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Wayne Krantz, the innovative and improvisational guitarist, announces his FALL 2016 US “Undercover Pop Tour." This time out Krantz brings his unique sensibilities to the works of a wide cross-section of musicians: Sonic Youth, Talib Kweli & Mos Def, Paul McCartney, Ryuichi Nakamoto, Jethro Tull and others. Taking two different bands on the road for this ... read more
Available October 7, 2016 CD Release Celebration at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3 November 22, 2016, 8:30 PM ($10, 2 drink minimum) Featuring Sebastian Noelle- guitar Tomoko Omura- violin Maria Im- violin Allyson Clare- viola Jennifer Devore- cello Keita Ogawa- percussion read more
Virillion Music recording artist Marc Hoffman, well-known throughout North Carolina for his compositions, teaching and performances, has announced the release on Late September, an all-original CD for jazz trio, Hoffman had a breakthrough jazz release with his well-received Curioso in 2010. Late September includes 11 new pieces with Hoffman on piano, supported by Zack Page on ... read more
Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (ECP), the world leader in live entertainment at sea, announces the debut of The Contemporary Jazz Cruise, a luxury full-ship charter featuring a lineup of the greatest jazz artists in contemporary music. With more than 40 Grammy Awards between them, this incredible assembly of superstars will come together for one unprecedented week ... read more
Jazz Near You, the Internet's largest aggregator and distributor of jazz event and venue information has collaborated with InstantSeats to provide event and ticketing information for several Mid-Atlantic jazz venues. “Our goal is to present the most comprehensive jazz events calendar and importing InstantSeats events helps us take another step towards reaching that goal," says Jazz ... read more
THE LEGENDARY JAMAICAN PIANO MASTER—MONTY ALEXANDER—HARLEM KINGSTON EXPRESS Scullers Jazz Club September 30th One Night Only! Returns to New England Hot Off Their Newport Jazz Festival Explosion! On the heels of his recent sensational concert at the Newport Jazz Festival, Monty Alexander returns to New England with his Harlem Kingston Express for ... read more
After A Summer of U.S. and International Tour Dates, 13-Year-Old Jazz Pianist and Composer Will Headline His Record Release Engagement September 29-October 2 at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in NYC “A thoughtful musician as well as a natural one, with a sophisticated harmonic palette and a dynamic sensitivity.”—The New York Times “One of the jazz world’s youngest ... read more
On October 21, AUM Fidelity will release Live in Sant’Anna Arresi, 2004, the second volume in its David S. Ware Archive Series, and first release of the saxophone master in rare duo performance with fellow master of music, pianist Matthew Shipp. Though they shared 17 years together in the legendary David S. Ware Quartet (along with ... read more
The opening of the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) September 24 in Washington DC will be particularly exciting for legendary bassist Stanley Clarke. Not only is one of his Alembic basses and archival photos included in the museum exhibit, but he is participating in the opening festivities, Freedom Sounds: A ... read more
Internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Bradley Young makes his New York City debut at Café Noctambulo at 8 pm on October 27th with a special tribute to the prolific trumpet genius and icon, Chet Baker. Presented by Lampkin Music Group and Christoper Gines, I Remember Chet: Reflections on the Legacy and Music of Chet Baker, ... read more
I love jazz because I hear musicians being in the “now”, creating on the spot.
I was first exposed to jazz by my father. He doesn't play (though he has dabbled with piano in the past), but apparently jazz runs in the family blood
I love jazz because I hear musicians being in the “now”, creating on the spot.
I was first exposed to jazz by my father. He doesn't play (though he has dabbled with piano in the past), but apparently jazz runs in the family blood. My grandfather, a professional jazz pianist, once accompanied Judy Garland when she strolled into the Chicago hotel where he played; one of the songs they performed was, of course, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I never got to hear my grandfather play, because he gave up “the life” when he moved to California, when my dad was still in high school. However, my grandpa remains an inspiration, so I wrote an arrangement of “Somewhere” in Latin Jazz style, and dedicated to my father and to the memory of my grandfather.
The first jazz record I bought was McCoy Tyner, “Dimensions.” McCoy is a great influence on my piano playing to this day.
My advice to new listeners is, have an open mind; let the music develop, let the artists take you on a journey. Jazz is human, personal, and carries great immediacy. In an age where technology replaces the human element in much art, jazz in general is all about the performance. Even in recording, it is a moment of spontaneity frozen in time. So support live music, support live jazz! Keep us human in the modern world.
