Jazz
Leland Whitty of BADBADNOTGOOD Announces Solo Album Anyhow, Shares “Awake”: Stream
BADBADNOTGOOD multi-instrumentalist Leland Whitty has announced his debut solo album, Anyhow, along with its lead single “Awake” and the project’s release date on December 9th. The album consists of seven tracks written, arranged, and performed by Whitty, with his older brother Lowell on drums for nearly every track, and additional instrumentation from BADBADNOTGOOD’s Chester Hansen and Alex Sowinski, as well as the band’s former keyboardist Matthew Tavares. Though he’s no stranger to juggling multiple roles as the Canadian jazz group’s trusted guitarist-saxophonist, Whitty expands his repertoire with synthesizers, woodwinds, and strings for his solo set. “Awake” serves a bit of everything as sweeping strings mingle with chunky keys and a pummeling drum beat. The instrumental track’s produ...
Christian McBride & Inside Straight Win Big at Inaugural Jazz Music Awards: Full List
Christian McBride & Inside Straight were the top winners at the inaugural Jazz Music Awards, which were held on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta. McBride & Inside Straight received two of the eight competitive awards — best mainstream artist and best duo, group or big band. McBride, 50, an eight-time Grammy winner, was on the road in Europe and unable to attend the event. The show, dubbed Celebrating the Spirit of Jazz, was co-hosted by Dee Dee Bridgewater and actor Delroy Lindo. Terri Lyne Carrington was the show’s musical director and co-executive producer. A mid-show medley of “songs of social justice” featured Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jazzmeia Horn, and Ledisi. Reeves opened the segment with her 1994 composition, “E...
Music of ‘Elden Ring’ Video Game Will Come to Life for Jazz Livestream Event
Elden Ring fans, listen up! Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. revealed to Billboard on Monday (Oct. 17) that a special jazz music streaming event celebrating the game is coming this winter. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Elden Ring: A Night in the Lands Between show will broadcast live from Hollywood’s Bourbon Room and feature musicians Kenny Garrett and Takuya Kuroda. Viewers will enjoy melodies from the fantasy action game’s soundtrack in live jazz format by a group of musicians led by the Grammy-winning Garrett on alto sax and Japanese arranger Kuroda on trumpet. “If I can pick one word to describe this project, it’s epic,” Kuroda said in a press statement. “I think that’s really the important part, it’s just the experienc...
Robert Glasper’s New Song “Therapy pt. 2” Features a Freewheeling Mac Miller: Stream
Robert Glasper has shared a new song called “Therapy pt. 2” featuring the late Mac Miller. It’s the first single from the “Supreme Edition” of the pianist’s album Black Radio III, which is out this Friday, October 14th, via Loma Vista Recordings. “Therapy pt. 2” finds Miller at his most carefree, as he spits freewheeling rhymes over Glasper’s keys. “I’m a, alien communicator, fuckin’ up the human nature,” he raps. “Projectile vomit on a song, the fluid nasty, uh/ I just got the iPhone 6/ It looks like Steve Jobs done ran out of tricks.” In a statement, Glasper explained how the song was made. “I was working with my friend. We were just finishing up this specific beat,” he said. “I immediately sent it to him, and literally within an hour he sent me back that track. Everything was on there —...
Pharoah Sanders, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist, Dies at 81
Pharoah Sanders, the legendary tenor saxophonist who performed alongside John Coltrane in the mid-1960s, has died. He was 81. Sanders’ passing was announced on Saturday (Sept. 24) by his record label Luaka Bop, which released the influential jazz musician’s 2021 album, Promises, a collaboration with Floating Points and the London Symphony Orchestra. A cause of death was not provided. “We are devastated to share that Pharoah Sanders has passed away,” Luaka Bop wrote on Twitter. “He died peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends in Los Angeles earlier this morning. Always and forever the most beautiful human being, may he rest in peace.” Born in Little Rock, Ark., on Oct. 13, 1940, Sanders — whose real name was Ferrell Sanders — moved to the Bay Area in the late 1950s before relocat...
R.I.P. Pharoah Sanders, Pioneering Jazz Saxophonist Dead at 81
Pharoah Sanders, the saxophonist who played with John Coltrane and helped pioneer the spiritual jazz movement, has died at age 81. The label Luaka Bop announced his death, saying in a statement, “He died peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends in Los Angeles earlier this morning. Always and forever the most beautiful human being, may he rest in peace.” Farrell Sanders was born on October 13th, 1940 in Little Rock, Arkansas. His first instrument was clarinet, but he began playing the tenor saxophone in high school, and even led his school’s band when they were in between directors. After moving to Oakland, he met John Coltrane, and began playing in his band in New York City in 1965. He played on a dozen Coltrane albums in the 1960s. Around the same time, Sanders met Sun Ra, who n...
