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Interview

Azar Lawrence Interview

Source: underyourskin
July 12, 2011

Interview

Composition for the Dearly Departed

Source: Michael Ricci
July 12, 2011

By NAT HENTOFF For years, jazz musicians have told me how much they value Kenny Werner as a pianist and teacher. According to premier jazz harmonica player Toots Thielemans, for example, “He is a total musician. He feeds my heart and brain and pushes me into fresh territories." Students at various teaching clinics around the country agree. Now Mr. Werner has created a large-scale composition, “No Beginning, No End" (Half Note Records, available on Amazon), that is on the level ...

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Interview

UYS: Angelita Jimenez & Trish Clowes Interviews

Source: underyourskin
July 9, 2011

Interview

Something Else! Interview: Steve Cropper, of Booker T. and the MGS

Source: Something Else!
July 9, 2011

Steve Cropper, a seminal soul figure and guitarist in Booker T. and the MGs, pays tribute to childhood musical heroes the 5 Royales with Dedicated, set for release on August 9. Cropper, who has often credited 5 Royales guitarist Lowman “Pete" Pauling as a key influence, shot to fame as a guitarist and producer at Memphis' Stax Records in the 1960s. There, he'd score a handful of hits with the MGs, even while working with greats like Otis Redding, Sam ...

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Interview

Interview: Donald Fagen

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 8, 2011

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, co-founders of Steely Dan, wrote the soundtrack for anyone who attended college in the 1970s. Their music was adored by dorm-bound jazz heads who wanted modern music but didn't want to give up the sound of horns and an acoustic piano. For today's Wall Street Journal (go here), I interviewed Mr. Fagen a couple of weeks ago, just before the start of Steely Dan's world tour last Saturday. My outtakes from our conversation are below. ...

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Interview

Nestor Zurita Saxophonist and Teacher by James Cubby on July 05, 2011

Source: Nestor Zurita
July 7, 2011

Saxophonist Nestor Zurita shares his talents when he performs onstage but it's a special person who can teach another to play a musical instrument. While Nestor taught himself to play the saxophone, most aren't as quick to pick up an instrument and teach themselves to play-not like Nestor Zurita anyway. Miami locals are familiar with Nestor Zurita who has played at venues like the Van Dyke Café, Arts at St. Johns, Alliance Francaise and has concerts at the Gusman Hall ...

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Interview

Interview: Betty Bennett (Part 2)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 6, 2011

It seems everyone has a good Benny Goodman story, and the best often are from those who actually worked for him. In fact, in his lifetime, Goodman may have generated as many great stories about his flinty personality as he did hit singles. Vocalist Betty Bennett sang with Goodman in 1959 and, like many other artists, didn't have an easy time of it. In Part 2 of my two-part e-conversation with Betty, the seasoned big band vocalist (and guitarist Mundell ...

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Interview

Something Else! Featured Artist: The Funky, Funky JB Horns

Source: Something Else!
July 5, 2011

James Brown got all of the headlines, be they for his fancy moves, his fancier suits or his brushes with the law. But the JB Horns, those great groovers who provided the punctuation to every grunt, gasp and squeal, remain an underrated element to the legend. Maceo Parker, the muscular saxophonist, has perhaps had the most solo success, but the truth is fellow saxophonist/arranger Pee Wee Ellis and trombonist Fred Wesley have often joined him on those projects. They remain, ...

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