contemporary jazz
-
Restless by Bob James turns 25
.
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…
-
December is Grover Washington, Jr. Month
.
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…
-
A saxophone lineup like no other
.
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!
.
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…
-
Lee Ritenour solo guitar recording
.
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…