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 …
Category: KCCK Blog
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 …
New Collaborations from Elling, Keezer; Salute from Alden – Bob Stewart
The New York Times is one of numerous publications to declare Kurt Elling as the “standout male vocalist of our time”…and the Washington Post says, “Since the mid-1990s, no singer in jazz has been as daring, dynamic or interesting as Kurt Elling.” The legendary producer Don Was had expressed the desire to work with Elling, …
Jazz Vocals, Experienced First Recording, Bill Frisell – Bob Stewart
Honest-to-goodness, real-life jazz singing is almost as rare these days as a nickel cup of coffee. There are far too few remaining practitioners of the honorable art of singing good songs with the lift, the swing and the subtle blending of music and emotion that characterizes the work of the best jazz improvisers. Jazz legend …
Living Legends, New Sounds and Local Classics – Bob Stewart
With more than a half-century of experience in the jazz world, it would be safe to consider Phil Woods not only one of the music’s living legends but a true aficionado of his fellow instrumentalists. So it speaks volumes that the first time he shared the stage with a then-14-year-old Grace Kelly, he was moved …