald Fagen & the Nightflyers

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 27, 2017

Donald Fagen loves jazz. Since 1972, his songs co-written with Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker have been laced with jazz references and chord voicings. The same goes for Donald's four solo albums. Jazz greats such as Wayne Shorter, Phil Woods and Pete Christlieb, to name just a few, have been featured on Steely Dan and Donald's recordings. And when he's at home with down time, Donald tells me he's often at the piano doing Red Garland imitations. “Have you heard ...

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