Category: KCCK Blog

New World Flavors from Roditi and Figueroa – Bob Stewart

The work of trumpeter Claudio Roditi has inspired such accolades as “one of the very best performers in jazz” from the All Music Guide, earned praise from the Los Angeles Time for his “intelligence and music focus,” and led the Chicago Reader to comment that Roditi has “a New York grasp of swing, the Brazilian …

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Carter’s Big Band, Vuckovich/Hamilton Project – Bob Stewart

Throughout his illustrious career, the legendary Ron Carter has played it all-jumping in headlong as an integral member of Miles Davis’ classic ’60s quintet, anchoring the groove for almost every CTI Records session in the ’70s, then launching into multifarious new projects, including his cello-infused, chamber jazz nonet and his piano-guitar-bass trio. But in his …

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Giacomo’s Ode to Gil, Cedar’s New Project – Bob Stewart

Gil Scott-Heron, who died in May, was an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer. He made music that reflected the turbulence, uncertainty and increasing pessimism of the early ’70s, merging soul and jazz and drawing on an oral poetry tradition that reached back to the blues …

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Mingus and Wonder Re-Imagined – Bob Stewart

Gerald Veasley, the former bassist for Grover Washington, Jr. and the Joe Zawinul Syndicate, has released eight discs as a leader featuring original jazz, funk, and soul-tinged compositions. For his brand new CD — “Gerald Veasley’s Electric Mingus Project” — he has re-imagined the works of acclaimed jazz composer and fellow bassist Charles Mingus. “We …

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Latin Flavors of Valentin and Monasterios – Bob Stewart

Dave Valentin enjoys a fine reputation as a composer, arranger, and band leader in addition to being the most celebrated Latin flutist today. After studying with the great Hubert Laws, the multi-Grammy nominee developed the unusual techniques that feature slapping the keys of his instrument so it sounds like a percussion instrument, and singing into …

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New Records from Rudd and Redd – Bob Stewart

Legendary trombonist Roswell Rudd has reached yet another milestone in his celebrated and remarkably varied career, his 75th birthday. Through the years, Rudd has shown an affinity for music and musicians from all over the world with a love for collaboration. He’s played with luminaries Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp and Steve Lacy. He’s recorded with …

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Headhunters and ‘Bones – Bob Stewart

For many years, Jay Ashby and Steve Davis sat side by side in both the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and Slide Hampton’s World of Trombones, and no matter where they were, the two were constantly mistaken for one another. Chalk it up to an uncanny physical resemblance or their common roots in upstate New …

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Woods/Mays Duo; Monty’s Milestone – Bob Stewart

Grammy-winner and multiple nominee Phil Woods is one of the top alto saxophonists alive, and he has lost neither his enthusiasm nor his creativity throughout his illustrious career. He’s worked with a who’s who of the jazz world, including Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and Quincy Jones. Pianist Bill Mays has his own long-standing trio, plus …

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