Author's posts
Flecktones Redux; Goens Debuts – Bob Stewart
Groundbreaking banjoist/composer/bandleader Bela Fleck has reconvened the original members of his band The Flecktones for a brand new disc — “Rocket Science” — marking the first recording by the initial line-up of the group in almost two decades. Pianist and harmonica player Howard Levy is back in the fold alongside Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten and …
KCCK Relatives Remembered
With the arrival of Memorial Day 2011, some KCCK staffers’ relatives, who are no longer with us, are being remembered for their service during war-time. George Dorman’s father, Jack Dorman, was in the U.S. Army for nearly four years during World War II. Most of that time was spent in northern Africa, where he was …
Mouzon Finishes Long-Term Project; Alexander Doesn’t Follow the Crowd – Bob Stewart
In his colorful and wide-ranging career, Alphonse Mouzon has long been considered one of the most skilled and versatile drummers in the music business. He was a member of the original versions of Weather Report and Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House, and worked with Gil Evans, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis and Jean-Luc Ponty. He’s …
Grusin Live; Matta/Ben-Hur Pairing – Bob Stewart
If you’ve spent any time at all in a movie theater or in front of a TV set during prime time over the past four decades, chances are good you’ve encountered Dave Grusin along the way. In addition to a formidable body of work as a jazz recording artist, the pianist, composer, arranger, and winner …
Redman Debuts New Band, Parlato Returns – Bob Stewart
“James Farm” is a collaborative band featuring saxophonist Joshua Redman, bassist Matt Penman, drummer Eric Harland and keyboardist Aaron Parks. The band uses traditional acoustic jazz quartet instrumentation for its song-based approach to jazz and incorporates the members’ myriad influences: rock, soul, folk, classical and electronica, among many others. The quartet has received critical acclaim …
Papa John & the Big Phat Band – Bob Stewart
For ten years, saxophonist, pianist and Grammy-winning composer/arranger Gordon Goodwin has been driving a train that won’t stop. He first assembled his Big Phat Band in 2000-an ironic starting point for an 18-piece big band, given that the fleeting neo-swing craze of the late ’90s was just winding down. In the decade since their ambitious …
Khan Reunites Eyewitness; Eick Debuts on ECM – Bob Stewart
For guitarist Steve Khan, his new release — “Parting Shot” — marks the first time since 1994 that he has reunited his band Eyewitness, with Anthony Jackson on bass, Dennis Chambers on drums, and Manolo Badrena on percussion. This time there is something different, though. They now combine the looseness of their improvisations while adhering …
Stafford Channels Strayhorm; New Allison Release – Bob Stewart
Billy Strayhorn is widely considered to be one of the great composers of our time, and his three-decade-long collaboration with Duke Ellington furnished the American songbook with a number of timeless classics. Trumpeter Terell Stafford’s sense of melody and uniquely expressive sound make him ideal for Strayhorn’s repertoire. His new CD — “This Side of …