Results for "Donald Vega"

Donald Vega

Donald Vega’s style and virtuosity on piano, along with his composing and arranging, mark this young artist as a unique and exciting presence in the world of jazz. His sound has been said to resonate with a touch of Oscar Peterson’s versatility and Bill Evans’ elegant lyricism. Donald was born into a musical family and began playing the piano by ear at the young age of three. His formal training began at six years old, taught by his grandfather and uncle, both noted musicians in Nicaragua. Due to the ongoing civil war, Vega immigrated to the United States at the age of fourteen without speaking a word of English

John Pizzarelli Trio at Keystone Korner

By MARK ROBBINS

From 1972 to 1983 NEA Jazz Master's award recipient Todd Barkan operated jny:San Francisco's Keystone Korner as one the preeminent jazz clubs in the country. Performers such as Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Betty Carter, McCoy Tyner and so many more played on the Korner's stage until, due to financial difficulties, Barkan had to close ...

2019: The Year in Jazz

By KEN FRANCKLING

The year 2019 was robust in many ways. International Jazz Day brought its biggest stage to Australia. An important but long-shuttered jazz mecca was revived in a coast-to-coast move. ECM Records celebrated a golden year. The music and its makers figured prominently on the big screen. The National Endowment for the Arts welcomed four new NEA ...

Fabrizio Sciacca: Gettin' It There

By DAN BILAWSKY

Make no mistake about it, Fabrizio Sciacca isn't merely “gettin' it there." He's already got it here. This debut from the Berklee- and Manhattan School of Music-trained bassist presents an artist with solid intonation, impeccable time, a warm and enveloping tone, and an ear for melody. In short, he has it all. Leading ...

Ron Carter: The Paragon of Bass Virtuosity

By JIM WORSLEY

Some half a century ago, iconic bassist Ron Carter had already dynamically impacted the jazz world with his advanced rhythmic cadences and his artistic vision with the second great Miles Davis quintet. The sumptuous and indelible mark that Carter and his bandmates left on jazz history is well-documented. An educated, articulate and determined man, Carter's journey ...

Ron Carter: Still Searching for the Right Notes

By ROB GARRATT

"People from newspapers and magazines always ask me two things," Ron Carter tells a reverent crowd from a stage in suburban Hong Kong. “What was it like playing with Miles Davis? And why am I still doing this?" He answers the latter enquiry by pointing left and right simultaneously at his two diligent sidemen, pianist Donald ...

Wayne Escoffery, Mingus Big Band, Tomas Fujiwara, Mara Rosenbloom & The Ron Carter Big Band

By MARTIN LONGLEY

Wayne Escoffery & Tenor Traditions Smalls March 31, 2018 To assist with his investigation into tenor traditions, saxophonist Wayne Escoffery formed a full-thrust front line with Marcus Strickland and George Garzone, surely one of the most vibrant teams possible around current NYC clubland. The quintet was completed by bassist Yasushi ...

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2018

By MARK ROBBINS

Yes, Virginia, there is jazz at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. From it's inception in 1970, George Wein, mastermind of the Newport Jazz Festival and the Newport Folk Festival, created a festival that was indigenous with New Orleans. Whether it was the music, food, arts and crafts everything was New Orleans. That first year ...

Ron Carter: A Clew of Worms

By JIM WORSLEY

So the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. Occasionally, if one is so fortunate, you can get a whole lot more. From the beginning just knowing that I was going to have the opportunity to see and hear Ron Carter play was about seeing a legend. Of course you hope to hear ...