Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com OK - are you ready for FOURPLAY? Gotta start right off with the fact that they came up with this little . . . thing: a song called FOURPLAY, from an album called FOURPLAY, by a group called FOURPLAY!!! Yes, I love it! The aforementioned album, FOURPLAY (1991) … Continue reading Spotlight: Fourplay
Category: Spotlight
Essentials: Seven Days Of Falling (2003) e.s.t.
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com The Esbjorn Svensson Trio, (e.s.t.) formed in 1993 with Esbjorn Svensson (piano), Dan Berglund (double bass), and Magnus Ostrom (drums). The Swedish trio, from the start, baffled many of us with their varied style of play, making it difficult to determine just where their loyalties lie. I think … Continue reading Essentials: Seven Days Of Falling (2003) e.s.t.
Meet . . . Pat Appleton
Photo by Dmitry Demidov on Pexels.com Pat Appleton . . . She was born in Germany (1968) of German and Liberian descent. After starting her studies in political science, she decided that her musical talents would take her further. I, for one, am glad that she made that decision. She has become known as the … Continue reading Meet . . . Pat Appleton
Meet . . . Fredrik Kronkvist
Photo by Boris Ivas on Pexels.com Fredrik Kronkvist . . . considered one of Sweden's finest jazz musicians, captured my attention with his superb saxophone work. If there were a need to pick a word that describes his style, I'd say that word would surely be "mellow". That resonates very well in my book, as … Continue reading Meet . . . Fredrik Kronkvist
Spotlight: Cindy Bradley
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Meet Cindy Bradley, trumpeter extraordinare. She was born in upstate NY in 1977. At nine (9), she was already playing piano, and that was also the age that she began playing the trumpet. She also plays Flugelhorn. She recorded her first album, Just A Little Bit (2007), on her own … Continue reading Spotlight: Cindy Bradley
Spotlight: Dave Koz
Photo by Caique Araujo on Pexels.com California-born and bred, Dave Koz, thus far, has had a very illustrious career. He has racked up nine (9) Grammy nominations, twelve (12) number-one albums, and has performed for multiple U.S. presidents, just to name a few of the feathers in his cap. And, yes - he even has … Continue reading Spotlight: Dave Koz
Spotlight: Ramsey Lewis
Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com Ramsey Lewis (May 27, 1935 - September 12, 2022) was a jazz pianist and composer born in Chicago, IL. Some of his greatest hits include The 'In' Crowd, Hang On Sloopy, and Wade In The Water. Those three barely even scratch the surface. They are, however, three of my … Continue reading Spotlight: Ramsey Lewis
Spotlight: Danny Grissett
Photo by Thuyen Vu on Pexels.com My first encounter with the music of Danny Grissett came with the first time that I heard Journey To The Stars, from trumpeter Tom Harrell's recording Number Five (2012). I was so thoroughly impressed by his expertise on the black & whites that I became his number-one fan. OK … Continue reading Spotlight: Danny Grissett
Spotlight: Marc Antoine
Photo by Nothing Ahead on Pexels.com Marc Antoine never fails to please. So, this "Deejay" will not be talking. Instead, hit the play button and be amazed. Jazz, jazz, and nothing but jazz. Mostly. Listen on SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/770VbyuZOPxA7LjxbEEfLc?si=a8df28f21f204a3b Listen on TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/10f74b36-f8d1-47e0-ad8e-fb58a3321328 copyright 2023 jblackstarr for SMOOTHE
Spotlight: Roy Hargrove
I inadvertently missed out on the true greatness which was known as Roy Hargrove. As a jazz lover who, in turn, loved the sound of a trumpet, particularly that "muted" sound, I should have been all up in his phenomenal world. Although he learned from and was influenced by many (he attributes Freddie Hubbard as … Continue reading Spotlight: Roy Hargrove
Smoothe 