Results for "Michael Jackson"

Michael Jackson

The King of Pop, who will be forever immortalized for his world-famous, trademark dance moves and chart-topping success, was arguably one of the most popular recording artists of all time, his success peaking during the 1980s. Jackson was born in Gary, IN on August 29, 1958. Before he became a solo artist, Jackson was the youngest member of the Jackson Five, the explosive '60s band formed by his four older brothers -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon Jackson -- put Jackson on the path to stardom. Jackson's talent was brought to the attention of producer Quincy Jones, who cast him in the role of Scarecrow in 'The Wiz' (1978), a musical based on 'The Wizard of Oz.' The film also featured Diana Ross and Richard Pryor

Michael Jackson: Man in a Jazz Mirror - Part II

By LUDOVICO GRANVASSU

The second part of this week's special edition dedicated to jazz renditions of the songs of Michael Jackson (and the Jackson 5!) showcases a wide range of approaches, ranging from the muscular, to the atmospheric, deconstructivist and straight-ahead groovy, including a compare and contrast between Vijay Iyer's and Miles Davis cover of “Human Nature." At the ...

Michael Jackson: Man in a Jazz Mirror - Part I

By LUDOVICO GRANVASSU

This week let's pay homage to the musical legacy of Michael Jackson. It has been 10 years since Michael Jackson passed away and lots of things have emerged since then, but the popularity of his music remains strong, including among jazz musicians (the majority of the tracks featured this week was released after his ...

Alicia Olatuja at Dazzle

By GEOFF ANDERSON

Alicia Olatuja Dazzle Denver, CO July 25, 2019 If Alicia Olatuja wasn't a singer, she could probably be a counselor. As it is, she's a counselor to the songs she sings. She develops personal relationships with them. It seems that she spends hours with them on the couch intently listening to ...

Dexter Payne: All Things, All Beings

By CHRIS M. SLAWECKI

Clarinet, harmonica and saxophonist, composer and bandleader and musical globetrotter Dexter Payne is the type of musician who is most often categorized as “difficult to categorize." Profoundly influenced by physical and spiritual journeys through the cultures of America, the Middle East, Africa and Brazil, Payne's recorded output checks off every box from Mississippi delta blues to ...

Benjamin Croft: 10 Reasons To...

By ROGER FARBEY

British keyboardist and composer Benjamin Croft began piano and trumpet lessons at age seven and later earned a BA (Hons) Music degree at Leeds College of Music. In his debut album 10 Reasons To..., Croft dedicates four tracks to his heroes Allan Holdsworth, Keith Emerson, Christopher Lee, and Gustav Mahler. A disparate bunch to be sure, ...

Alfredo Rodriguez: Duologue

By CHRIS MOSEY

Alfredo Rodriguez is the classically trained son of Cuban singer/composer “Alfredito" Rodriguez. In 2009, he accompanied his father on a concert tour of Mexico, decided not to return to his homeland, and asked for political asylum in the U.S. Once there, he began a music career aided by veteran producer Quincy Jones. In 2015, he won ...

Bobby Broom: Soul Fingers

By JIM TRAGESER

A thematic sequel to his 2007 release, Song and Dance, Bobby Broom's Soul Fingers is a deep-pile take on late 1960s--early 1970s pop, with Broom in his best Wes Montgomery vein, giving new soul-jazz life to one-time chart hits. And yet, it's also a break from Song and Dance because Broom has changed his ...

Onaje Allan Gumbs: Dare To Dream

By LA-FAITHIA WHITE

Onaje Allan Gumbs is a New York based pianist, composer, lyricist, and bandleader. Gumbs' professional career began in 1971 when Leroy Kirkland introduced him to Kenny Burrell, by sharing a demo tape. The next day Gumbs received a phone call to play with Burrell at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit. Onaje, (Gumbs) talks about the beginnings ...

Shane Dylan: When It All Makes Sense

By JEROME WILSON

Shane Dylan is a young pianist studying at Boston's New England Conservatory who has put out a debut CD that tries to show the breadth of his musical interests. It is split into two halves, the first with more groove-oriented material, the second going in a more mainstream jazz direction. The first half covers ...