Given the rousing artistic and commercial success of the first recorded collaboration of legendary troubadour Willie Nelson and jazz statesman Wynton Marsalis in 2008, it’s not surprising that the pair would rendezvous again. The first meeting took place in the Allen Room of New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2007. Their encore appearance was …
Category: KCCK Blog
De-Funding Public Radio Will Hurt Music, Education — Dennis
The following is a guest opinion run in the Iowa City Press-Citizen on April 11, 2011. Read it on their site. Much of the dialogue regarding proposals in the U.S. Congress to reduce or restrict funding for public broadcasting has focused on the impact those cuts will have on news and information stations such as …
Di Meola’s World Sinfonia, Davidson’s Legrand Project – Bob Stewart
Following the much ballyhooed “Return to Forever” reunion tour of 2008, guitarist Al Di Meola began refocusing his energies on his World Sinfonia band with a concert tour in 2009 and a live disc documenting the shows. Di Meola’s rhythmically-charged flamenco and tango inspired originals revealed his knack for advanced harmonies along with his embracing …
Monty and One for All Live – Bob Stewart
In Hal Leonard’s 2005 book — “The Greatest Jazz Pianists of All Time” — Monty Alexander placed in the top five of all time. In his homeland of Jamaica, he received the highest honor bestowed on an artist, Commander in the Order of Distinction. He has spent the majority of his career traveling the globe …
Arriale’s Convergence, T.K.’s Latin Bird, Lynch’s Tribute – Bob Stewart
Pianist and composer Lynne Arriale has been sharing her prolific body of audio and video work all over the world since winning the 1993 Great American Piano Competition. Collaborations with Benny Golson Kenny Barron, George Mraz and Randy Brecker speak to her considerable skill and stature within the jazz community. She’s also performed to packed …
Patriotic Ibrahim and Marie – Bob Stewart
Many things have changed since the founding of pianist/composer Abdullah Ibrahim’s Ekaya. Starting in 1983, this mid-sized jazz ensemble, whose name means “home”, presented Ibrahim’s most powerful musical statements during an important time of protest against apartheid in his native South Africa. His new CD — “Sotho Blue” — shows a new side of the …
Mehldau Solos, Bann Debutes – Bob Stewart
The Los Angeles Times says, “(Brad)Mehldau’s technical mastery can be enough to make your head spin, but the feeling is invigorating”. The Financial Times gives four stars to the “enthralling album”, as does The Daily Telegraph. And The Huffington Post says “what he is able to say musically as a soloist within the context of …
Disney Jazz and Miller’s Symphonic Project – Bob Stewart
From the outset, it was inevitable that two of the major creative forces of the 20th century would find a productive way to overlap and inspire each other. Jazz-with its boundless appetite for new sounds and original melodies-and Disney, that bottomless font of images, words and songs, churning out fresh musical gems with uncanny consistency …