contemporary jazz

  • James Earl Jones

    Children read by James Earl Jones

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    I was saddened by the recent death of the iconic James Earl Jones. His booming voice and presence will always be felt and remembered. When thinking about him recently I think I recalled something he did on a contemporary jazz recording. And I remember that oh my God, he did. 
He was on one of…

  • Design for Spyro Gyra 50th anniversary collection, Jubilee
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    Spyro Gyra Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New Compilation “Jubilee”

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    Spyro Gyra has announced the release of a special compilation, titled “Jubilee,” in celebration of their 50th anniversary. The collection, set to be released in November, highlights the band’s evolving sound from their first decade of recording (1977-87). About the Release “Jubilee” will be available in two formats: a 2-LP gold and purple colored vinyl…

  • photo of Mark Portmann from the 1990s provided by the musician and the cover of his recording Driving Beverly Hills
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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…

  • David Sanborn photo by Rene Jakobson https://flic.kr/p/sffEZ4
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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…

  • montage of album covers of top contemporary jazz from April 17, 1994
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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…