Results for "Billy Childs"

Billy Childs

Billy Childs was born in Los Angeles. Having demonstrated an aptitude for piano as early as age six, Childs developed rapidly, and at age sixteen entered the Community School of the Performing Arts, a preparatory music program sponsored by the University of Southern California, studying theory with Marienne Uszler and piano with John Weisenfluh. In 1975, he entered USC as a composition major, graduating four years later with a bachelor of music in composition under the tutelage of Robert Linn. Since then Mr. Childs has received a number of orchestral commissions, including: Tone Poem for Holly (1993) and Fanfare for the United Races of America (1994), each commissioned and premiered by Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic; The Distant Land (1995) by the Akron Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Alan Balter; Music for String Orchestra (1989) for the Plymouth Music Series, conducted by Phillip Brunelle; and Concerto for Percussion and Concert Band (1986) by the North Texas State Wind Orchestra, conducted by Eugene Corporan

Struttin With Some Barbeque - Celebrating July 4 with Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne and Friends

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

The Independence Day broadcast included new releases from Jimmy Heath featuring Cecile McLorin Salvant, vocalists Kathleen Grace, Melody Gardot and drummer Jake Reed with birthday shoutouts to Rhoda Scott, Lena Horne, Natalie Cressman and Louis Armstrong (yes we know, it's really in August but he claimed July 4 for his own and who are we to ...

Tamir Hendelman: The Many Colors and Cultures of Tamir

By JIM WORSLEY

With so many talented jazz pianists over the years, it can be a challenge to make your own mark or carve out your own identity. Many fine musicians have simply blended into the scene, seemingly unnoticed, due to a lack of singularity that sets them apart. Tamir Hendelman crashes that barrier with a signature sound that ...

Something Cool - Celebrating Carol Sloane

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

Women's History Month continues with new releases from saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, vocalist Jay Clayton, pianist Nuphar Fey and guitarist Pat Metheny, with birthday shout outs to vocalist Carol Sloane in the first hour (pictured), along with Nicki Parrott, Rachelle Garniez, Billy Childs, Carole Bayer Sager, Tomoko Ohno, Anat Fort and Eric Comstock, among others.

Jazz Goes to the Movies and Valentine's Day Singles

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

This week we feature new releases from The Coachella Valley Trio, trumpeter Rachel Therrien, pianists Lisa Hilton and Carol Albert, vocalists Robin McKelle, Kaylé Brecher, and Raquel Cepeda, plus Valentine's Day singles from Sue Maskaleris and Cynthia Scott, with birthday shout outs to Carole King, Michika Fukumori and Carmen Staaf, among others. There are also plenty ...

Alex Boneham

Bassist Alex Boneham is one of the most in demand musicians of his generation, known for his versatility and relentless creative drive. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Alex has worked extensively worldwide with a wide array of artists from across the musical spectrum. After graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium with a bachelor’s degree in music in 2009, Alex spent several years performing, recording and touring in Australia and New Zealand with a who’s who of Australian artists and international touring acts including James Morrison, Mike Nock, Bernie McGann, Dale Barlow, James Muller, Greg Osby, George Garzone, Mike Moreno, Joel Frahm, Will Vinson, Sarah McKenzie, Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, and co-led group The Vampires. In 2014 Alex was accepted into the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Ensemble (now the Herbie Hancock Institute), a selective masters program where a group of musicians is hand-picked by a panel of living legends including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Burrell, James Newton and Herb Alpert

Douye: Live at LACMA

By JIM WORSLEY

No doubt, LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) wanted to finish their jazz music series with a flourish. Reaching out to the enchantingly superb jazz vocalist Douye proved to be the right call. Jazz at LACMA is presented on Friday nights from April through November. In the past they have had performances from artists such ...

Moon in Scorpio and Mischief Night

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

Besides some spooky seasonal fare, this week we focus on new releases from vocalists Carmen Lundy, Michelle Lordi and Carrie Wicks, trombonist Michael Dease and pianist Michele Rosewoman with birthday shout outs to Nellie Lutcher (pictured), Victoria Spivey, Laura Nyro, Bobby Troup, Jane Bunnett, Esperanza Spalding, Brenda Earle Stokes, Allison Miller and Freddy Cole, among others. ...

Bob Sheppard: The Clark Kent of Jazz

By JIM WORSLEY

An unassuming bespectacled man in his mid-sixties walks on to the stage. In a band with stellar, famous, and maybe flashier musicians, one could be forgiven if they didn't even notice him right away. But as soon as Bob Sheppard presses a saxophone, clarinet, or flute onto his lips, he is super, man! An incredible musician ...

Moon Songs and The Rhythm of Life

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

Much to celebrate this week with new releases from MaryJo Mundy and Ken Peplowski and Diego Figueiredo, plus birthday shout outs to the great Dorothy Fields in the first hour, Phoebe Snow in the second hour, vocalists Margaret Whiting, Ruben Blades, Rufus Wainwright, Jimmy Scott, Helen Merrill and guitarist Mary Osborne, among others, with a collection ...