Recently in J-Groove Category

James likes Quincy Jones, originally uploaded by allaboutgeorge.

My friend George "allaboutgeorge" Kelly took this photo of me hanging out at Mama Buzz Café in Oakland on Saturday. It was great weather and sunny skies. Notice how my hand and Quincy's hands are positioned. It almost looks like one in the same.

Mama Buzz Café was also hosting the Downtown Oakland Record Show. They had tons of great vinyl there. I browsed and bought a few albums. However, I was a little disappointed because the vinyl was a little pricey. I picked up 4 albums and the record seller told me my total was $40 so I put 2 albums back and my new total was $22. I bought Quincy Jones' Mellow Madness and McCoy Tyner's Atlantis. I was sitting with George and checking out my records when I noticed that McCoy's album was actually a two-record set and I only had one record. I took it back and the seller could not readily find the other album for the set. He told me I could pick another album. I chose an Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis album which featured Shirley Scott on organ. I cannot remember whether or not it was marked with a price but he was charging $30 for it so I put it back. I needed to find an album that was $12 or less. I chose a Richard Pryor album that was $10 and did not ask for my $2 back. I figured I am grown up enough to listen to his albums again after sneaking in the basement to listen my dad's albums as a child.

If I ever go back to this record show again, I will be very cautious.

Downtown Oakland Record Show. Thousands of LPs, 12”, 45s, featuring hard to find vinyl soul, jazz, rock, reggae and more. DJs, talent showcase. 10am-4pm. Mama Buzz Café, 2318 Telegraph Ave., Downtown Oakland.

In addition to her upcoming tribute at the Kennedy Center next weekend, vocalist/pianist Shirley Horn has been named a 2005 Fellowship Recipient of the National Endowments of the Art Jazz Masters Fellowships. Honorees include Kenny Burrell (guitarist), Paquito D’Rivera (clarinetist-saxophonist), Slide Hampton (arranger-composer), Artie Shaw (big band leader), Jimmy Smith (keyboardist), and George Wein (jazz advocate).

Music around the town

Tickets are selling fast for Taj Mahal this week at Yoshi's. He will be there now through Sunday. Upcoming shows include:

• SoVoSó - 12/06


• Patricia Barber - 12/07-08


• Gato Barbieri - 12/09-12


• Danny Zeitlin Trio with Matt Wilson and Buster Williams - 12/13


• Charlie Hunter Trio - 12/14-19


• African Roots of Jazz - 12/20


• Anton Schwartz Quintet Featuring Taylor Eigsti & Julian Lage - 12/21


• Clairdee's Christmas - 12/22


• Ledisi - 12/23-27(Closed on Christmas Day)


• Joshua Redman Elastic Band - 12/28-01/02


• Benny Green/Russell Malone Duo - 01/03-06

Did anyone catch Lalah Hathaway at Kimball's this past weekend? If so, please post a comment about the concert. Upcoming shows include:

• Nestor Torres - 12/10-12
• Najee - 12/17-19
• Bobby Womack - 12/31

The Blind Boys of Alabama and the Dixie Hummingsbirds will close out the fall season of the 22nd Annual San Franscisco Jazz Festival with a spectacular concert on 12/11 at the Masonic Auditorium. The 6th Annual spring season of SFJAZZ runs from 03/12 through 06/25. Highlights include Ahmad Jamal, Frank Morgan/Cyrus Chestnut, Mingus Big Band, Dave Brubeck and 40th Anniversary Celebration of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" with Branford Marsalis Quartet and Ravi Coltrane Septet. For more information on upcoming concerts, check out the sfjazz.org website.

Do you know OJazz?

Local R&B crooner Lonnie Tuck has a newly redesigned website. Lookin' good Lonnie! He will be performing at Bistro Yoffi in SF on 12/03 and 12/23 for two shows each night from 8:00-11:30.

Looking for good jazz all around the bay? Check out the KCSM Jazz Datebook.

Soulful sounds at the Paramount Theatre...

• Jon B., Quanti Bomani and Kindred The Family Soul - 12/30
• Will Downing with Kem and Kenny Latimore - 12/31
• Jill Scott - 02/10-11
• Pat Metheny Group - 03/03

Chaka answered my questions! About a month ago, Soul Ambassador David Nathan asked Chaka fans to submit questions for this incredible soul diva and my questions were among the ones selected. Read the entire Chaka Q&A session here. Thank you Chaka & David!

in2jazz: I had the opportunity to see you and Ledisi sing together this summer and it was excellent. Will you two be recording together in the future? Would you ever consider doing a tribute album?

CK: Yes (to both questions)

in2jazz: If so, who?

CK: Joni Mitchell

in2jazz: Will there be any future projects with Rufus?

