Jazz News

Saxophonist Sonny Fortune Profiled at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
July 2, 2008

With an auspicious name like Sonny Fortune, could there be any doubt that this man would find success and fulfillment down whatever path he chose to follow in life. Fortune-ately for jazz lovers, he focused his talent and energy on the saxophone.

Fortune's good fortune began at the beguine-ing; he was born at the right time, May 19, 1939, and at the right place, Philadelphia. While the City of Brotherly Love has been considered a second-tier jazz city by some, ...

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Laurence Elder Performs at Blue Note

Source: AMP3 Public Relations
July 2, 2008

Jazz singer/songwriter Laurence Elder will be performing at Blue Note on Saturday, July 12th, 2008.

Laurence Elder's fresh, inspired blend of jazz, rock, blues and pop, along with his “triple threat" talents as a singer-songwriter-pianist, set his music apart as a vital new original sound. Already a signed artist on ESC Records in Europe and in Japan on the P-Vine label, Laurence has recorded with Grammy winners Paquito D'Rivera and Peter Erskine, who both appear as guests on his critically ...

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Alex Lattimore Comes Full Circle

Source: All About Jazz
July 2, 2008

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Nick Longo - This is - CD Just Released

Source: All About Jazz
July 2, 2008

Nick Longo (sax and vocals) has just released his debut CD. It is entitled This Is and it is all original music written by him except for one cut written by his father John “Pops" Longo. Nick did all the arranging and produced the CD himself. He describes himself as high-energy jazz meets R&B. When you get the CD, pay close attention because it is very entertaining. There are a lot of little surprises that will pass you by when ...

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James Hunter Brings His Soul to Troubadour

Source: Michael Ricci
July 2, 2008

James Hunter makes 'The Hard Way' easy

On Tuesday night, James Hunter is bringing his unique variety of soul to the Troubadour. Unique, you may well question? Yes, unique.

Critics, in their effusive praise, wrong-peg Hunter as a revivalist purist of the Sam Cooke/Jackie Wilson school, but his music takes in a wide range of influences, including '50s piano-based R&B, early Skatalites horn charts, an almost post- modern guitar deconstruction of Ike Turner or Hubert Sumlin, and the New Orleans ...

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Stax Records to Release Long Awaited "Moon Ride," the Debut Album from Legendary Songwriter Leon Ware

Source: All About Jazz
July 2, 2008

THE TWELVE-SONG COLLECTION HITS STORES ON AUGUST 12, 2008 Stax Records is proud to announce the release of Moon Ride, the debut album from legendary songwriter, producer and vocalist, Leon Ware. A music maker for four decades, Leon's list of impressive credits includes classic recordings by Quincy Jones, Minnie Riperton, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, Average White Band and of course, the late Marvin Gaye (whose Ware-written and produced “I Want You" LP remains a seminal Motown album). The hypnotically evocative “Loceans" ...

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Steve Allee's Versatility Shines on "Dragonfly"

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations
July 2, 2008

The Steve Allee Trio Dragonfly Owl Studios July 22 Release date Mention Indianapolis, and chances are good that eight out of ten people will associate the central Indiana city with motor sports, or sports in general (lest we forget about the Indianapolis Colts or Indiana Pacers). For an ardent, longtime jazz fan, Indy brings to mind some of the mighty-talented musicians who were raised and cut their musical teeth there, including brothers Wes, Buddy ...

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Manfred Eicher and ECM Records Win Down Beat Critics Poll

Source: All About Jazz
July 2, 2008

Manfred Eicher is voted Producer of the Year and ECM Records is Label of the Year 2008 in the Down Beat Critics Poll: this double-win is announced in the August issue of the US jazz magazine, which includes full results of their 56th Annual International Critics Poll.

The awards arrive as Munich-based ECM, founded 1969, approaches its 40th anniversary year. While Eicher won Down Beat's Top Producer award in 1976, and ECM was Label of the Year in 1980, the ...

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