Fillmore Jazz Festival 2015 – July 4 and 5
Two great days of music, art, and family fun in the Fillmore District. See you there! Fillmore Jazz Festival Schedule Downloadable Entertainment Schedule Poster Credit: Craig Frazier Studio
Gregory Porter Returns to the West Coast!!!
Jazzy, soulful crooner Gregory Porter returns to the west coast promoting his latest release, Be Good, next week with tour dates in Oakland, Sacramento, Monterey, and Los Angeles. He will playing Yoshi’s Oakland next Wednesday, 9/19 at 8pm. Upcoming Tour Dates: 09/19/2012 Yoshi’s Oakland Oakland, CA 08:00pm – One show only!!! 09/20/2012 Crocker Art Museum […]
Eastside Arts Alliance presents the 12th Annual Malcolm X JazzArts Festival – Saturday, May 19
Eastside Arts Alliance presents the 12th Annual Malcolm X JazzArts Festival on Sat., May 19, 2012 (11am – 7pm), San Antonio Park, Oakland, CA Line Up and Bios Jazz Main Stage 12:00 Daria Nile Trio 2:00 Avotcja and Modupue 4:00 A Tribute to Billy Bang – an all star String Summit featuring Michael White*, India […]
Rest In Peace, Miss Etta James
I took this photo of Etta James on very warm Sunday afternoon in September at the Russian River Jazz Festival in 2006. She was serving up her music hot and pulled no punches. This is how I will remember her. Two of my favorite Etta James releases were from the mid 90’s. She did an […]
Fillmore Jazz Festival 2011 – July 2 & 3
The 27th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival Expands Entertainment With Outstanding 2011 Musical Program (San Francisco, CA) Every summer on July 4th weekend in San Francisco, Fillmore Street is home to the largest free jazz festival on the West Coast: The Fillmore Jazz Festival. The 27th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival will showcase the Bay Area’s best […]
Vesta @ The Rrazz Room
Vesta – vocals Glen Pearson – keyboards Craig T. Cooper – guitar Curtis Ohlsen – bass guitar Dante “Taz†Roberson I went to see Vesta Williams at The Rrazz Room last night. It was like catching up with an old friend whom you had not seen for years. Vesta opened her 90 minute set with […]
Lizz Wright is coming to the Bay Area – 9/18-20
Vocalist/songwriter Lizz Wright is bringing her sweet music to the Bay Area. 9/18 Dizzy’s Den stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival at 8:30pm 9/19-20 Yoshi’s Oakland – Shows at 8 and 10pm Photo Credit: James Knox
The Quiet Storm – Volume 2
There were so many good songs that the radio blog is a little longer this week than I had planned. I still had to leave out a few gems for now but I will find a way to fit them in a future radio blog. I will be back to share insights on each song. […]
The Quiet Storm – Volume 1
A few weeks ago when EJ did his OSW: Philly Soul – Vols. 1 & 2, it took me back to late summer nights in Chicago when I was sitting on my front porch listening to quiet storm late night radio. I had my trusty headphone radio (similar to the one shown above) that I […]
Anita Baker – My Everything
The wait is over!! Ms. Baker is back with her new Blue Note release, My Everything, which hits the stores today. Were you at your local record store last night at midnight to be one of the first to have it? No, I was not there. No, I do not have a copy of the […]
Flashback Friday – Gladys Knight & The Pips – About Love/Touch
“You’re the landlord and the keeper of our love“ The flashback on Gladys Knight & The Pips has been a longtime in the making because I could not find the album cover photos so I took a photo of them myself. You like? The About Love (1980) and Touch (1981) albums are two of my […]
Flashback Friday – Natalie Cole – Thankful
“Picture yourself on the sea of a setting sun The salty air and the taste of your lover’s hair Inside you want to fly Ah, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi Come to the magical mist where the oceans kissed A thousand kisses or more on the sandy shore And never says goodbye Ah, yi, […]
Flashback Friday – Rufus featuring Chaka Khan – Street Player
It was not an easy choice deciding which Chaka album to use for the flashback because there are so many good ones. Her work with Rufus as well as her solo albums are outstanding. Rufus and Chaka’s album Street Player (1978) is special for me for its lyrics and music. The soulful funk rhythms of […]
Flashback Friday – Randy Crawford – Now We May Begin
One day I’ll fly away Leave your love to yesterday What more can your love do for me When will love be through with me Why live life from dream to dream And dread the day when dreaming ends The voice of Randy Crawford is one of the most distinctive voice in R&B and Contemporary […]
Flashback Friday – Aretha Franklin – Aretha Sings The Blues
Drinking music is in a class all of its own. We know it as the music that has helped us just to make it through a situation. It has soothed the pain of a broken heart or a failed romance. You put that record of your choice on and slide on down to bluesville with […]
Friday Flashback – The Emotions – Rejoice
Best Of My Love Doesn’t take much to make me happy And make me smile with glee Never, never will I feel discouraged Cause our love’s no mystery Demonstrating love and affection That you give so openly yeah I like the way ya make me about you baby Want the whole wide world to see […]
Flashback Friday – Stephanie Mills – Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’?
Whether she was singing about getting back “Home“, or “The Comfort of a Man“, or “Feeling Good All Over“, or how she “Never Knew Love Like This“, or that “Two Hearts” are always better, or feeling that “Sweet Sensation“, or watching out for “Pilot Error” for you may need the “Medicine Song” to let you […]
Flashback Friday – Earth, Wind & Fire – That’s The Way Of The World
“Hearts of fire creates love desire Take you high and higher to the world you belong Hearts of fire creates love desire High and higher to your place on the throne We’ve come together on this special day To sing our message loud and clear Looking back we’ve touched on sorrowful days Future pass, they […]
Jazzhole – “Circle of the Sun”
I was a little nervous when I received Jazzhole’s new release “Circle of the Sun“, because I wanted to play it at work but I was not sure if it was “office-friendly.” My first exposure to Jazzhole was their funky “The Beat is the Bomb” remix album in 1996. I was wonderfully surprised when I […]
Flashback Friday – Anita Baker “Rapture”
You bring me joy | When I’m down | Oh, so much joy | When I lose my way your love comes smiling on me | I saw your face | And them I knew | We would be friends | I was so afraid but your arms, they’d say `come to me’ |So I’d […]
Donnie – “The Colored Section”
“Welcome to the colored section | Welcome to the Negro league | Sign your name on the black list and know this | It’s American history | See what is to be blackmailed | See a real live conspiracy | Sign your name on the black list and know this | It’s American history” – […]
Sheree Brown – “The Music”
After coming down from the elation of recently winning my first Ebay bid, I was checking other items on auction from the seller and found the remastered 1982 Sheree Brown album, “The Music“. This album featured the beautiful song “On My Way Home” which was a staple of my early 80’s late night quiet storm […]
