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Judy Wexler: What I See
by Dan Bilawsky
Vocalist Judy Wexler is more than a mere singer of songs. She's an actress, mood painter, song archaeologist and vocalist par excellence, and those designations shouldn't be taken as independent virtues; they all merge in her marvelous musical pursuits. When I See is Wexler's fourth album, but it only took two--Easy On The ...
Nouveau Stride: Fourteen by Nouveau Stride
by C. Michael Bailey
Composing lyrics to established jazz standards--those jazz instrumental compositions that have become established in the canon, Thelonious Monk's “'Round Midnight" is the most famous example--is an artform all it own. Classic composers/interpreters include Eddie Jefferson, Babs Gonzales, King Pleasure (Clarence Beeks) and Jon Hendricks. There have been recent vocalese contributions made by a new generation that ...
Dorian Devins: The Procrastinator
by C. Michael Bailey
Ginny Carr and the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet recently paid proper homage to vocalese master Eddie Jefferson with the song “He Was the Cat," from Hustlin' For A Gig (HouseKat Records, 2012). Jefferson, along with Clarence Beeks (King Pleasure), specialized in writing lyrics for and singing the more notable jazz compositions, like “Moody's Mood for Love" ...
David Basse: Uptown
by C. Michael Bailey
West Coast singer Mark Winkler (Sweet Spot [Cafe Pacific Records, 2011]) heard David Basse and immediately signed him to his Cafe Pacific Records. Uptown is the first product of this partnership and, for the sake of the male jazz singer, does not come a moment too soon. There exists a huge disparity between female and male ...
The 11th Annual Jazz Cruise: January 29-February 5, 2012
by Larry Taylor
Tributes to saxophonist Benny Golson and pianist Oscar Peterson highlighted the 11th annual Jazz Cruise, January 29 to February 5, 2012. As well, stellar performances were turned in by an assemblage of over 80 musicians, onboard for the Holland America cruise of the Caribbean. The spacious Westerdam ship was christened in 2004 and is one of ...
Moody's Mood Was Always Happy
by Jack Bowers
James Moody, whose noble spirit and radiant personality were as impressive as his exploits on saxophone and flute for more than six decades, died December 9, 2010 from pancreatic cancer at his home in San Diego. He was 85 years old. To anyone who was lucky enough to meet him, the Moody hug ...
Jenny Davis: Inside You
by C. Michael Bailey
Jenny Davis' It Amazes Me (Self Produced, 2006) was a relaxed tuneful affair employing a crack quintet capable of multiple layers of musicianship. For Inside You, Davis whittles her quintet to a duo, featuring her regular guitarist Chuck Easton, and bassist Ted Enderle, furnishing a stripped-down swing that depends on its own momentum with which to ...
Lutalo Olutosin: Tribute to Greatness
by C. Michael Bailey
Vocalese is the pinnacle of jazz singing; a jazz singing style based on lyrics composed to melodies that were originally part of non-vocal compositions or improvisations. There are only a handful of truly proficient vocalese lyricists, a short list including Eddie Jefferson, Babs Gonzales, King Pleasure (Clarence Beeks), Jon Hendricks, and Mark Murphy. East Chicago native ...
Chris Tedesco: Living the Dream
by Nicholas F. Mondello
In Living the Dream Los Angeles-based trumpeter/contractor/producer Chris Tedesco proves that he is a consummate multi-tasker. He leads his L.A. Jazz Big Band and Orchestra admirably, contracted the sessions, arranged a selection, composed four originals, engineered, edited, and produced the CD. The result of this array of endeavors is a slick, swinging, throwback salute to hip, ...
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