Return to Form – Onaje Allan Gumbs [Revisited]

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African American, Classic Jazz, Jazz, Piano

Onaje Allan Gumbs, Return to Form

Highly acclaimed pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs (pronounced Oh-Nah-Jay) voice is expansive, lyrical, sensitive, and poise as this approach to the piano draws sonically from the heart and soul of the elder statesmen in jazz. True, his name is not exactly a household one. However, his peers and jazz enthusiasts alike consider him an unsung hero, virtuoso, a player’s player if you will. I’m excited and honored to review, his 2000 release, “Return to Form” recorded “Live at The Blue Note” which is his first “Live” recording to date releases back in 2003.

Onaje, as usual has armed himself with a more then sufficient cast of musicians on this remarkable live recording he is accompanied by bassist Marcus McLaurine, drummer Payton Crossley, percussionist Gary Fritz, and on several tracks, saxophonist René McLean. As the title implies, Onaje returns to his roots when he played and recorded music with the definitive voices in jazz Norman Connors, Nate Adderly and Woody Shaw.

Inside look at the making of “Loverly”

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Female Vocalist, Jazz, Video, Vocals

Jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson gives us the low down on the making of her new album “Loverly.”

Source: YouTube.com

Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Perez – Across The Crystal Sea

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Herbie Hancock, Latin Jazz, Online Music, Piano

Danilo Perez, Across The Crystal Sea

Across the Crystal Sea is the latest chapter in Danilo Pérez extraordinary career as a pianist and bandleader who delivers a distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz that covers the music of the Americas, folkloric and world music. He’s not only impressed critics (for example, The New York Times’ Ben Ratliff writing that he is “a bold example of the musicological rethinking of jazz”), but also fellow musicians. Wayne Shorter says that Pérez “has all of the attributes of a performer, conductor, impresario and purveyor of musical expression greatly needed in these uncertain times” while Herbie Hancock says that Pérez is “not afraid of anything.” – Amazon.com

Saxman Andre Delano releases new album “My So Fine”

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African American, New Groove, Saxophone, Smooth Jazz, Smooth Soul

Andre Delano, "My So Fine"

Saxophonist Andre Delano, an accomplished musician with a distinctive, original sound, releases his highly anticipated second album “My So Fine” on August 19th, distributed through Nu Groove Records. Delano once again commands attention of his fans with 14 original songs that include guest appearances by bassist Byron Miller (Luther Vandross, George Duke), Smooth Jazz pianist Kevin Toney (The Blackbyrds), trumpeter Greg Adams and guitarist Michael Ripoll (Babyface, James Brown, Usher). From the opening note, the Latin-flavored first single ‘Sista Caliente, ‘ which means ‘hot sista’ in Spanish, sets the tone for “My So Fine.” The new single is available for preview by visiting Delano’s websites: http://www.andredelano.com or http://www.myspace.com/andredelano.

Vocalist Al Jarreau “Uwraps” his long awaited Christmas album

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African American, Al Jarreau, Holiday Music, Jazz

Al Jarreau

Summer may be heating up, but Al Jarreau has Christmas on his mind. This fall, the seven-time Grammy winning vocalist will release his first-ever Christmas album – his first album of newly recorded music since 2006’s sensational “Givin’ It Up” with George Benson. “AL JARREAU CHRISTMAS” includes the singer’s distinctive vocal spin on a dozen yuletide classics. On October 14, this holiday collection will be available from Rhino Records at all physical outlets for a suggested list price of $18.98. The digital release will be available for $9.99.

“AL JARREAU CHRISTMAS” opens with “Winter Wonderland, ” written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934 for Guy Lombardo, who hit #2 with the song’s timeless melody. The album is packed with festive favorites including “The Christmas Song, ” “Come All Ye Faithful, ” and “White Christmas, ” the ageless tune written by Irving Berlin and first sung by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical, “Holiday Inn.” The album also features Jarreau’s versions of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, ” “Carol Of The Bells, ” “Hark The Herald Angels Sing, ” “Some Children See Him” and “Gloria In Excelsis, ” a sacred song used in the Roman Catholic Mass.

Source: nestor.minsk.by/jazz/