McCoy Tyner | Afro Blue

Tags

African American, Compilation, Jazz, McCoy Tyner, Piano

Afro Blue is a melodically and artistically beautiful compilation of music by legendary pianist McCoy Tyner on Telarc Jazz . You would only expect the highest quality in regards to the mastering process that’s currently available from Telarc. That being said, the gifted McCoy Tyner is deemed one of the greatest jazz pianist in the world so I was moved to choose this album based on the contributions of his illustrious career. Furthermore, “Blue” is also highly recommended by jazz fans internationally to be somewhat an introduction to this extraordinary musician playing and stimulating arrangements. Therefore, I say to you, why not start with “Afro Blue” … and join me on this wonderful journey of breathtaking music by McCoy Tyner. ~ The Urban Flux

McCoy Tyner | Afro Blue – [Telarc, 2007 “Compilation]

McCoy Tyner, Afro Blue

McCoy Tyner, four-time Grammy award winner and NEA 2001 Jazz Masters recipient, is considered by many as a mystic in the music world. Hailed globally as a master pianist and jazz stylist, Tyner literally walks with 40-plus years of music performance. Tyner’s oceanic sound, matched only by his humility, inspires contemporaries as well as younger musicians.

McCoy Tyner, one of the most innovative and influential jazz piano players of the last four decades, has been a recurring luminary on the Telarc roster since the release of “McCoy Tyner and the Latin Jazz All-Stars” in 1999. Since that initial Telarc offering, he has recorded four additional sets on the prestigious label: “McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster” (2000), “Jazz Roots” (2000), “Land of Giants” (2003) and “Illuminations” (2004).

“Afro Blue” is a cross section of Tyner’s greatness captured in eight tracks culled from his Telarc catalog.

Source: Amazon.com

Anthony Armstrong | Lilly

Tags

African American, Art

Greeting’s to you my fellow jazz, and art aficionados. Wow, it’s still hard to grasp that October has fallen right into our arms once again! What a joy it is to wrap ourselves in the midst of this breathtaking fall season that awaits us. As always, I invite you to suggest any artist or recording you would love to share with the world.

Today, I’m honored to present you to a fabulous piece from the canvas of one of today’s most creative and talented artist Anthony Armstrong.

Anthony Armstrong | Lilly [Limited Edition/Giclee]

Anthony Armstrong, Lilly

Source: Grandpasart.com … you can also visit Armstrong’s web site. While you’re there be sure and check out his original pieces!

Freddie Hubbard | First Light

Tags

African American, Freddie Hubbard, Trumpet

Freddie Hubbard | First Light – [CTI Records, 1971]

Freddie Hubbard, First Light

A basic principle of marketing and advertising states that if you have a great product, chances are it’ll sell itself. This principle also applies to the world of jazz – and Freddie Hubbard exploits his product with such passion and zeal that the man needs nothing more than his trumpet and a group of skilled sidemen to offer a sound that could fill thousands of billboards.

When I first heard this album, it was not hard to displace the legendary Miles Davis and rank Freddie Hubbard as the greatest trumpet player in jazz.

The liner notes tell the rest of the story – about how, even in 1971, Hubbard was on the verge of nationally displacing Miles Davis as the #1 jazz trumpeter because Miles was venturing too deeply into the impressionistic virtuosities of jazz-rock fusion and was simply keeping afloat by reputation alone. But when it came to pure, unadulterated talent: Hubbard was the man who could play the trumpet like no one else. —Chris Speaks/Amazon(Excerpts from his review)

Source: Amazon.com

Yellowjackets | Greenhouse

Tags

Contemporary Jazz, Jazz

Yellowjackets | Greenhouse – [GRP, 1990] – Revisited

Yellowjackets, Greenhouse

As music lovers, there are moments through our journey we hear various style and compositional changes that simply don’t fit our perspective. While in transit, we find ourselves in somewhat of a dismal state about what our favorite recording artists are doing and why they didn’t stay on track with what we’re comfortable with. In this case, the esteemed Yellowjackets initially a fusion band early on engraved their signature on canvas with confidence holding their place well within the ranks of the best in the jazz-fusion genre. After three albums, the group decided to progress into a new direction contextually by adding a new member and saxophonist Marc Russo. Now, phase two of this journey for the Jackets begins to redefine their voice and compositional focus delivering exceptional recordings like “Shades, Four Corners, Politics, and The Spin.”

41st VOLL-DAMM BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

Tags

Bela Fleck, Brad Mehldau. Marcus Miller, Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Jazz

ANNOUNCES LINEUP

HEADLINERS TO INCLUDE WAYNE SHORTER QUARTET, CHICK COREA & GARY BURTON, BRAD MEHLDAU, MARCUS MILLER, BÉLA FLECK, AND KIND OF BLUE @ 50 – JIMMY COBB’S SO WHAT BAND

Festival to conclude with Chano Domínguez in NYC At Jazz Standard, December 3-6

Barcelona Jazz Festival - Photo Credit: Ricard Cugat

The 41st Voll-Damm Barcelona International Jazz Festival, featuring over 60 concerts at 13 venues, set for October 18-December 6, is pleased to announce its 2009 lineup including headline performances by Wayne Shorter Quartet, Chick Corea & Gary Burton, Joe Lovano Nonet, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, Brad Mehldau Trio, Bill Evans Soulgrass Band, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Allen Toussaint, and Cassandra Wilson.

“Barcelona is definitely one of the places around the world where jazz lives today” opined Joan Anton Cararach, artistic director of the Voll-Damm Barcelona International Jazz Festival, during a recent interview session with Larry Blumenfeld for Jazziz. With over 60 concerts and lectures scheduled over a month-and-a-half, including newly commissioned works and a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, it is easily discerned that Cararach speaks the truth – jazz lives in Barcelona and is reaching new and existing audiences alike.