Jazz News

Richard Smallwood/Will Downing Bassist Serves Up Impressive Debut

Source: All About Jazz
October 12, 2003

Patrons at Washington DC's trendy Zanzibar On The Waterfront had the pleasure of celebrating with Mark Walker back in July at what many called an incredible evening of music. It was a night for “bass as the principal instrument". Walker, whose gift has been heard on the Grammy, Stellar, and Dove award-winning recordings of Richard Smallwood, Shirley Caesar, Vickie Winans, and Yolanda Adams, stepped out of the background with the release of his debut CD, “Forever Yours". Los Angeles-based keyboardist/writer/producer ...

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Carl Fontana dead at 75 of complications of Altzheimers

Source: All About Jazz
October 11, 2003

A brilliant trombonist who has spent much of the past 40 years playing commercial music in Las Vegas, Carl Fontana occasionally emerges to remind listeners just how technically skilled he is. The son of a saxophonist, Fontana started out playing in his father's group during 1941-1945, but did not gain prominence until he was with Woody Herman's Orchestra (1952-1953). Fontana spent time in the big bands of Lionel Hampton (1954), Hal McIntyre (1954-1955) and most importantly Stan Kenton (1955-1956), being ...

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Jerry Gonz

Source: All About Jazz
October 11, 2003

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Mark A. Walker's "Forever Yours" Available Online

Source: All About Jazz
October 11, 2003

Mark A. Walker, whose artistry on bass has been heard on the Grammy, Stellar, and Dove award winning recordings of master pianist/composer Richard Smallwood, Shirley Caesar, Vickie Winans, and Yolanda Adams, stepped out of the background with the release of his debut CD Forever Yours. At Washington, DC's trendy Zanzibar On the Waterfront, patrons had the pleasure of celebrating with Mark at a pre-release concert on July 28.

Co-produced by Los Angeles based keyboardist/writer Tim Carmon (who includes Eric Clapton, ...

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6th Annual High School Jazz Festival

Source: All About Jazz
October 11, 2003

Press Release: From Clarkstown South Band Parents Association Clarkstown South High School (in West Nyack) is proud to announce the 6th Annual Rockland County Jazz Festival. The Festival will be held on Tuesday, January 20th, 2004, at 7 pm in the auditorium of Clarkstown South High School. Hopefully, this year we will have at least 7 area high schools participating in this Festival. The high schools who participated last year were: Clarkstown North, Nanuet High School, Ramapo High School, Suffern ...

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This Weekend: Vijay Iyer Quartet @ Sweet Rhythm

Source: All About Jazz
October 10, 2003

This weekend, pianist Vijay Iyer celebrates the release of Blood Sutra on the Artists House label, and offers a sneak preview of the forthcoming release of his collaboration with Mike Ladd, In What Language? on Pi Recordings.

“...one of the most original and accomplished young pianists in years... Iyer's percussive yet supple touch is something to marvel at." - Gary Giddins, The Village Voice

THE VIJAY IYER QUARTET Vijay Iyer, piano Rudresh Mahanthappa, alto saxophone Carlo ...

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Don Lanphere, Seattle Sax great, dead at 75

Source: All About Jazz
October 10, 2003

From the Seattle Times: 'Seattle Jazz Patriarch' was top bebop artist By Stephen H. Dunphy Seattle Times associate editor Don Lanphere, the legendary Wenatchee-born bebop jazz saxophone player who overcame dependence on drugs and alcohol to become one of the deans of Seattle jazz musicians, died yesterday at Group Health Eastside Hospital in Redmond. He was 75. Mr. Lanphere, of Kirkland, was a regular at jazz events in the region, playing a gig at Tula's, in numerous festivals and as ...

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Vardan Ovsepian Returns to the Regattabar with a Special Guest George Garzone

Source: All About Jazz
October 9, 2003

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