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Category: Music

Brian Lynch and Emmet Cohen – Question Answered.

One of my favorite albums over the last month or two is  the latest release from Grammy-winning trumpeter, Brian Lynch, Questioned Answered. Actually, I should say the latest from Brian Lynch and up and coming jazz pianist Emmet Cohen.  While I love Lynch’s trumpet on this album, its Cohen’s piano, that at least for me, makes this album special. Here’s what Brian Lynch says about his meeting and connection with Emmet Cohen…..

I first had the pleasure of making Emmet Cohen’s acquaintance in January 2011 on that year’s Jazz Cruise, where I was playing as a soloist and he was showcased with his trio from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he was then a student. I was really impressed with his playing, and I dug the young man’s personality, enthusiasm and knowledge of the jazz tradition. Fast forward a few months, and I found myself in Miami as the new Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Frost (through a series of events precipitated on that cruise, a story for another time), and in proximity to Emmet on a daily basis as he finished his last year of undergraduate work. We were able to take advantage of the educational environment to schedule weekly playing sessions (“lessons”) where we could explore a lot of music in a duo format; at the same time I was more fully exposed to the breadth of his talent as a player and composer through frequent sessions and performance situations. He checked out my music and picked up a few tips from me at the same time. Read More read more

Milt Jackson:Great Vibes for a New Year!

Milton “Bags” Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999)

Milt Jackson

For the longest time my favorite vibraphonist was Gary Burton and while he still may be my favorite, coming in a close second is Milt Jackson, who would have celebrated his 92nd  birthday today! From Wikipedia:

 Milton “Bags” Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999) was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging solos as a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet and his penchant for collaborating with several hard bop and post-bop players. read more

Steve Krase: Buckle Up – for a rockin’ blues ride!!

Buckle UpThe title of the new album from Steve Krase is Buckle Up (featuring Trudy Lynn) and that’s just what you should do before you listen to the album!  Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride!  The worst thing about the ten track album is that it’s only 39 minutes long! The album had me from the opening rocker “Jolene” right on through to the closing track – an instrumental titled  “Now”, and there were not many times during the album that my feet were not in motion! read more

Steve Krase: Buckle Up

 Buckle Up for a rockin’ blues ride from Steve Krase!

The title of the new album from Steve Krase is Buckle Up (featuring Trudy Lynn) and that’s just what you should do before you listen to the album!  Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride!  The worst thing about the ten track album is that it’s only 39 minutes long! The album had me from the opening rocker “Jolene” right on through to the closing track – an instrumental titled  “Now”, and there were not many times during the album that my feet were not in motion! read more

Thomas Marriott

Primary Instrument: Trumpet

Born December 16, 1975

ThomasThomas Marriott Marriott is an award-winning and chart-topping jazz trumpeter from Seattle, Washington. Marriott is an eight-time Golden Ear Award recipient. The Golden Ear Awards celebrate contributions and achievements in Seattle Jazz.  In addition to his Golden Ear Award Marriott won the prestigious Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition in 1999.

Marriott’s jazz career started, when after winning the Carmine Caruso competition, he headed EAST! In New York City, he joined Maynard Ferguson‘s Big Bop Nouveau Band. Marriott completed three world tours with Ferguson’s band and Ferguson has called Marriott  “a truly great jazz trumpet player”! read more

Larry Fuller’s – Larry Fuller – fine jazz piano!

Larry FullerThroughout his career, Larry Fuller has been the consummate sideman. Fuller’s career began, when he was 13 years old and was given a paying gig by Floyd “Candy” Johnson, an ex-member  of both the Count Basie and Duke Ellington Orchestras. Johnson also became a mentor for Fuller.

As a sideman, Fuller has performed with a who’s who of jazz, including the likes of: Harry “Sweets” Edison, Stanley Turrentine, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Marlena Shaw, Kevin Mahogany, John Clayton, John Heard, Bennie Golson, Emily Remler, Jimmy Witherspoon, Eddie Harris, Anita O’Day, Steve Allen, Regina Carter, Nicholas Payton, and John Legend. read more

Exploring the Chicago Blues of Lurrie Bell

Lurrie BellLast year 2013 was a great year for Chicago Blues artist Lurrie Bell. Bell, the son of the great blues harpist Carey Bell released one of his most successful solo albums, Blues in My Soul.  Blues in My Soul, released on the Delmark label, was Bell’s return to electric blues after two albums which saw him playing in acoustic and religious styles. Lurrie Bell’s return was positively received by the blues community,  the Blues Foundation nominated him for five 2014 Blues Music Awards, and Lurrie won the 2013 Living Blues Award as the Male Blues Act of the Year! Here are Lurrie Bell’s five Blues Music Award’s nominations. read more

Brian Lynch Unsung Heroes Vol. 1 and Vol. 2!

unsung-heroesToday I am reposting a post from December 12th of last year Brian Lynch Unsung Heroes Vol.1 and Vol.2. It was written shortly after I discovered the great jazz trumpet of Brian Lynch. I am reposting it today, because over the last week or so I have listened to Brian’s new release, Question Answered,and maybe this post will force me to write about Brian’s great new release featuring the piano of Emmett Cohen!! Here’s last year’s post….

The other day I was reviewing the Weekly Jazz Chart   and there at No 19 just below Dr Lonnie Smith was an Brian Lynch Unsung Heroes Vol. 2. The tagline on the album is “a tribute to underappreciated trumpet masters” sounds like my kind of album! I went to Spotify found the album sat back and listened to some damn good trumpet playing. So now I needed to find out some more about Brian Lynch a trumpeter that I have not come across yet! From Wikipedia… read more

Exploring the Music of Jazz Pianist McCoy Tyner

The Always Classy McCoy TynerToday Jazz Piano great McCoy Tyner celebrates his 76 th birthday, Happy Birthday, McCoy. So let’s celebrate his birthday by exploring the music of this great jazz pianist McCoy Tyner!  From his biography at Facebook,

It is not an overstatement to say that modern jazz has been shaped by the music of McCoy Tyner. His blues-based piano style, replete with sophisticated chords and an explosively percussive left hand has transcended conventional styles to become one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music. His harmonic contributions and dramatic rhythmic devices form the vocabulary of a majority of jazz pianists. read more

Jazz Guitar Great Wes Montgomery Goes “Pop”!

Wes Montgomery Plays “Windy”

Wes Montgomery was a great jazz guitarist, but his most successful album A Day in the Life, and single  “Windy”  were more “Pop” than jazz. However, back in 1967 and ’68, when I was listening mostly to rock and pop music, it was through Montgomery’s albums on A&M records, that I discovered the incredible jazz guitar of  Wes Montgomery.

Wes recorded three  albums for A&M, A Day in the Life, Down Here on the Ground, and  Road Song.  All of the albums contained Montgomery covering pop songs of the day,  like “Windy” and “A Day in the  Life” and even classics like “Greensleeves” and while the albums were not be full of classic jazz tracks, they are full of Wes’ great jazz  guitar! read more