New England Conservatory presents Too Marvelous for Words: Music of Frank Sinatra, a concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s birth at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 15. The event, conducted by Jazz Studies Chair Ken Schaphorst, will feature the NEC Jazz Orchestra and student vocalists with the …
The Maria Schneider Orchestra has returned after eight years. Certainly a cause for celebration, the orchestra’s album, The Thompson Fields, wildly exceeds expectations. The Thompson Fields may end up as being considered Schneider’s signature achievement—the work that captures not only the incomparable sound of her orchestra in all of its …
After a 25 years long recording career comprising a dozen albums released as a leader or co-leader, in several styles, from electro-acoustic to post-rock, tango and jazz, Daniel Diaz releases SWAN SONG in October 2015. This is the third and last installment in a trilogy of world-jazz-fusion solo “composer” albums, …
By John Stevenson Phil Woods, who owed his style of playing to Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker, died aged 83 on September 29th 2015. He was one of the most accomplished and admired technicians of the alto saxophone and distinguished himself in jazz and popular music. Philip Wells Woods was born in …
Eddie Palmieri • Chucho Valdés: Irakere 40 Walt Disney Concert Hall Tuesday October 20, 8:00pm Artists Eddie Palmieri Chucho Valdés: Irakere 40 About This Performance This incredible evening features two legends of Latin jazz piano. Salsa pioneer Eddie Palmieri fearlessly combines Afro-Caribbean grooves with hard-bop harmonies. Chucho Valdés is a …
KEIKO MATSUI To Release “LIVE IN TOKYO” CD/DVD on October 2 Via Shanachie Entertainment Concert Showcases SOUL QUEST, Her Most Recent Critically Acclaimed Studio Album Special Guests Include Guitarist Chuck Loeb and Saxophonists Kirk Whalum & Tom Braxton U.S. Tour Oct 9 – Nov 15 Covers Boston, Washington DC, Cleveland …
By John Stevenson With Aria, New Orleans-based pianist, Sullivan Fortner, makes an impressive debut on the historic Impulse label. What’s always been special about Fortner is his reverence for the Jazz and Blues tradition, ranging from the Spanish Tinge exemplified by Jelly Roll Morton, Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith’s and James …
By John Stevenson On Kalthoum, French-Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf presents an enthralling tribute to one of Egypt’s most legendary classical singers, Oum Kalthoum. Also known as the Star of the East, Oum Kalthoum (1904-1975) was endowed with a powerful and emotionally penetrating voice. During the fifty odd years of a …
Alma Micic was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia. At the age of 16 she started performing with a local quartet at a time when jazz was making a big comeback in Belgrade. Soon she became a featured vocalist with the Radio Belgrade Big Band and began touring and appearing …
Carlos Averhoff Jr. is a Latin Grammy nominated tenor saxophonist from Cuba. He has been called “a dynamic fresh new voice on the saxophone” (All about Jazz) and “a virtuoso soloist” (Latin Jazz Network). This concert will fuse the excitement of the music of Cuba mixed with the heady grooves of …
