contemporary jazz

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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… 

  • 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…

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    Top Contemporary Jazz Albums – October 31, 1998

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    The top ten contemporary jazz recordings from Oct. 31, 1998!