In February, Jazz Power Initiative (JPI) welcomes NYC guitarists Bruce Edwards and Tom Dempsey, who have been carrying the torch for Wes Montgomery for decades, … Read More “Intergenerational Jazz Power Jam: Black History Month Salute to Wes Montgomery with Bruce Edwards and Tom Dempsey”
Resonance Records will put out two newly discovered recordings, one each by guitarist Wes Montgomery and pianist Bill Evans, next month. Resonance has previously issued … Read More “Resonance Records to Release Archival Recordings by Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans”
In the last decade Resonance has become one of the three most important archival jazz labels, along with Mosaic and Sony Legacy. In Paris is … Read More “Wes Montgomery: In Paris: The Definitive ORTF Recording (Resonance)”
Like most archival labels, Resonance finds its material in many strange places: private collections, audience tapes, soundboard cassettes, lost studio recordings. Early in 2017, with … Read More “Wynton Kelly Trio/Wes Montgomery: Smokin’ in Seattle (Resonance)”
It is early 1959, which means it’s still going to take a touch of time for Wes Montgomery to ramp up the ol’ fretboard chops. … Read More “Wes Montgomery: One Night in Indy”
Near the end of In the Beginning, the stunning new two-CD (or three-LP) set comprising early music from guitarist Wes Montgomery, tenor saxophonist Alonzo “Pookie” … Read More “Wes Montgomery: In the Beginning”
Imagine an episode of History Detectives, the popular PBS program, devoted to examining a recently discovered stash of seminal recordings by the late jazz great … Read More “Wes Montgomery: Echoes of Indiana Avenue”
First full album of previously unheard Montgomery music in over 25 years
Read More “Resonance to Release Lost Wes Montgomery Tapes in March”
The theme for the 27th edition of this biannual clambake in the charming Victorian town by the Jersey shore was “A Tribute To Wes Montgomery.” … Read More ““A Tribute to Wes Montgomery” at the Cape May Festival, Cape May, N.J.”
Wes Montgomery’s music fundamentally influenced Pat Martino not once but twice. Martino built on Montgomery’s style as a young guitarist and returned to Montgomery’s records … Read More “Pat Martino: Remember: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery”
The 1950s and early 1960s recordings by Wes Montgomery are among the greatest in jazz-guitar history. But what of the mid-to-late ’60s albums that Montgomery cut for Verve and A&M that led to his greatest popular successes-and the loudest critiques from the jazz world? Josef Woodard gives us an indepth look at the commercial apex of
Montgomery’s career.
The guitarist left his rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb in New York to go to London. He accommodates himself to … Read More “Wes Montgomery: Live at Ronnie Scott’s”
These two Mountaineer recordings are poles apart in concept and configurations— one septet and one big band—yet they combine to make a very fine showcase … Read More “West Virginia University Jazz Ensemble: Celebrating 40 Years of Jazz at WVU (Mon Hills) and WVU Jazz Ensemble 1: Sum of All the Parts (Spotify)”
Solid ensemble playing dominates this fine session as WMU’s big band explores material ranging from the Count Basie and Duke Ellington repertoires to more exotic … Read More “Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra: Turkish Delight (BluJazz)”
Field of Action/contraposition might seem like an album split between two different acts, and in some ways it is. On the other hand, pianist Eric … Read More “Eric Wubbels/Charmaine Lee/Weston Olencki: Field of Action/contraposition (Out of Your Head)”
Great individualists in jazz often constitute a School of One—musicians with such personal and idiosyncratic identities that they hover in a liminal state, anchored in … Read More “Chronology: Buddy Montgomery, a Little Brother Like No Other”
G. Calvin Weston laughs a lot when he talks. Or maybe he just talks a lot when he laughs. If you spend any time around … Read More “G. Calvin Weston Keeps Moving Forward”
Vocalist and composer Kavita Shah deeply engages the jazz tradition while also addressing and advancing its global sensibilities. A lifelong New Yorker of Indian origin, … Read More “JazzFest White Plains Presents Shah/Gomes/Belo Brazilian Jazz Trio at ArtsWestchester (FREE)”
This Zoom presentation and discussion features three of the headliners for the 23rd Healdsburg Jazz Festival (June 17-20): guitarist and banjo player Katie Cavera, headliner … Read More “Best of the West – HBGJAZZ Festival Overview”
Harold Land might be best known as the tenor saxophonist who preceded Sonny Rollins in the Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet of the mid-’50s, although his … Read More “Harold Land: Westward Bound! (Reel to Real)”
Late in the afternoon on an unusually warm January day, the House of Representatives—stirred to fast action by the attack on the United States Capitol the … Read More “Theo Bleckmann & the Westerlies: This Land Is Their Land”
“Harlem of the West” is a Zoom presentation and discussion featuring legendary musicians John Handy and Sugar Pie DeSanto, with special guest author Elizabeth Pepin … Read More “Healdsburg Jazz Festival Presents “Harlem of the West””
