Jazz News

The Trio of Oz: New CD by Omar Hakim and Rachel Z Debuts September 7

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations
August 30, 2010

Legendary drummer Omar Hakim (Weather Report, Sting, Miles Davis, David Bowie, et al.) has teamed up with pianist extraordinaire Rachel Z, whose work with Wayne Shorter, Steps Ahead, and Peter Gabriel has earned her international recognition and acclaim from her peers and fans alike. This musical partnership features the tasteful virtuosity and sensitivity of these Grammy Awarded musicians as they take you on an exciting journey performing some of the most creative and unique arrangements of chart-topping rock hits from ...

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Mission Possible! Planning Stan Kenton Tributes for 2011

Source: Robert J. Robbins
August 30, 2010

From: Anthony J. Agostinelli “Good Morning Mr. Phelps, your mission, should you decide to accept it," is a challenging one! Given that Stan Kenton would have been 100 years old" in 2011, we should all try to arrange for as many TRIBUTES to Stan Kenton as we can manage. You may consider these resources 'fair game': LIBRARIES: book and CD promotions, displayed prominently; literary events—jazz people lecturing about Kenton; performances (should your library permit them); and other things thought about ...

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Video From The Jason Parker Quartet's Nick Drake Tribute

Source: Jason Parker
August 30, 2010

This past Friday, the Jason Parker Quartet debuted 8 new arrangements of tunes from Nick Drake's debut album “Five Leaves Left". Jason Parker, Josh Rawlings, Evan Flory-Barnes and D'Vonne Lewis were joined by Cynthia Mullis on tenor and Michele Khazak on vocals. They played to a standing-room-only crowd at Lucid Jazz Lounge, culminating a two-year process of planning, arranging and readying this material. Here is a video montage of clips from many of the songs played, including “Three Hours," “Cello ...

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Enter the ECM "Manu Katche - Third Round" Giveaway

Source: All About Jazz
August 29, 2010

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the ECM “Manu Katche—Third Round“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on September 29th.Click here to enter the contest (Following Manu Katche at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at ECM Records About Third Round Following on from Neighbourhood and Playground, the latest installment of the music of Manu Katche on ECM. Recorded in the South of France in ...

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Memorial for Vibraphonist Carl Leukaufe to be Held at Chicago's Jazz Showcase

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
August 29, 2010

Chicago, IL: Carl Leukaufe, a vibraphonist who was considered a treasure of the Chicago jazz scene for the past several decades, passed away on August 18 after a brief illness. He was 76. Hazel, his wife of 53 years, passed away in November, 2009. A memorial to celebrate his life and music will take place on Monday, October 11 at 8pm at Chicago's Jazz Showcase. The Jazz Showcase is located at 806 South Plymouth Court in Chicago. Leukaufe's daughter Susan ...

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Fat Freddy's Drop Jamming Live & Taking Names

Source: rock paper scissors, inc.
August 29, 2010

Fat Freddy's Drop Captured in Their Natural State: Jamming Live and Taking Names at the Roundhouse

Fat Freddy's Drop has battled mad scientists and unleashed mad skills. An unlikely band of sons of the Pacific, they can flip on the fly from Maori reggae to sweet Yankee soul with near psychic precision. Like kungfu masters, they set their dubbed-out funk, hardcore horns, and waves of luscious bass on unsuspecting opponents and turn them into sweaty dance floor devotees.

New Zealand's ...

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Soulful Samba Transcendence: Brazilian Star in the US

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
August 29, 2010

If Pedro Moraes had a muse, she'd shake up sweaty samba bars, hips swaying, and turn heads dancing in the street, snaking her way from Rio's bohemian quarter to Bahia and Recife (and on to Mexico City and Liverpool). She'd boogie between the earthy and the erudite, with heady tropicalismo and brainy modernism.

She'd embody the smart samba, lusophone lyricism, and folk funk captured on Moraes's lush album Claroescuro (Independant) and now in full force for the singer songwriter's first ...

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Singer Hilary Kole Interviewed at All About Jazz

Source: DL Media
September 14, 2010

When Hilary Kole sings, she can become one of the ideal subjects for the “what is jazz singing" discussion that has gone on for decades. She sings clear and cleanly, with a sure tone and an attractive sound. She's done cabaret and her voice is perfectly suited for it. But she sings with small jazz groups and has more than a feel for that as well. And she's stood before big bands and presented jazz sure and enchanting. But that ...

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