Bob Sheppard has long been one of the top reed players based in Southern California. Among his most important associations was his eight year tenure with Freddie Hubbard, along with work in the bands of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and others. “Close Your Eyes”, just his fourth release as a leader, gives Sheppard …
Category: KCCK Blog
Flavors of the British Isles – Bob Stewart
Norma Winstone was long considered Britain’s most distinctive jazz singer when, in 2007, she was honored as a Member of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. She began her recording career in 1977 with the group Azimuth, and has appeared on discs by Kenny Wheeler and Eberhard Weber. Since the mid-’80s, she has been a …
The Art of Guitar – Bob Stewart
Longtime Los Angeles-based guitarist Doug MacDonald is a native Philadelphian who was raised in Hawaii. As a sideman on both coasts and some stops elsewhere, his live performances are in the hundreds, including those with Stan Getz, George Shearing, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, and Buddy Rich, among many others. Scott Yanow of Jazz Times describes …
High School Musicians Rub Shoulders with Pros – Dennis
Amidst homework, final exams and holiday concerts at area high schools, the halls are also buzzing with the sound of jazz. Students at ten Corridor-area high schools are in final preparation stages to put their best musical foot forward as they record with a professional jazz educator for the Corridor Jazz Project. The bands from …
Vocals Past and Present – Bob Stewart
Lizz Wright spent her previous three releases defying categorization-contemporary jazz stylist? Neo-soul/neo-folk/Americana artist? None or all of the above? So it’s no surprise that “Fellowship” would introduce yet another wrinkle into the mix: gospel. As the daughter of a Georgia pastor, Wright listened to and sang nothing but religious fare before fate and/or the Lord …
Loeb Joins Fourplay – Bob
After 20 years and a dozen CDs, in an industry that has undergone sweeping transformations in the past decade, Fourplay knows that the only thing that’s certain, in music or any other business, is change. The latest proof of that axiom is the new face in their lineup-that of guitarist Chuck Loeb, who makes his …
Holiday Goodies – Bob
It might be the parties. Or maybe it’s the roasting of chestnuts. Or the caroling out in the snow. Whatever the reason, most people consider the holiday season to be the most wonderful time of the year. That’s exactly the case among the members of Take 6, the a cappella group that has been mixing …
Gadd’s Gang Live – Bob
Steve Gadd has had a remarkable career during the past 40 years, working with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie and Chick Corea to Maynard Ferguson and George Benson. When it comes to his own projects, the drummer loves to play good-time groove music that has the danceable qualities and bluesiness of the best R&B along with …