Articles By Jay Sweet
Saxophonist Mindi Abair Blends Her Jazz with a Taste of Wine
Like a fine Cabernet Sauvignon, Mindi Adair's music is deep, layered, nuanced, earthy, and can be appreciated by both demanding critics and casual listeners. Comparing Adair's music to fine wine is no coincidence; wine has become a significant part of her life and livelihood. The Grammy-nominated saxophonist and singer will blend her jazz stylings with a love of wine on August 17, 2024 at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, NJ.
published on 07/01/2024
"Jazz Goes to the Movies" Will Celebrate the Music and Stories Behind the Songs
Many jazz standards and today's most popular songs were first featured in films. On Saturday, June 22, an all-star ensemble featuring Don Braden on tenor saxophone and flute, David O’Rourke on guitar, Oscar Perez on piano, Bill Crow on bass, Karl Latham on drums, and Cydney Halpin on vocals will celebrate jazz in film with a concert called "Jazz Goes to the Movies" on the back deck at Morristown's Morris Museum. Audience members are invited to set up their own chairs and bring refreshments while enjoying the music and the sunset.
published on 06/01/2024
Bethany Jazz Vespers: Camille Thurman: "I'm a Huge Dexter Gordon and Sarah Vaughan Fanatic"
Camille Thurman stands out as a luminary in the world of jazz, possessing a rare combination of talents that place her among the elite in the industry. Not only does she command attention as a gifted jazz vocalist, but her skills as a saxophonist rival those of the great masters of the genre, showcasing a deep respect for tradition, coupled with authenticity. Her proficiency extends beyond vocals and saxophone, including the bass clarinet, flute, and piccolo, demonstrating remarkable dexterity.
published on 03/01/2024
Jazz at the Vogel: Tenor Saxophonist Joshua Redman's Music Connects with the "American Experience"
In September 2023, when tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman released his first album on the Blue Note label, Where We Are, Frank Alkyer of DownBeat described it as "a confessional about America, one full of hopes and dreams, but also reality and confusion, and love, and loss."
published on 02/01/2024
Celebrating Max Roach's Centennial with a New Performance of His Freedom Jazz Suite
On January 10, 2024, Max Roach, one of jazz's most remarkable figures, would have turned 100 years old. The observance of Roach's centennial has coincided with the recent release of the documentary Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes, which celebrates the drummer's life and music. While many remember Roach as the pioneering drummer connected to the bebop movement of the mid to late 1940s, a much more incredible story is associated with his mastery, creativity, conviction, and spirit.
published on 01/01/2024
Jazz at Smoke: Steve Davis Sextet
Trombonists have been part of the jazz tradition from its earliest beginnings. In the 1920s and even earlier, Dixieland groups frequently included trombonists in the front line. When small group Dixieland jazz gave way in the 1930s to big band swing, orchestras would incorporate a trombone section, and, in fact, trombonist/bandleaders such as Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and Stan Kenton emerged as major stars. Although trombonists became less utilized during the 1940s bebop era, the legendary trombonist J.J. Johnson embraced bebop and advanced the possibilities of the jazz trombone tradition.
published on 10/01/2023
Vincent Herring's Something Else!
One of alto saxophonist Vincent Herring's greatest influences was Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, so it's not surprising that his current band, which appeared in June at New York's Smoke Jazz Club and at the Syracuse National Grid Jazz Fest, takes its name from the title of Adderley's only Blue Note album as a leader, released in 1958.
published on 07/01/2023
Jazz at the Vogel: Stanley Clarke Transformed the Electric Bass into a Solo Instrument
Stanley Clarke transformed the electric bass from its accompanying role and showed the world its possibilities as a solo instrument. He is also a virtuosic double bass player and an accomplished film composer. Clarke is a five-time Grammy winner, with 15 nominations. Three of his Grammys were for his solo efforts, one for the Stanley Clarke Band, and one with the groundbreaking, Return to Forever band, for which he was a founding member. In April of last year, he was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master (Jersey Jazz, March 2022)
published on 03/01/2023
Jazz at Smoke: Saxophonist Billy Harper Celebrates John Coltrane
Billy Harper is a saxophonist and composer of incredible talent who came to notoriety around the time John Coltrane's life and career abruptly ended. While influenced by saxophonists like Coltrane and Sonny Rollins, Harper is in no way an imitator. His often lengthy improvisations and compositions showcase an interpersonal style and a heightened sense of experimentalism that is enhanced by his signature tone and extreme creativity. From January 5-8, Harper will showcase his talent during a celebration of his 80th Birthday at New York’s Smoke Jazz & Supper Club as part of its annual John Coltrane Festival. His group will include Josh Evans on trumpet, Benito Gonzalez on piano, Lonnie Plaxico on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. In a recent conversation, Harper explained that, “the show will be a real presentation of my compositions."
published on 01/02/2023
GIANTS OF JAZZ: Bassist Rufus Reid To Be Honored At Annual SOPAC Concert
With an incredible resume as a sideman, bandleader, and educator, bassist Rufus Reid represents one of the most significant links to the great jazz tradition. His remarkable accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, and on November 19, Reid will be honored as part of the annual “Giants of Jazz” series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.
published on 11/01/2022
NEA Jazz Masters 2022: Stanley Clarke, Billy Hart, Donald Harrison, Jr., and Cassandra Wilson
In 1982 the National Endowment for the Arts established a Jazz Masters Series Award and government grant given annually to the country's most impactful jazz musicians. The first recipients 40 years ago included Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sun Ra. The list has since expanded to include many more exceptional jazz artists over the past four decades. Here are brief profiles of this year's recipients: Stanley Clarke, Billy Hart, Donald Harrison Jr, and Cassandra Wilson. They will each receive a $25,000 award and will be honored at a concert on Thursday, March 31 at a concert produced by SF JAZZ held at the San Francisco JAZZ Center.
published on 03/01/2022
Princeton University’s Student Groups Present Five Concerts in December
In April 2019, Princeton University held its first ever Jazz Festival featuring a broad lineup of jazz professionals playing with the university’s student groups. The professionals included saxophonists Joel Frahm, Tia Fuller, and Donny McCaslin; trumpeter Ingrid Jensen; vocalist Charenee Wade; percussionist Pedrito Martinez; and bassist Dave Holland. There were plans for a second festival in 2020, but, of course, those were canceled by the pandemic.
published on 12/01/2021
Dennis Mackrel Assumes New Role at New Jersey Youth Symphony Jazz Program
Dennis Mackrel is a noted drummer, composer, arranger, and educator who has recorded and performed with some of the biggest stars in jazz, including Count Basie, Joe Williams, McCoy Tyner, and George Shearing. Recently, he was appointed the first Artist-In-Residence for the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) located at the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts in Berkeley Heights, NJ.
published on 11/01/2021
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