Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com A smoke-filled room; laughter, conversation; and most importantly, music. That’s the feel that I get when listening to Branford Marsalis wailing on the sax. He is the son of Ellis Marsalis Jr., jazz pianist (November 14, 1934 – April 1, 2020) , and has five (5) brothers . Aside from Branford … Continue reading Spotlight: Branford Marsalis
Tag: Poetry
Change
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Well, not that kind of change. As predicted by virtually everyone who has ever lived in our modern age, the world is rapidly changing. Of course, I see the change being reflected in the music that I play, as well as in the ways that I listen to it. As … Continue reading Change
Please Stand By
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com Pre- corona plan: For the month of April, Smoothe will be celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) with posts about the founders of jazz from the U.S., as well as abroad. "Invited" artists include Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Dexter Gordon, and . . . … Continue reading Please Stand By
Live!! Miles Davis & Quincy Jones at Montreux
This Miles Davis album was recorded at Montreux on July 8, 1991 and released on August 10, 1993, and was the last album Davis recorded, a few months prior to his demise on September 28, 1991. He was already experiencing health problems on that day, and trumpeter Wallace Roney (who studied under Miles Davis from … Continue reading Live!! Miles Davis & Quincy Jones at Montreux
Jazz(y) – Blank & Jones
Jan Pieter Blank (known as Piet Blank) and René Runge (known as Jaspa Jones) make up the German duo of Blank & Jones, famous for their "downtempo" material. While their discography is seemingly endless, and their flair for "instant hit" remixes keeps them beloved by audiences world-wide, they have ventured into the jazz arena … Continue reading Jazz(y) – Blank & Jones
Spotlight – Hiroshima
Since their formation in 1974, Hiroshima has created music that has touched on jazz, R&B, pop, and world music, yet their hugest successes have come from their jazz recordings. Their self-titled debut album sold more than 100,000 copies in the first three (3) months. I offer up their fourth album, Another Place (1985), as my … Continue reading Spotlight – Hiroshima
Redux 2 (3/10/2020)
Take Five - written by Paul Desmond Take The A Train - written by Billy Strayhorn 'Round Midnight - written by Thelonious Monk Birdland - written by Joe Zawinul Mood Indigo - written by Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard A few takes on each, for your pleasure. Jazz, jazz, and nothing but jazz. … Continue reading Redux 2 (3/10/2020)
Live!! Sade – Bring Me Home 2011
No That's right - she needs no introduction!!!! Jazz, jazz, and nothing but jazz. Listen on TIDAL Listen on Deezer Listen on Spotify
Jazz(y) – 351 Lakeshore Drive,Velvet Dreamer, and Mazelo Nostra
Three (3) artists, nine (9) songs wrapped up in a neat little playlist, for your enjoyment: 351 Lakeshore Drive Velvet Dreamer Mazelo Nostra Even when it's not jazz, at least . . . it's still jazz(y). Listen on TIDAL Listen on Qobuz Listen on Deezer Listen on Spotify
Spotlight – Cava Menzies & Nick Phillips
She plays piano, and he plays trumpet. Together, they make music. She is Cava Menzies and he is Nick Phillips. In 2014, they gave us an offering entitled “Moment To Moment”, and they have been going strong ever since. I don’t know how they managed to find each other and create such a monumental team, … Continue reading Spotlight – Cava Menzies & Nick Phillips
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