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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The Hot Licks of Dan Hicks
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, let's check out some video clips of singer-guitarist Dan Hicks, who will be in Edwardsville this coming Wednesday, March 13 to perform at the Wildey Theatre. Hicks' quirky blend of Gypsy jazz, swing, folk, country, and blues has been entertaining and amusing audiences for more than 40 years, ever since he emerged as part of the San Francisco rock scene of the 1960s. The Arkansas native first gained a measure of fame in the mid-60s as a drummer ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Spotlight on Lotte Anker
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, our video spotlight shines on Danish saxophonist and composer Lotte Anker, who will be making her St. Louis debut Thursday, March 14 in a concert presented by New Music Circle at 560 Music Center. Though Anker seems to be known in this country more as a improvisor, in Denmark she also has composed music incorporating jazz and contemporary classical influences for a variety of groups and projects. Anker works most frequently in Europe, and collaborates with a number ...
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Dexter Gordon: "I Love You"
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Today marks the 90th anniversary of Dexter Gordon's birth. To celebrate the great tenor saxophonist, let's head back in time to the Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen, Denmark. It's 1962, late at night, and you've just taken a seat after grabbing dinner. And then the show begins. Here's a rare clip I found at YouTube last week (be sure to dig the guy with the pipe). Gordon is joined on stage by baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin and alto saxophonist and flutist ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Catching up with Kurt Elling
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, let's take the opportunity to renew our musical acquaintanceship with singer Kurt Elling, who's returning to St. Louis next week to perform Wednesday, February 27 through Saturday, March 2 at Jazz at the Bistro. Elling, considered by many critics and fans to be the top male jazz singer working today, has been a regular visitor to St. Louis. He was here most recently in November 2011 touring in support of The Gate, his then-current album which featured interpretations ...
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Curtis Fuller: Sunday in Athens
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Over the weekend, trombone legend Curtis Fuller, 78, performed at the Half Note in Greece. Our man in Athens Jimi Mentis was front row center and captured the hard bop action. Appearing with Fuller were Josh Bruneau (tp, flh), Ralph Reichert (ts), Rob Bargad (p), Milan Nikolic (b) and Joris Dudli (d). Here's Star Eyes... Here's Caravan... Here's Fuller's Blues... JazzWax tracks: You'll find Curtis Fuller's most recent album Down Home (Capri) here. A JazzWax thanks to Jimi ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Amina Figarova's Jazz Journey
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
St. Louis jazz fans this year already have been able to hear the local debuts of several noteworthy musicians, and there's another one coming next week who's made a long journey, both physically and culturally, to get to where she is now. We're speaking of pianist and composer Amina Figarova, who will be in St. Louis with her sextet to perform a free concert this coming Thursday, February 21 for the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University. Figarova, 46, ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The Song Stylings of Sachal Vasandani
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
St. Louis this winter already has seen the local debut of one of the most talked-about male singers in jazz when Gregory Porter came to town in January to perform at Jazz at the Bistro. Now, just a few weeks later are the first St. Louis gigs for the man who's probably been the other most talked-about male jazz singer of recent years besides Porter. That would be Sachal Vasandani, who will be here to perform next Wednesday, February 13 ...
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Count Basie in London (1965)
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Count Basie's band was the only orchestra that repeatedly re-invented itself across five decades with greater success each time. There were plenty of bands that soldiered on long after they were in vogue. But Basie managed to remain fresh and hip by sticking to swing and allowing modern arrangers to update the Basie book and concept. [Photo of Count Basie above by Herb Snitzer] While jazz historians tend to divide the Basie band into two periods—"Old Testament" and “New Testament," ...
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