John Hilderbrand
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How Grover Defined and Transcended ‘Smooth Jazz’
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The celebration of #GroverWashingtonJrMonth continues with this tribute to the saxman. Grover Washington band members, like bassist Gerald Veasley and keyboardist Bill Jolly, as well as Gerald Albright and Najee are on this Jazz Night in America program. Also, hear David Sanborn on Grover.
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December is Grover Washington, Jr. Month
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To me, December is always Grover Washington, Jr. month. He was born in December and passed away in December. Grover is a contemporary jazz legend. He was a pioneer in the soul-jazz movement. I can hear his distinctive sound on any recording. There has been no one like him. Let’s celebrate his legacy this month….
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A saxophone lineup like no other
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Seeing the gathering of living presidents at the George H.W. Bush funeral today made me think of the inauguration of Bill Clinton. That monster gathering of super-saxmen: Sanborn, Brecker, Mulligan, Washington, Jr., Albright, G, Whalum…
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Happy birthday, Arturo Sandoval!
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Happy birthday to one of my very favorite trumpeters, Arturo Sandoval (born in 1949)! His birthday falls on a very important election day in the U.S., the country where Sandoval has been a naturalized citizen for twenty years. He defected from Cuba in 1990. Learn about Sandoval’s flight to freedom. Here are three of my…
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Lee Ritenour solo guitar recording
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The next Lee Ritenour recording will be solo guitar, the contemporary jazz legend told The Bulletin in October. “I’ve done almost 45 albums (and) never ever done a solo guitar record,” Ritenour said. “I thought it was really overdue, so I’ve been slowly preparing that the last couple (of) years — a lot of new…