Results for "Joseph Vella"
Carmen McRae: At the Great American Music Hall
by Joseph Vella
From 1977, this live recording is one of the finest jazz vocal albums of all time. It captures Carmen McRae at her height performing a standout repertoire of standards and popular songs of the day in a small group setting (with special guest Dizzy Gillespie). Capturing Carmen's true brilliance as a jazz singer, her impeccable timing, ...
Lou Donaldson: Alligator Bogaloo
by Joseph Vella
Who doesn't love the playing of Lou Donaldson? This late-'60s gem is one of those recordings where everything hits right. It is not only brilliant (and wonderfully dated) but it's also the type of record even your non-jazz friends can snap and tap to. The combo of hard bop and soul jazz is infectious. Right from ...
Nala Sinephro: Space 1.8
by Joseph Vella
UK-based musician and composer Nala Sinephro's ambient jazz recording is completely captivating. Joined by a refreshing cast of musicians mostly based in the UK, Nala plays pedal harp and keyboards. The sax by Nubya Garcia, James Mollison and Ahnanse help tie it all together. Presented as a suite of pieces that flow seamlessly, the recording builds ...
Who Are The Stars Today?
by Joseph Vella
The other day a friend asked me the all-important question: Who are the new “stars" in jazz today? Some names that came to mind were James Francies, Oded Tzur, and Julian Lage but would I call them “stars" of the music? Technically proficient artists? Yes. Stars? Not sure. Today, there is no shortage of ...
Jazz in a Snow Globe
by Joseph Vella
One of the greatest gifts of listening to jazz is to simply get lost inside of a track and have it transport you to a state of bliss. These special pieces of music often discovered over time through countless of hours of listening. Like the diamonds of the music, no matter the era or style, they ...
Jazz Meets TikTok: Three Artists Share In Their JazzToks
by Joseph Vella
The TikTok social media platform was created in 2017 but it wasn't until 2020, with the help of a global pandemic, that the app really took off. It has amassed tremendous growth with over 100 million active users each month--and that's in the U.S. alone. With the bite-sized video format, TikToks can be hugely ...
Phase Dancing: Gottlieb, Wertico, Sanchez—The Art of Drumming in the Pat Metheny Group
by Joseph Vella
It was 1978 when I first heard “Phase Dance" on Bay Area jazz station KJAZ from a new band called the Pat Metheny Group (PMG). The music didn't just blow me away, it also spoke to me on such a deep level. Little did I know, it would stay with me forever. What the PMG did ...
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