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Mills Brothers: Birth of R&B
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Vocal harmony groups seemed to be everywhere in the 1930s and 1940s. The Depression played a role, of course, since entertainment was the only way out of harrowing poverty for most people and singing meant you didn't need to buy an instrument. The demand for vocal harmony groups surged during this period, primarily because they were cheaper to hire and record than orchestras. Vocalists didn't quality to become members of the American Federation of Musicians. Among the most popular vocal ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Rudresh Mahanthappa's Gamak
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, let's look at some videos of alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, who will be making his St. Louis debut with his group Gamak starting Wednesday, March 19 through Saturday, March 22 at Jazz at the Bistro. The son of Indian emigrants to the United States, the 42-year-old Mahanthappa is known particularly for combining jazz with elements of South Indian classical music. He grew up in Boulder, Colorado; graduated from Berklee College of Music; and earned an MFA in jazz ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Metheny Expands Unity Group for New Album and Tour
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
It's been nearly four years since guitarist Pat Metheny was last here in St. Louis, performing in May 2010 at the Touhill all alone on a stage full of instruments as part of his Orchestrion project. Since then, the peripatetic plectrist has toured with several different configurations of musicians, the most recent of which, the Pat Metheny Unity Group, will perform at The Pageant on Sunday, March 9. Formed in 2012 to facilitate Metheny's collaboration with saxophonist Chris Potter - ...
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Jack Teagarden: Stars of Jazz
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
In 1956, pianist and singer-songwriter Bobby Troup began hosting a Los Angeles TV show for ABC called Stars of Jazz. On one of the shows (sponsored by Budweiser), Troup featured trombonist Jack Teagarden and other legends of Chicago jazz, including Matty Matlock's Rampart Street Paraders: Matty Matlock (cl), Eddie Miller (ts), Abe Lincoln (tb), Clyde Hurley (tp), Stanley Wrightsman (p), George Van Eps (g), Phil Stevens (b), Nick Fatool (d). Since it's bitter cold in New York, what better way ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The Funky Cosmos of Galactic
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, we've selected for your viewing and listening enjoyment some recent videos of Galactic, who will be back in St. Louis to perform on Thursday, March 6 at The Pageant. Comprised of Stanton Moore (drums), Jeff Raines (guitar), Robert Mercurio (bass), Rich Vogel (keyboards), and Ben Ellman (saxophone), the New Orleans-based funk/jazz/hip-hop band has been making an annual St. Louis appearance in close proximity to Mardi Gras for a number of years now, often bringing at least a couple ...
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