Cécile McLorin Salvant @ The Addition (formerly Yoshi’s SF) tonight and tomorrow!
The wait is over. I had the pleasure of hearing Cécile McLorin Salvant at this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival and she was absolutely mesmerizing. It was mentioned that she would be playing in the Bay Area in November and I got very excited. Her run started last night and she will be playing at 8pm […]
Mary Stallings Comes to The RRazz Room – 2/3-5
Vocalist Mary Stallings comes to The RRazz Room from February 2 to 5. Showtimes are 7pm on Friday and Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. Her band will include David Udolf on piano, Akira Tana on drums and Ron Belcher on bass. I last saw Mary at Yoshi’s Oakland and her show was amazing. According to […]
Ladies of Jazz @ Theater On San Pedro Square – 11/5
Ladies of Jazz All Female Jazz Singer/Songwriters Concert Don’t miss a fun filled evening with the Ladies of Jazz Singer/Songwriters Leanne Weatherly, Cathi Walkup, Jennifer Lee and Melissa Dinwiddie. All four Bay Area ladies will perform their own original material from comical swing to beautiful, touching ballads with a jazz trio backing them up. This show was […]
Shirley Horn – Embers and Ashes/Where Are You Going Reissue
Oh happy day!!! Last month, Shirley Horn’s first album, “Embers and Ashes” recorded in 1960 and her “Where Are You Going” album, which was released in 1972, were reissued on a 2 LP on 1 CD reissue on Fresh Sounds Records. I have been waiting for “Embers and Ashes” to be released on CD since […]
Joe Sample and Lalah Hathaway Reunited
Joe Sample – acoustic piano Lalah Hathaway – vocals Nick Sample – acoustic bass Xavier Breaker – drums Where were you in October 1999 when Joe Sample and Lalah Hathaway appeared together at Yoshi’s Oakland performing song from their The Song Lives On album? I was there in the crowded audience sitting really close to […]
Andy Bey Duo @ The Jazz Bakery
Collin Artists (323) 467-4702 Fax (323) 292-9127 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE! The Andy Bey Duo, featuring Paul Meyers on guitar will be appearing at The Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave. in Culver City on Wednesday, November 8 through Saturday, November 11, at 8:00 PM and 9:30 PM (two shows each night). Don’t miss the special magic […]
My Shirley Horn Box Set – Disc 4
“Songs are lucky when Shirley Horn chooses them.” This is one of the best quotes that describe the magic of Shirley Horn’s music. The past few weeks have definitely been an education for me in Shirley Horn’s music. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support on this project. Preparing the final disc in My […]
Flashback Friday – Shirley Horn – Embers and Ashes
Shirley Horn – vocals and piano Joe Benjamin – bass Lewis Powers – bass Harry Saunders – drums Herbie Lovelle – drums The year would not be complete without one more Flashback Friday. This album is commonly known as Embers and Ashes but its actual title is Embers and Ashes – Songs of Lost Love […]
Cedric Brown on Higher Ground…
Cedric Brown – Vocals Simon Butler – Guitar Sam Bevan – Bass George Bernard – Percussion Glen Iwaoka – Drums There is nothing more fascinating that watching an artist in their moment. A music teacher described that moment as being when you feel deep within that everything is just right and you are giving it […]
Diane Schuur – Midnight
Midnight is the right time for love and good music. On her third release for Concord Records, Midnight, jazz vocalist Diane Schuur sets the mood for romance. For this album, she works with hitmaker Barry Manilow and his longtime collaborator, Eddie Arkin. The result is a beautifully crafted album of 13 songs that showcase Diane […]
Dianne Reeves – A Little Moonlight
Someone to live for Beg, steal, and die for Eat humble pie for Fly to the sun and the moon and the sky for Someone to dance with Laugh with and cry for And that someone is you… Just the words from “I’m All Smiles” sets the mood for romance but add to that Dianne […]
A couple of evenings with a familiar friend…
The Shirley Horn Quartet Shirley Horn – vocals George Mesterhazy – piano Ed Howard – bass Steve Williams – drums It was few minutes before Shirley came onstage. The crowd was a bit more seasoned than usual. These were the true jazz lovers filled with many stories of years of great music. I often find […]
Three Mo’ Tenors re-christened Cook, Dixon and Young
From The Crusade.net The Three Mo’ Tenors have been re-christened Cook, Dixon and Young, effective immediately. Largely considered by many to be the Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras of the African-American community, Cook, Dixon and Young have over 40 years combined experience, and have appeared in major concert halls and opera houses around […]
From the archives…
Below are my very first music reviews written in 2001. I recently found them and wanted to share them because these are both great albums. Shirley Horn – You’re My Thrill It has been written “songs are happy when Shirley sings them” and that is certainly true on You’re My Thrill. Over eight years ago, […]
Carmen McRae – Sarah – Dedicated to You
This could have easily been a Friday Flashback but it was just too good to wait for a Friday. A few months after Sarah Vaughan’s death in 1990, Carmen McRae?s recorded Sarah?Dedicated to You. I had this album on cassette until I finally found it on CD last year. Bluebird First Editions recently reissued this […]
Flashback Friday – Phyllis Hyman – Somewhere In My Lifetime
“Gonna make changes Gonna make minds aware Moving together Always willing to share. There’s power in the masses Collectively we can win Gonna make change…” – Phyllis Hyman Her voice is timeless. Her beauty and stature were beyond words. Her music is ageless and lives on in our hearts forever. This past Sunday, July 6, […]
A Musical Journey with René Marie…
I had the pleasure of hearing singer/songwriter René Marie at the Monterey Jazz Festival last summer. She gave an outstanding performance so I knew we would be in for a treat this evening as she performed songs from her new MAXJAZZ album Live At Jazz Standard. René as wonderful stage presence and is very in […]
Flashback Friday – Cassandra Wilson “Blue Skies”
I figured since I have been featuring some heavyweight jazz this week, I would stay in the same lane for our flashback. The year was 1989. I had moved out of my parent’s house and into my first apartment. It was Labor Day weekend and I had gone to the annual Chicago Jazz Festival and […]
The Shirley Horn Essentials…
“May all your storms be weathered. May all that’s good better. Here’s to life. Here’s to love. Here’s to you.” – Shirley Horn On this date in 1934 in our jazz history, vocalist/pianist extraordinaire Shirley Horn was born in Washington, D.C. Here’s her bio from Allmusic.com: “A superior ballad singer and a talented pianist, Shirley […]
Flashback Friday – Sarah Vaughan – “Live At Mister Kelly’s”
“Sometimes I’m happy | Sometimes I’m blue | My disposition depends on you | I never mind the rain from the skies |As long as I have the sun in your eyes | Sometimes I love you | Sometimes I hate you |When I hate you | It’s because I love you | That’s how […]
