Results for "California"

Lakecia Benjamin: The Jazz Trailblazer Redefining the Live Experience

by Steven Roby
January 22, 2025

Lakecia Benjamin doesn't just play jazz--she lives it. A five-time Grammy nominee, saxophonist, and bandleader, she embodies a whirlwind of sound and soul that redefines the boundaries of modern music. When she talks about her latest album, Phoenix Reimagined (Live), it's not just an exploration of her artistry; it's an invitation to feel the pulse of ...

Jamie Baum: Redefining Jazz with Poetry and Global Sounds

by Steven Roby
January 21, 2025

When Jamie Baum steps onto the stage, flute in hand, she transforms into a storyteller, weaving melodies and rhythms that feel like a conversation with the world. Her latest album, What Times Are These, is more than music; it's an exploration of poetry, culture, and the human condition. As a guest on the Backstage Bay Area ...

Jonathon Grasse: The Life & Music Of Eric Dolphy

by Lawrence Peryer
January 18, 2025

Today, the Spotlight shines On author Jonathon Grasse. His new book, Jazz Revolutionary (Jawbone Press, 2024), traces Eric Dolphy's journey from the clubs of 1940s Los Angeles to his groundbreaking work in New York City's avant-garde jazz scene.Eric Dolphy's revolutionary voice in jazz was silenced far too soon. He was an artist who pushed ...

Stratøs

Born: October 1, 1996

Michigan native Stratøs is a saxophonist, composer, producer, photographer, and cinematographer whose presence in the Los Angeles scene is rapidly growing. Having embraced the melodies of the Cool School early in his development, Stratøs now leaves behind a unique sonic imprint as a producer. His affinity for analog textures is felt not only in his music, but his photography. By combining the two, he’s created an entire ecosystem brimming with life. Stratøs is a three-time winner of the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award from 2019-2021. Additionally, he was awarded the ASCAP Foundation’s Johnny Mandel Prize as well as being selected as a National Sawdust New Works Commission Contest winner. The latter granted the composer the opportunity to write for the world renowned JACK Quartet.

Derek Gripper and Ballaké Sissoko: Strings in Perfect Harmony

by Steven Roby
January 14, 2025

Derek Gripper's music is where tradition meets transformation. Hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Gripper has spent his career transcending the boundaries of classical guitar by breathing new life into African string traditions. His latest project, a stunning collaboration with Malian kora master Ballaké Sissoko, exemplifies the kind of creative daring that defies categorization. During a ...

Saxophonist/Composer Javon Jackson And Poet Nikki Giovanni Nominated For NAACP Image Award In 'Outstanding Jazz Album' Category

January 12, 2025

Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies, a collaboration between the groundbreaking poet and activist Nikki Giovanni and saxophonist/composer Javon Jackson, has been nominated for a 56th NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Jazz Album. Recognized as the nation’s preeminent multicultural awards show from an African American point of view, the NAACP Image Awards ...

Mads Tolling: Jazz Collaborations and Classics Reimagined

by Steven Roby
January 11, 2025

When two-time Grammy-winning violinist Mads Tolling picks up his bow, magic happens. From reinterpreting classics like The Beatles' “Blackbird" to crafting soul-stirring arrangements of “What a Wonderful World" with the iconic Kenny Washington, Mads continues to redefine the boundaries of jazz and classical fusion. In the latest episode of Backstage Bay Area, Tolling delves ...

Richard Bona: Exploring Roots, Freedom, and Global Sounds

by Steven Roby
January 9, 2025

Richard Bona, the Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist affectionately known as “The African Sting," brings his unparalleled artistry to Yoshi's in Oakland this January. With his Asante Trio--featuring Cuban pianist Jesus Pupo and drummer Ludwig Afonso--Bona promises an Afro-Cuban musical feast. But his Yoshi's performances are only the beginning of an exciting year, packed with a ...

Tower Of Power Home For Christmas 2024

by Walter Atkins
December 29, 2024

Nduduzo Makhathini at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society

by Roy Strassman
December 21, 2024

Nduduzo Makhathini Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society Half Moon Bay, California November 3, 2024 As the waves gently lapped upon the shore beneath the setting sun on a lovely early November Sunday in Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, pianist, composer, bandleader and healer Nduduzo Makhathini and his trio took the stage ...