Jack Kerouac’s Musical Side Celebrated on His Centennial With Help From His Friend, 91-Year-Old Pioneer David Amram
A Friday (Sept. 16) concert at Joe’s Pub in Manhattan was centered around 100 years of Beat Generation writer/poet Jack Kerouac, but the more mind-boggling number at hand that night was 65; it had been that many years since one of the night’s performers, David Amram, pioneered improvisational jazz poetry at an art gallery just blocks away back in 1957 alongside the On the Road author. And even though more years have passed in the interim than Kerouac spent on earth, the 91-year-old Amram remains agile on everything from the piano to the pan flute while effortlessly scatting out witty bon mots at the drop of a hat. Alongside Latin jazz maestro Bobby Sanabria, Amram was toasting the legacy of his late friend and collaborator as part of The Village Trip, an annual festival celebrating the ric...
Jazz Legend & Hip-Hop Influencer Ramsey Lewis Dies At 87
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Clayton Call / Getty Ramsey Lewis, the pianist whose recordings made him a legend in the world of jazz and a wellspring of inspiration for Hip-Hop artists, has passed away at the age of 87. According to reports, Lewis passed away peacefully on Monday (Sept. 12) at his home in his native city of Chicago, Illinois. “Ramsey’s passion for music was truly fueled by the love and dedication of his fans across the globe,” his wife Janet Lewis said in a statement posted shortly afterward on social media. “He loved touring and meeting music lovers from so many cultures and walks of life. It was our family’s great pleasure to share Ramsey in this special way with all those who admired his God-given talents. We are forever grateful for your support.” The family asked...
Laufey Breaks Down Debut Album Everything I Know About Love Track by Track: Exclusive
Singer, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Laufey (pronounced Lay-Vay) has introduced a new generation to the world of classic jazz through her intimate songwriting. Today (August 26th), the LA-based artist shares her debut album, Everything I Know About Love. Laufey, who is known to draw from her classically trained background, weaves pieces of Tchaikovsky and Bach throughout the record, creating a captivating symphony for the modern age. Everything I Know About Love — which follows her 2021 EP Typical of Me — explores Laufey’s story of falling in love with a new city and letting go of the old faces of a past life. The contemporary jazz artist navigates her recent move to Los Angeles and the start of a new chapter, but doesn’t shy away from the challenges that come with moving ...
Dr. John’s Posthumous Album Gets Title, Release Date
When he died of a heart attack in 2019, New Orleans music legend Dr. John was in the midst of working on an album. Now three years after his passing, that LP has finally been given a title and posthumous release date: Things Happen That Way is due out on September 23rd via Rounder Records. At 10 tracks long, Things Happen That Way is composed of some of the final tracks Dr. John — real name Mac Rebennack — ever wrote, as well as a slew of covers by some of his most admired forebears. Encapsulating his musical journey through New Orleans funk, boogie woogie, jazz, psychedelic, and pop standard, the record was co-produced by Dr. John and guitarist Shane Theriot, and cut in Dr. John’s native New Orleans throughout 2018. Dr. John’s daughter Karla R. Pratt also serves as executive pro...
Thundercat Announces 2022 Headlining Tour Dates
Thundercat has announced a number of new headlining tour dates to go along with his upcoming stint opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers. Between July and September, the funk maestro will play shows in cities like Las Vegas, Vancouver, Milwaukee, Richmond, New Orleans, and Houston. Check out the tour’s full schedule below. Tickets for the newly announced dates go on sale Friday, May 6th at 10:00 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. A Live Nation pre-sale will proceed the public on-sale on May 5th (use code FINALE). Advertisement Related Video The upcoming dates come in support of Thundercat’s latest album, 2020’s It Is What It Is. Thundercat 2022 Tour Dates:05/16 – Tokyo, JP @ Ebisu Garden Hall05/17 – Osaka, JP @ Big Cat05/18 – Nagoya, JP @ Club Quattro06/04 – Seville, ES @ Estadio Olimpico de la...
International Jazz Day 2022 Reveals Location & Lineup for All-Star Global Concert
More than 180 countries are set to participate in International Jazz Day 2022 with the help of the United Nations, organizers announced on Friday (April 22). The annual celebration will be capped once again by an All-Star Global Concert whose lineup this year includes such genre luminaries as Marcus Miller, Gregory Porter, David Sanborn, Ravi Coltrane, Terri Lyne Carrington, Shemekia Copeland and Lizz Wright. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The flagship event — helmed by host/artistic director Herbie Hancock and musical director John Beasley — will take place at the United Nations headquarters in New York on April 30. In addition, it will be webcast worldwide at 5 p.m. ET on jazzday.com, unesco.org, hancockinstitute.org, the International Jazz ...
