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Sonny Dunham: Memories of You
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Shortly after Andy Razaf and Eubie Blake's Memories of You was performed in the Blackbirds of 1930 revue, the song was recorded by vocalist Ethel Waters in August 1930 for the Columbia label. Duke Ellington soon followed in early October with an RCA release featuring Dick Robertson on vocal. Two weeks later, Louis Armstrong and His New Cotton Club Orchestra cut it for Okeh, providing a laid-back vocal and an effortless trumpet solo that spiraled up to end on a ...
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Interview: Leon Ware (Part 2)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Like many jazz artists, soul singer Marvin Gaye built his post-1970 career on bucking the system. It's hard to believe now, but Motown initially resisted Gaye's What's Going On (1971). The album didn't fit the tried and true formula that drove the label's bottom line. But after the album's release and success--featuring Gaye's searing commentary on war, the environment, family unity and inner city disparity--Motown quickly renegotiated Gaye's contract, giving him full creative control of future albums. Next up for ...
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Interview: Leon Ware (Part 1)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
The post-1970 recordings of Marvin Gaye really can't be considered purely soul. There's too much jazz-influenced sophistication in Gaye's delivery and accompanying orchestrations to sum up these albums that simply. Each of Gaye's LPs from this period was a concept album, and Gaye's artistic independence and socio-romantic messages were daring and groundbreaking. Of the eight albums Gaye recorded between 1971 and 1981, the moody successor to his expressive masterpiece What's Going On (1971) is I Want You (1976). The album ...
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Singer Nicole Henry Interviewed at AAJ
Source:
All About Jazz
Inspiration usually comes by surprise. Jazz vocalist Nicole Henry can tell us all about it. Sometimes we know there is a certain direction we want to go, but can't figure out what the road looks like. And for a brief, terrifying and always meaningful minute of our lives, we stand in a crossroad to nowhere, wondering what will come next. And that is when it happens. Inspiration comes rushing in, like a blurry shade of blue passing you by. If ...
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Guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg Interviewed at AAJ
Source:
All About Jazz
The world of jazz guitar has long been filled with some of the most storied names in jazz history. Artists such as Charlie Christian, Johnny Smith, Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny and John Scofield have all become recognized as some of jazz's greatest innovators and most prolific performers.
In a day and age when it seems that jazz, and jazz guitar, has been through just about every transition, amalgamation and innovation possible, there are still new voices emerging to take the ...
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Kurt Rosenwinkel "Standards Trio" Video Clip and Interview Part One
Source:
Sortiesjazznights.com PR
Singer Roberta Gambarini Interviewed at AAJ
Source:
All About Jazz
It's been an out-of-the-ordinary career trip for Roberta Gambarini--a trip that's seen her go from a young girl in Italy, scatting along with records by American singers Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, to struggling to get singing gigs in her native land, to grabbing an opportunity to come to the United States, to gaining recognition by respected elders like Benny Carter, James Moody, Clark Terry and nonagenarian pianist Hank Jones, who has proclaimed her “the best jazz singer to emerge ...
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