Russell Malone has been a significant figure in the jazz world for more than two decades. One of his most pivotal career-shaping experiences was as part of organist Jimmy Smith’s band in the late-80s. He’s also spent time working in the bands of Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr., Sonny Rollins, and Ron Carter among other …
Category: KCCK Blog
KCCK’s Military Veterans
Veterans Day 2010 – we note several KCCK staffers who are veterans of military service. Mark Yother was in the Air Force for three years. He was editor of the base newspaper at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado, then worked in radio and television with the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN) for a year. …
Hot Club Sandwich and Other Good Stuff – Bob
Drawing on the Hot Club style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, Hot Club Sandwich adds in classic Latin American, old-world European and other influences, including a bit of West Coast twang. The fourth release from the Seattle-based band — “And If Only” — takes listeners from the smoky cafes of Paris to the hipster …
Spotlight on Piano Trios and Trumpets – Bob
The piano trio is hardly a new concept in jazz. Certainly Cyrus Chestnut has established himself as a giant in that format, through CDs stretching back to his recording debut in 1990 and his countless appearances at clubs, concert halls and festivals throughout the world. Even so, his new release — “Journeys” — marks a …
The Elegance of Stallings and Person – Bob
Passionate, robust singers with the sensitivity of a Carmen McRae and the sass of a Dinah Washington aren’t exactly thick on the ground these days, which is what makes Mary Stallings’ return to the studios a cause for rejoicing. Her voice is, at once, contemporary and timeless, encompassing the entire history of jazz vocals. For …
Donatelli & The World of Jazz – Bob
The problem with jazz singing is that almost no two listeners can agree on exactly what it is. Fans of unbridled scatting tend to dismiss vocalists with a more lyrical side; listeners who enjoy lyrical storytelling have less regard for performers who use words as vehicles for ostentatious display. This makes the singing of Denise …
Accoustic Abbasi, Cohan’s Second Release – Bob
It seems perfectly natural that a musician having developed a distinctive sound and approach to his instrument would want to broaden his palette. Guitarist/composer Rez Abbasi has been perfecting his own guitar voice, mainly playing electric, for some time. With his new CD, “Natural Selection”, Abbasi forgoes the electric and turns to the acoustic guitar …
Jazz Influences Pop, Triveni – Bob
Jazz has a long history of taking popular songs of the day and making them vehicles for improvisation. Organist Joey DeFrancesco’s current exploration of the music associated with Michael Jackson, “Never Can Say Goodbye”, is merely the latest addition to the list. Though this music is linked with the undisputed “King of Pop,” this is …