Articles

New York Japanese Jazz Festival 2019

By Peter Jurew

New York Japanese Jazz Festival Smoke Jazz & Supper Club New York, NY June 25-27, 2019 The Japanese people's love for jazz, rock, blues and other forms of music with African-American roots has been well established for decades. Working bands and musicians at all levels of fame regularly make the Land of the Rising Sun a destination and are met with uniquely polite audiences whose intense devotion can border on the worshipful. In the improvisational ...

Vincent Herring at the Philadelphia Museum Of Art

By Edward Zucker

Vincent Herring Philadelphia Museum Of Art Philadelphia PA June 23, 2006“Vincent Herring" and “smooth jazz" are, somehow, words that do not easily roll off the tongue together. Judging from several recent appearances, saxophonist Herring, who has developed one of the most clearly defined voices on alto in mainstream jazz, is apparently switching gears from a traditional bop sound to a contemporary jazz sound.Herring is currently touring in support of his ...

Vincent Herring: Ends And Means

By Nic Jones

It will always be appealing to hear a musician develop, whether on record or otherwise, and Vincent Herring's association with HighNote has easily been the most productive of his career, in terms of documenting his growth as an artist. Where once he perhaps owed a debt of allegiance to the work of Cannonball Adderley, he now has the sound of a musician who has come into his own. And while this whole deal might not amount to anything new, such ...

Vincent Herring: Ends And Means

By Edward Zucker

Ends and Means is Vincent Herring's fourth CD as a leader on the HighNote label. Where Herring once sounded like Cannonball Adderley, he has developed his own distinctive sound over the years, whether on alto or soprano. Herring was one of the young lions of the '80s and early '90s (although unfortunately underrated) and has matured into a respected leader in mainstream jazz. He now seems to be discovering and employing the new generation of young lions, including this time ...

Vincent Herring: Mr. Wizard

By Russ Musto

With more than a dozen discs as a leader under his belt, Vincent Herring has developed a foolproof prescription for making great records: employ compatible sidemen, choose appealing compositions and approach the music with zealous devotion. On Mr. Wizard the brilliant saxophonist follows this formula faultlessly and the result is another rewarding listening experience. Herring has one of the most recognizable voices on alto saxophone in music today and is increasingly developing his own personality on soprano as well, as ...

Vincent Herring: Simple Pleasure

By AAJ Staff

Vincent Herring's inaugural release on the High Note label boldly announces the supporting cast on the front cover. Among the cast are two very familiar “voices" of his same generation, and the three together might well be considered some of the more important players in that generation.

Indeed, this record represents an overdue reunion of three major voices who came to fruition together in the 80s, cats who moreover played on each others records and collectively worked to further develop ...

Vincent Herring: Early On [Evidence/Dawnbird]

By C. Michael Bailey

Genius in the Shadows. Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson gets more press, Sherman Irby more exposure, but perhaps more talented than both is Vincent Herring. Early On joins Herring’s early recordings from the Landmark label ( Evidence and Dawnbird ), which was purchased by Joel Dorn and Bob Miller’s 32 Jazz Records. These recordings find the 35 year old altoist’s composing and playing equally well developed. His alto tone is controlled and consistent, more Julian Adderley than Oliver Nelson, more Oliver Nelson ...