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Results for "Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes"
Albums that had significant impacts on my thirst for jazz
In recent days, Facebook has been bubbling with users’ lists of celebrities or musicians that they have met or performed with, with one exception. Then it’s up to the followers to figure out which one was untrue. This is an interesting sheltering-in-place pastime. Thanks to my parents’ modest record collection, there was some music by jazz ...
A singer-composer's bountiful musical gifts
The jazz world lost singer Nora York three years ago when she died from pancreatic cancer at age 60. But her artful, creative and distinctive music lives on. This is a good thing—for us. Her longtime collaborator Jamie Lawrence, a New York-based pianist, has just released Swoon, a recording of previously unreleased material by York. Four ...
A masterful night of jazz
Trombonist Michael Dease was well armed with ample doses of creativity, gentility, humor, and swing when he joined the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra as the sextet opened its 10th concert season on Wednesday, October 30. Dease, 37, is a busy young performer and educator. In addition to touring the world as a first-call player, he teaches ...
A Night Bass'd On A True Story
The Barrel Room at the Twisted Vine Bistro in downtown Fort Myers was packed on Saturday, September 28 for bassist Brandon Robertson's CD release gig/celebration. By my head count, it was standing-room-only and then some. In addition to those fortunate to get seats at tables or the bar,people were standing wherever they could find space. It ...
Big band bebop at its finest
A 17-day family road trip brought me back to Rhode Island for the second time in a month, returning in September, not long after my August visit to cover the Newport Jazz Festival. The scheduling gods worked their magic for this September journey. In other words, I got to hear the splendid John Allmark Jazz Orchestra ...
Catching up with old friends, musically
Timing is everything. Singer Ronnie Rose returned to New England last weekend for his 50-year class reunion at Taunton High School in southeastern Massachusetts. It turned out to be great timing by reunion planners, because the John Allmark Jazz Orchestra performs on the first Monday of the month at The Met Café in nearby Pawtucket RI. ...
Swing - and happy feet - are paramount at Roy Gerson’s new gig...
Pianist Roy Gerson, who moved from his native New York a couple of years ago, has brought a refreshing 1940s bite of the Big Apple to Southwest Florida. His new eight-member Swingtet is one month into its Friday night residency at Society Restaurant and Lounge in Fort Myers’ bustling Bell Tower Shops plaza. His concept for ...
A swinging intersect of science and jazz
Scientific research and anecdotal evidence have made it clear that music can be a healing force. That intersection music and science is a two-way street. Look no further than Tampa-based jazz pianist John C. O’Leary III, who has composed music that is inspired by science. In this case, it reflects aspects of his research as neuroscientist. ...
Jumping aboard the hard-bop express
Drummer Paul Gavin digs hard bop, a hard-driving jazz subgenre that embraced strong elements of funk, soul and the blues when it emerged in the 1950s. And he plays it with great joy and enthusiasm. Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers band was one of hard bop's primary incubators. His unit also played a peerless role in developing ...
The swinging art of the jazz trio - at its best
Pianist Marcus Roberts made clear his musical agenda right up front. “We believe that a jazz trio should not put you to sleep." And they certainly didn't at a Friday, April 19 concert at in downtown Fort Myers, FL. The event wrapped the 2018-19 jazz concert season at the Sidney & Berne Davis Arts Center. Roberts ...
