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Kees Hazevoet: Holland's Uncommon Observer
Source:
Ni Kantu by Clifford Allen
Pianist, multi-instrumentalist and improviser Kees Hazevoet was born in Amsterdam in 1948, and grew up in a family situation that welcomed both musical expression and an appreciation of nature. Hazevoet began his studies on piano quite young (his mother played the instrument as well). “I liked to play in the open air, so I bought myself a trumpet and a few years later a clarinet. We lived on the edge of town and there was still plenty open space around. ...
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Paul McCartney: From Wings to the West Wing
Source:
Something Else!
Tonight's “Paul McCartney: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Performance at the White House"--premiering at 8 p.m., and then repeating all week on PBS stations--had us digging through the stacks, looking for favorites from throughout his career. (Click through the titles for complete reviews.)GOOD EVENING NEW YORK CITY (2009): There are plenty of live favorites here, but McCartney mines deeper into a catalog stuffed with great music, too--underscoring his easy command of the substantial ...
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Latin Jazz Conversations: Zaccai Curtis (Part 1)
Source:
The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
A childhood immersed in great musical experiences sets the stage for the emergence of a great musician. Listening can be a powerful way to peek interest in a young person, and the more time they spend hearing music, the more it will resonate with them. The more interested a child becomes, the more likely that they will find their way to an instrument. They need large amounts of encouragement and opportunity at this point, but once they have it, they ...
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Interview: Gary Burton (Part 3)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
By the time Gary Burton left the George Shearing Quintet to join Stan Getz in 1964, he had perfected the art of the short, concise solo. But while a compact solo was essential for Shearing's group, Gary needed a completely different approach that rested more heavily on comping--the art of accompanying a soloist--for Getz. [Illustration of Gary Burton by Joshua de Leon]
Working with Getz also presented Gary with a range of other challenges. Getz was notoriously acidic and mercurial, ...
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Remembering Sal Maida, Sam Farkas
Source:
RJ on Jazz by R.J. DeLuke
With a busy June and early July, this log edition was delayed. But by no means should it be ignored or dropped by the wayside.Two Capital District jazz musicians died within days of one another in June and both were significant to this region of New York State and to me.Pianist Salvatore Maida, 77, of Gloversville, NY, was a longtime jazz pianist in the area. Extremely talented, he played with some heavy hitters and could probably ...
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Interview: Gary Burton (Part 2)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Between 1960 and 1963, Gary Burton went from a kid who practiced the vibes with a tape recorder to a musician who recorded with established jazz artists. Gary came of age at just the right moment. Many of these artists were seeking a cooler, more contemporary sound, and Gary, in his late teens, represented the future.
After recording for RCA with Nashville guitarist Hank Garland in the summer of 1960, Gary was gearing up to start music school that fall. ...
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Al Jarreau's Recovery 'Going Well'
Source:
JamaicaMusic Offbeat
Jazz star Al Jarreau's recovery is “going well" following his recent health scare and he could be released from hospital as soon as this weekend, according to his doctor.The 70-year-old Grammy winner had been receiving treatment at a hospital in the French Alps following his collapse last week, moments before his set at a music festival in Barcelonnette. He was transferred to a health facility in Marseille on Saturday (24th) after the altitude caused problems with ...
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Interview: Gary Burton (Part 1)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
In the 1960s, vibraphonist Gary Burton bridged three jazz gaps. In 1960 he was the link between jazz and country. In 1964 he helped link jazz and bossa nova. And in 1967, he began to link jazz and rock, becoming one of the earliest exponents of jazz-rock fusion. [Photo by Karlheinz Kluter]
From his earliest recordings, Gary always had a marvelous sense of swing and sensitivity--without overplaying. His cool, four-mallet approach to the vibes added a youthful feel to many ...
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