By: Edward Blanco Heartmony is Bulgarian-born guitarist Hristo Vitchev’s fourth album as leader and a constant on all of his music, is Brazilian-born Weber Ribeiro Drummond, a Latin Grammy-nominated classical jazz pianist who later changed his last name to Iago in honor of the Roma people (Gypsies). Both men are …
By: Edward Blanco Vocalist Sue Halloran and saxophonist Ken Hitchcock have spent decades in the music business with credits on Broadway, movies and TV, and for the most part doing so separately. Their paths have crossed only a few times with both being members of the New York Saxophone Quartet …
SAINT LUCIA (January 31, 2012) – Saint Lucia Jazz, now into its 21st year, will feature some of the best live performances from renowned local, regional and international superstars, with celebrated performer and multiple Grammy winner Lionel Richie headlining this year’s festival. The 2012 event, April 30 – May13, …
Glenn Astarita The band moniker alludes to a term used for a declining stock enjoying a brief recovery. But saxophonist Matt Steckler links this notion into “creative rebirth and renewal even as a time, tradition, and masters’ move on.” Therefore, the Boston-based sextet abides by conventional methods while injecting a …
Artist: Hulon Title: After Hours Genre: Smooth Jazz Label: Premier Musique Group Release Date: Product Link: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hulon2/from/muzikman Website: http://hulon.com Source Link: http://www.muzikreviews.com/reviews.php?ID=2027 After Hours is an interesting mix of contemporary R&B with smooth jazz. The two vocal tracks are very much in the adult contemporary R&B genre, while the rest …
By John Stevenson Like a Brazilian soccer superstar, UK hip-hop sensation, Nate, goes by just a single moniker. His music and urgent poetic flow sweeps up a whole host of influences in the rhythmic undertow. Jazz, reggae, rock, South African music, and drum’n’bass, are among the myriad genres showcased in …
Today SFJAZZ is launching Are You Listening (http://www.areyoulistening.me), for the jazz community to engage with one another and to contribute their thoughts, perspectives and financial support for the music. “With Are You Listening, we want to create an online space for the types of conversations that are going to take place in the …
Liner notes for STRIKE UP THE BAND CDby Tom ChesekDeep in the heart of New Jersey, just 30 miles from Times Square and a shell’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean, there’s a happening little town called Red Bank. A destination town; where folks flock to the many shops, restaurants, bars, …
Glenn Astarita Similar to the touring be-bop all-stars of yesteryear, the post-modern sensibilities of today’s improvising musicians often derail semblances of the tried and true. This drummer-less quartet featuring prominent improvisers, generate progressive jazz-based undertones and semi-controlled interactions, largely entrenched within avant-garde type persuasions. Here, the band is captured at …
By: Edward Blanco Internationally-recognized recording artist Harry Allen is an award-winning tenor saxophonist with over thirty albums to his credit. Rhythm On The River is his third recording on the Dutch Challenge Records label, and as per Challenge executive Chris Ellis’s opinion, “we think it’s his best yet and that …
By: Edward Blanco One of the top-tier saxophonists of our time, Bob Sheppard is not just one of the finest musicians in Los Angeles; he is a jazz luminary with an international reputation. Close Your Eyes not only brings to the fore Sheppard’s talents as a composer and arranger, but …
Glenn Astarita With her impressive 2011 debut as a leader “Devil’s Dress” (TOAP Music) and involvement in various European projects, highly-educated trumpeter Susana Santos Silva looms as a nascent voice within progressive-jazz circles. Here, the Portuguese artist works within the trio format. It’s a democratic engagement modeled on structure and …