CK: No

Andy Bey Concert Dates

• Symphony Space - New York City - 12/3
• Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Washington, DC - 12/10
• HotHouse - Chicago - 12/31-01/01
• Harold Arlen Celebration - Blue Note - New York City - 01/25-30

Where did the time go?

It is time to set the clocks back this weekend! I have been away on an unscheduled but needed break from blogging. I would sit down at the computer with lots of great ideas but none of them would turn into entries. I think that is happening for a lot of the blogosphere these days. Thank you for your calls and emails to check up on me. I have a lot of catching up to do and I am giving myself the rest of the year to do it.

Before I forget...a few new doll photos and pricing have been added in the Dolls by Mother and Daughter photo gallery. For additional information, please send an email to dollsmd@adelphia.net.

What am I listening to?

I have had latest releases from Queen Latifah, Brenda Russell, Chaka Khan, David Sanchez and René Marie on heavy rotation in the CD players. My honorable mentions are Jill Scott, Lalah Hathaway, and Maysa. I need to give these three a closer listen before I give you my thoughts but they are definitely worth getting.

Where is the groove this weekend?

Kimball's East has a brand new website and it looks good. The very gifted Rachelle Ferrell will be playing there Thursday thru Sunday for two shows each night. Hopefully, we will get to hear music from and about her much anticipated new release.

South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim will be playing at Yoshi's from Thursday thru Sunday for two shows each night.

Extraordinary drummer Terri Lyne Carrington will be playing at The Jazzschool on Sunday at 4:30pm with the Susan Muscarella Trio. This should definitely be a great show.

The 22nd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival is underway now thru November 7. This weekend's highlights include Dena DeRose, Dianne Reeves, Jimmy McGriff, and Michel Camilo.

Speaking of Dianne Reeves, she has a new Christmas album on Blue Note Records, Christmas Time is Here.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Grand Opening Festival runs thru November 7. I will definitely go there on my next trip to New York City. A related article from the Seattle Times, "Milestone venue gives jazz a home in New York"

Other News and Grooves

Guitarist Earl Klugh has a brand website. No word on there as of yet when his new release will be out but I will keep checking.

Vocalist Clairdee will be playing a Pete Escovedo's Latin Jazz Club in San Jose on November at 8:30 and 10:30pm. She will also be doing her 3rd Annual Christmas Concert at Yoshi's on December 23 and her new album, Live at Yoshi's, will be released on February 1, 2005.

NYTimes.com: Jazz Impresario Tries New Idea: Jazz, Just Jazz
Village Voice.com: Trumpets No End

Coming back soon....Flashback Friday!!

I am not quite sure what I had in mind in deciding to write a music column. I guess I figured there would be no better place than to try it out here so my friends and loved ones could pick it apart and throw online tomatoes at me. Just consider this my online scratch pad where I will express various music thoughts and hopefully not offend too many. Just sit back and grow along with me. Have I ever steered you wrong in the past couple of years? I did not think so.

J-Groove begins.

Music reviewer or photographer?

This is a question that I have found myself asking recently when I have been at music events. I guess I am mixture of both. I usually keep a couple of cameras in my bag when I am at concerts but I also respect the artists and try not to invade their personal space too much. I can remember being at concerts in my 20's, camera in hand trying to get the great shot, knowing that I could get busted and thrown out. We all did it and those photos never really turned out great. Fast forward 20 years and I am sitting on the steps of the stage, with a press pass, and taking some great shots. It is truly amazing where the road of life carries you. I was in that space where the serious photographers with the very pricey 50+ lb, 10K cameras and here I am with my digital snapping away like a kid in a candy store. In between shooting photos, I was going back to my seat to take notes on the concert for a future review. It was fun but a lot of work doing both. My focus is reviewing music and photos add another dimension to the story.

I guess you wonder where I've been?

Musically, these last two months have been quite busy. I have gotten to hear a lot of great music and taking good notes for upcoming reviews. I have been enjoying new music from Incognito, Nancy Wilson, Anita Baker, and Ray Charles. I still need to get the new Jill Scott, Maysa (9/21), Norman Brown (9/21), Lalah Hathaway (9/28), and Brenda Russell's latest album will released in the states on 10/05. I saw a September date for the new Earl Klugh album but I have not seen anything yet. Stay tuned!

The Monterey Jazz Festival was excellent this year and I will be telling you all about it very soon. Also, earlier this month, I got see five shows of Andy Bey at Jazz at Pearl's. He was phenomenal. I will be posting a recent interview with him soon.

I was saddened to hear that Izora Rhodes Armstead died. She, along with Martha Wash, were backup singers for Sylvester and later stepped out on their own as Two Tons o' Fun and The Weather Girls. I have been loving Izora's pot liquored voice for a long time and she will always be in my heart.

That's all for now but I may put a little more up here later.