… the weekend spin … with pianist John Beasley’s – Letter to Herbie

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Jazz, John Beasley, Piano

Greetings jazz enthusiasts, TGIF! I’m enthralled to showcase for the weekend one of the baddest pianist/keyboardist in the business, John Beasley! His 1992 Windham Hill Jazz debut “Cauldron” was my first serious encounter with Beasley’s music as a soloist. “Letter to Herbie,” is a brilliant tribute by Beasley to the legendary Herbie Hancock. If you love jazz piano, this homage to Hancock ranks well within the top as one of my favorites. —Rob Young

John Beasley - Letter to Herbie

John Beasley -][- Letter to Herbie – [Resonance Records, 2008]

Pianist, keyboard artist, arranger and composer, he is a third generation musician born in Louisiana. Long one of the “go to guys”, he has amassed an impressive array of credentials. “Beas” has recorded and/or performed with: Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Dianne Reeves, Lee Ritenour, Steely Dan, John Patitucci, James Brown and Hubert Laws. He recently toured with Queen Latifah as Music Director for her jazz tour.

The previous year he was MD for Pussycat Dolls Presents: The Search For the Next Doll (CW). For two years prior he was an Arranger/Associate MD for American Idol (Fox).

He has a long list of familiar TV and film credits. –BIO by Artist Rep | Amazon.com

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..

Matt Jorgensen -][- Tattooed by Passion [Origin Records]

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Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Guitar, Jazz, Matt Jorgensen, Music, Painting, Shopping

“Tattooed by Passion: Music inspired by the paintings of Dale Chisman”

“No one playing in this format—with the exception of perhaps Vijay Iyer—has crafted a more distinctive jazz identity. ” — All About Jazz

Matt Jorgensen - Tattooed by Passion (Origin Records, 2010)

Matt Jorgensen -][- Tattooed by Passion – [Origin Records, 2009]

Inspired by the paintings of his late father-in-law, the prominent abstract-impressionist artist Dale Chisman, drummer Matt Jorgensen has created a recording of all original works drawing influence directly from Chisman paintings, his home city of Denver, his life-long friends, and his constant reinvention as an artist.

To properly reflect the power and expanse of Chisman’s pieces, Jorgensen, along with his longtime collaborators – trumpeter Thomas Marriott and saxophonist Mark Taylor – expands his own palette from previous recordings, exploring broad new textures and musical landscapes aided by Corey Christiansen’s earthy guitar work, bassist Dave Captein, and orchestrations for string quartet.

..:: Source: Origin Records ::..