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Interview: Berry Gordy Jr. (Part 3)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Over the pat two days, some fans of Motown and Marvin Gaye have sent along emails insisting that Berry Gordy Jr., Motown's founder, was rewriting history. Their contention is that Mr. Gordy had blocked What's Going On in 1970 and 1971 and that he had heated arguments with Gaye over its release. Of course, we will never truly know what actually took place between them, since there are no documents, emails or video. For years Mr. Gordy has been vilified ...
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Latin Jazz Conversations: Pedro Giraudo (Part 2)
Source:
The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
With each statement that they make, progressive musicians show signs of consistent forward motion and artistic evolution. They reject complacency at every turn and take each available opportunity to grow into more expressive artists. As they release new albums and appear for more performances, they show elements of growth both small and large. They reach plateaus along the way, but they never stay there long; their passionate involvement in music constantly drives them towards deeper study. This focus upon growth ...
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An interview with best-selling Brazilian vocalist Patty Ascher
Source:
Lauren Rogers
Brazil-based vocalist Patty Ascher has just released a new album, Bossa, Jazz 'n' Samba, that further solidifies her as among that country's finest jazz talents. Her sultry, playful singing, equally skilled in both English and Portuguese, is stronger than ever, ensuring high entertainment value for any listener. Ascher took some time from her busy schedule to discuss her life and career. Q: What made you want to become a singer? A: I was born in a family of musicians so ...
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Interview: Berry Gordy Jr. (Part 2)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Meeting Berry Gordy Jr. while on assignment for the Wall Street Journal last week was quite a thrill. Having listened to Motown records since I'm a kid, it was quite something to spend an hour and a half with the person who built the label from scratch and developed the talent. And all of those skills Mr. Gordy learned on his own, without an apprenticeship or a relative in the business. This is not to say that I'm smitten by ...
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Latin Jazz Conversations: Pedro Giraudo (Part 1)
Source:
The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
With so many possibilities swirling through the modern world, young people often need to find their way through the contemporary musical landscape towards jazz. Their families exert a strong influence in terms of musical preference, but in most cases, it's not the final word. Popular culture and the sound of the times provide a powerful direction for musical pursuits, one that moves people to action. Along the way, other music will fall into mix, but falling in love with jazz ...
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Interview: Berry Gordy Jr. (Part 1)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Marvin Gaye's What's Going On (1971) is one of my favorite albums. As I've posted in this space in the past, the album has an unmatched sophisticated and sensitive tribal jazz-soul feel and a powerful socio-political message. For those unfamiliar with What's Going On, the album's vision and success changed soul music, giving artists greater latitude to express their opinons about injustice, poverty, war, pollution and other topics controversial at the time. In today's Wall Street Journal (go here), I ...
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Lee Konitz at 83: Taking It Slow and Steady on "Live at Birdland"
Source:
All About Jazz @ Spinner
The latest entry in All About Jazz's Legends series is alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, who first arrived on the scene back in the late 1940s when he played in Claude Thornhill's orchestra. As a teen, he studied with the legendary Lennie Tristano, eventually playing and recording with the master. He was also a member of the group that recorded Miles Davis' landmark 'Birth of the Cool,' and soon thereafter began to lead bands of his own. One of the great ...
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Shying Away from Comfort Zones with Adam Kolker
Source:
Best. Saxophone. Website. Ever.
Over the course of his storied career as a sideman, Adam Kolker has worked with the likes of The Village Vanguard Orchestra, the Maria Schneider Big Band, Bruce Barth, Judi Silvano, Kenny Wheeler's Large Ensemble, Ben Sher, Bobby Previte, Gunther Schuller, and others. On the solo front, his latest album, Reflections has the Grammy-nominated sax and woodwind stalwart avoiding safe ground and instead steering the project towards his gifts as a visionary improviser, composer, and arranger. Joining him on this ...
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