contemporary jazz
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Restless by Bob James turns 25
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Here’s a review I wrote of the Restless release by contemporary jazz legend Bob James in spring 1994. The album was released Feb. 8 of that year. The review holds up, but after 25 years the track I listen to most is “Under Me” with its driving dance beat, sweet Luther Vandross vocal and Michael…
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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…