Christian McBride’s first two big-band albums won Grammys. The new one is grounded in specific history. Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery recorded two LPs in … Read More “Christian McBride Big Band: For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver (Mack Avenue)”
Discover some of the top young jazz musicians playing in the United States. This virtual gathering will include short live performances by each of the … Read More “Jazz’s Rising Stars – A Virtual Jazz Happening at Jazzfest White Plains at Artswestchester”
These featured artists are pushing the boundaries of jazz by engaging musical traditions alongside and outside the genre. Live demonstrations and performances by each of … Read More “Jazz at the Intersections – A Virtual Jazz Happening at Jazzfest White Plains at Artswestchester”
Enjoy an intimate conversation between Westchester’s top jazz instructors as they delve into topics such as their personal histories in education, the development of local … Read More “Jazz Education In Westchester – A Virtual Jazz Happening at Jazzfest White Plains at Artswestchester”
Isabella Mendes is a singer/songwriter, pianist, composer and educator whose work is rooted in Brazilian jazz and bossa nova. Flavio Lira explores the musical traditions … Read More “Isabella Mendes & Flavio Lira Duo at Jazzfest White Plains at Artswestchester”
An online discussion between master jazz artists and their mentees will delve into the topics of intergenerational exchange and transmission in jazz education. The moderated … Read More “Jazz, From One Generation to the Next – Virtual Program at Jazzfest White Plains at Artswestchester”
Join us for an online discussion between some of Westchester’s top jazz presenters/producers. This virtual conversation will focus on the history of these institutions/venues and … Read More “Presenting Jazz in the Time of COVID-19 – A Virtual Conversation at Jazzfest White Plains at Artswestchester”
The virtual program will include short performances by each of the artists and a moderated discussion about the history and development of jazz in Westchester. … Read More “Westchester Jazz: Then And Now – Virtual Program At Jazzfest White Plains At Artswestchester”
A reissue of the Greyboy Allstars’ 1994 debut, West Coast Boogaloo, and a brand-new album, Como de Allstars, make for both perfect bookends to the … Read More “The Greyboy Allstars: Como de Allstars (Knowledge Room)/ West Coast Boogaloo (Light in the Attic)”
In commemoration of Juneteenth and in light of current events in the United States, Quincy Jones issued a statement today (June 19) on behalf of … Read More “Quincy Jones Announces Qwest Education Initiative”
The Westerlies hew much closer to the “British” (or “Salvation Army,” if you like) flavor of brass band than the currently trending “street-funk” flavor. Nevertheless, … Read More “The Westerlies: Wherein Lies the Good (Westerlies)”
International Guitar Night returns to San Jose Jazz Winter Fest for their 20th Anniversary Tour. For this special anniversary, founder Brian Gore has put together … Read More “International Guitar Night featuring Mike Dawes, Cenk Erdoğan, Olli Soikkeli and Jim Kimo Wes”
And why not? Although no one would ever have classified the Southern rockers, who flourished for nearly a half-century through numerous personnel changes, as a … Read More “Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band (New West)”
Two years ago, Quincy Jones and French jazz impresario/television producer Reza Ackbaraly launched Qwest TV, the world’s first subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform dedicated to jazz … Read More “Qwest TV Celebrates 2nd Anniversary with New Initiatives”
In this month’s cover story on Cyrille Aimée, Allen Morrison refers to a February 2019 show at Birdland on West 44th St. in New York—Aimée’s … Read More “JT Notes: A West Side Story”
Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Paul Desmond, and Gerry Mulligan helped create the “cool jazz” style that hailed from the West Coast. Lyrical, mellow, and always … Read More “TAKE 5: West Coast Cool Jazz”
With all due respect to Makaya McCraven, G. Calvin Weston is the original beat scientist. As a fledgling teenage drummer in Prime Time, Weston helped … Read More “G. Calvin Weston and the Phoenix Orchestra: Dust and Ash (577)”
Forty-nine-year-old Los Angeles-based pianist Greg Reitan possesses blazing chops, which are put to excellent purpose on his fifth CD. Titled for inspiration received after his … Read More “Greg Reitan: West 60th (Sunnyside)”
I owe an enormous gratitude to West Africa and all of the musicians that I’ve had the honor of playing with; they have been my … Read More “Artist’s Choice: Leni Stern on West African Music”
With his September 1, 2018 passing, the jazz world lost a singular pianist-composer-bandleader and endless seeker of the African essence of music and spirituality. This … Read More “Jazz Congress 2019: Celebrating Randy Weston”
Monty Alexander, pianist: Randy Weston was one of the most loving human beings I knew. I had the pleasure and honor of touring with him in Europe … Read More “Monty Alexander, Min Xiao-Fen Remember Randy Weston”
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