Results for "Cleo Laine"

Jarrod Lawson Heads For Europe

by Peter Jones
October 14, 2021

Timing is everything in music, but launching an album in the midst of a global pandemic was not ideal for singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jarrod Lawson. As he prepares to embark on a European tour, he will finally get the chance to feature the music from his second album Be the Change in front of live ...

New Releases and Celebrations for Blossom Dearie, Ma Rainey and More

by Mary Foster Conklin
May 10, 2021

This broadcast features new releases from the Steven Feifke Big Band, the Alpha Rhythm Kings, Nicki Parrott, Esperanza Spalding, Chien Chien Lu, Norah Jones and the Art of Time Ensemble with birthday shoutouts to Mother of the Blues Ma Rainey, Blossom Dearie, Shirley Horn, Connie Crothers, and Mary Ann McSweeney, among others. Thanks for listening and ...

Mark Murphy

Born: March 14, 1932

The following is based on the book This is Hip: the Life of Mark Murphy by {{m: Peter Jones = 58082}} (Equinox Publishing, 2018). All rights reserved. In the opinion of many, {{m: Mark Murphy = 9692}} was the greatest jazz singer who ever lived. Quite a statement, but one that can be made to stand up pretty well in court. There have, of course, been more successful jazz singers; certainly more popular jazz singers. But not one of them has possessed the sheer range of abilities that Murphy was blessed with. He had a natural “instrument” at his disposal, a rich, masculine tone that could shape any jazz standard as beautifully as you were ever likely to hear it

Take Five with Alex Bird

by AAJ Staff
May 3, 2020

Meet Alex Bird Alex Bird is a singer/songwriter and actor in Toronto, ON. With a swinging style and an indescribable charm, Alex and his “Jazz Mavericks" are currently working on an entirely new chapter in the Great American Songbook, with their soon to be released, all original debut album, “Whisky Kisses" (Summer 2020). “The Way She ...

Cleo Laine

Born: October 28, 1927

The showroom at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, sparkled brilliantly the weekend of October 17-19, 2003, with the luminary talent of the legendary British couple, Dame Cleo Laine and John Dankworth. The audience was on the edge of their seats all night with excitement and awe. The jazz composition and sounds that emanated from behind the footlights brought Friday night's audience to their feet as they hailed "The Queen of Jazz" and her professional partner and husband with thunderous applause.

The lady next to me smiled with pride, as if the legendary performers were her personal treasure. "I watched you tapping your feet all night, I'm so glad you enjoyed the performance as much as I did! I've been a fan of theirs for years, and you?" "I'm a new fan, and I feel so lucky to be here, wow, what an evening," I enthusiastically replied. The awe and wonder for the evening's incredible jazz experience overwhelmed me. I had never felt such a deep appreciation for being a member of the audience as I did that night.

Deborah Shulman: The Shakespeare Project

by Nicholas F. Mondello
March 5, 2019

William Shakespeare's works have generated many musical endeavors. Duke Ellington's Such Sweet Thunder (Columbia Records, 1957) and Leonard Bernstein's score for West Side Story are among those which come to mind. In 1941, British composer Arthur Young recorded Shakespeare in Swing (Decca Records, 1941), which featured his compositions over Shakespeare's words. And, in 1964, celebrated British ...

Scenes from a life in Jazz

by Duncan Lamont
November 26, 2018

Part 1 | Part 2 About the author Duncan Lamont is one of the UK's musical treasures. I've known who he is for years, but finally through a friend, got to meet and play with him only this year (2018) at The Pizza Express in Soho, London. Sammy Cahn, the legendary lyricist, said about ...

Halloween Mischief, Spirits and Sweet Stuff

by Mary Foster Conklin
November 17, 2018

Our Halloween broadcast is full of musical mischief, spirits and sweet stuff, with new releases from Giacomo Gates, Ayn Inserto, Alyssa Allgood and Vivian Sessoms, plus birthday shout outs to Milton Nascimento, Jazz Master Dianne Reeves, Jay Clayton, Cleo Laine and Andy Bey. Playlist Amanda Monaco “The Mean Reds" from Glitter (Posi-Tone Records) 00:00 ...

Tessa Souter at Pizza Express in London's Soho

by Martin McFie
June 30, 2018

Tessa Souter Pizza Express Soho London June 23, 2018 In a once seedy part of London, also home to the UK film industry, lies the heart of the capital's jazz scene. Iconic Ronnie Scott's is off Soho Square in Frith Street while on a corner of nearby Dean ...

Meet Martin McFie

by Tessa Souter and Andrea Wolper
June 4, 2018

Super Fan Martin McFie is so into live music he doesn't even have a record collection. These days, McFie, British by birth, calls both South Carolina and Nice, France, home. The frequent-traveling “jazz detective" has made it his business to seek out jazz of all kinds in some of the most unlikely places, especially when he's ...