John Hilderbrand
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Warren Wolf – History of the Vibraphone
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Warren Wolf pays tribute to the jazz masters of the vibraphone including Roy Ayers, Terry Gibbs, Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson, Cal Tjader, Gary Burton, Dave Samuels and Joe Locke on his new recording, appropriately titled History of the Vibraphone. Baltimore native Warren Wolf began his musical journey at age three, studying under his father….
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Driving Beverly Hills – Mark Portmann goes solo in 1994
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Before he became a nine-time Grammy nominee, a baby-faced Mark Portmann was a part of the contemporary jazz scene. Here’s a review of his Driving Beverly Hills release that I originally wrote 30 years ago (with some updates). Playing with one of top groups in contemporary jazz was bound to have an effect. Mark Portmann…
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David Sanborn has died
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David Sanborn, a true contemporary jazz legend, passed Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications. This is such a sad loss. Sanborn was an influence and inspiration to a lot of contemporary jazz musicians. He would be one of the four in a contemporary jazz version of Mt. Rushmore. He…
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Top Contemporary Jazz April 17, 1994: Incognito, Bob James and more
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The top ten contemporary jazz recordings, ranked by ContemporaryJazz.com, from the week of April 17, 1994! David Benoit and Russ Freeman, The Benoit/Freeman Project Paul Hardcastle, Hardcastle Dave Weckl, Hard-Wired The Solsonics, Jazz in the Present Tense Mark Johnson, Mark Johnson Incognito, Positivity Bob James, Restless John Scofield and Pat Metheny, I Can See Your…
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Mark Johnson Contemporary Jazz Review
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I wrote this review in 1994, when Mark Johnson’s debut self-titled solo recording was released: With so many saxophonists trying to copy the funky Sanborn sound, it’s difficult for new artists not to get lost in the shuffle. A new release has to really have a good, strong sound and great songs to stand out…