Tag: piano

Aaron Diehl – Space Time Continuum

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Aaron Diehl Joins Generations on Space Time Continuum

 

Aaron DiehlWhen I first started to listen to jazz it was mostly the guitar of Wes Montgomery and the Hammond B3 of Jimmy Smith, but through the years I started adding other artists. Pianist like Thelonious Monk and Oscar Peterson were added to my music library, along with Miles, Gary Burton and Milt Jackson. One night a few years ago I put on The Bespoke Man’s Narrative from Aaron Diehl, while I was reading. After a few minutes I stopped reading and listened to some unbelievable piano! Along with Diehl’s piano on that album I also loved the vibraphone of Warren Wolf on the album. Anyway, a few weeks ago Diehl’s new album Space,Time, Continuum joined my music rotation and it’s another outstanding outing from a great pianist. What surprised me was the presence of some fine saxophone and trumpet, which I hadn’t heard on Diehl’s previous albums.

After listening to the album a few times I went to Aaron Diehl’s website where I learned that the saxophones that I heard belonged to a couple of jazz icons in their 80’s, 86-year-old tenor saxophonist Benny Golson and 85-year-old baritone saxophonist Joe Temperley. The trumpet that I heard belongs to an up and coming trumpeter Bruce Harris.

I also discovered that, Aaron Diehl says that the reason he chose to collaborate with Golson and Temperley was all about paying tribute to jazz’s history and two of the genre’s legends. The joining of the old guard with the new fits the theme of Space, Time, Continuum. In an interview Mr. Diehl said

“A lot of times we look at jazz in eras,” “How can we not keep those eras separate and think of the language as one complete continuum? It’s all interrelated and it’s all evolutionary.”

Aaron Diehl and Benny Golson’s paths have crossed previously. First in 2006 when Golson was asked by Julliard, to compose a piece for its centennial celebration. Mr. Diehl was the pianist and impressed Mr Golson. A couple of years later, Mr. Golson was appearing in Columbus, Ohio and found that Mr. Diehl also was on the bill. Mr. Golson says this about the music of Aaron Diehl

“When I think about Aaron, I think about surprises,” “He’s not dealing with musical arithmetic, he’s dealing with feelings and emotions, things that will move people emotionally, mentally and physically, make the head bob and the foot pat.”

While Aaron Diehl pays homage to jazz’s history on Space Time Continuum through his collaboration with Golson and Temperley, he modern jazz artists also appear on the album in a rhythm section composed of drummer Quincy Davis and bassist David Wong and another saxophonist Stephen Riley.

Joe Temperley’s baritone saxophone is featured on the track “The Steadfast Titan”, while “Flux Capacitor”, a salute to the Back to the Future film trilogy features Stephen Riley. Both are great tracks!

My favorite track is the 13 minute-long “Organic Consequence”. The piece an Aaron Diehl original was composed for Yale University’s Environmental Film Festival Benny Golson’s tenor sax stands out on the track along with Bruce Harris’ trumpet.

Two of my other favorites “Uranus” and “Broadway Boogie Woogie” feature Aaron Diehl at his rollicking best!! Then there’s “Kat’s Dance” oh, hell there I go again, all the tracks are great in their own way!

Bottom Line: Aaron Diehl’s Space Time Continuum is an outstanding addition to any jazz fan’s musical library. It combines the past with the future and isn’t that what jazz is all about!! The album just has great performances from a variety of jazz legends and legends to be!! Check it Out!! Rating:*****

Links for Further Explorations of the Music of Aaron Diehl and Space Time Continuum.

Artist’s Website
Facebook
Twitter
Walll Street Journal:Aaron Diehl, a Piano Prodigy, Taps Jazz Legends
AXS:Aaron Diehl releases ‘Space Time Continuum’ on Mack Avenue Records

Here’s the Aaron Diehl Quartet performing “Bag’s Groove” featuring Warren Wolf on vibes!

 

Exploring the Music of Jazz Pianist McCoy Tyner

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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.

Here’s some  background about McCoy from Wikipedia:

Alfred McCoy Tyner  was born on December 11, 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, He wad the oldest of three children and  encouraged to study piano by his mother.  On his website Tyner writes that he was given the choice y his mother to take singing or piano lessons and he was glad that he chose the piano!! Read More

The only McCoy Tyner album I have in my library is a cassette of his 1968 release Expansions. At AllMusic Scott Yanow writes about Expansions...

Of pianist McCoy Tyner’s seven Blue Note albums of the 1967-1970 period, Expansions is the most definitive. Tyner’s group (comprised of trumpeter Woody Shaw, altoist Gary Bartz, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter on cello, bassist Herbie Lewis, and drummer Freddie Waits) is particularly strong, the compositions (four Tyner originals plus Calvin Massey’s “I Thought I’d Let You Know”) are challenging, and the musicians seem quite inspired by each other’s presence. The stimulating music falls between advanced hard bop and the avant-garde, pushing and pulling at the boundaries of modern mainstream jazz. More

Though I only have one McCoy Tyner album, I have heard his jazz piano through the years, particularly on the Coltrane albums that he played on.  Tyner joined Coltrane’s group in 1960. From Wikipedia:

He appeared on the saxophonist’s popular recording of “My Favorite Things” for Atlantic Records. The Coltrane Quartet, which consisted of Coltrane on tenor sax, Tyner, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums, toured almost non-stop between 1961 and 1965 and recorded a number of classic albums, including Live at the Village Vanguard, Ballads, Live at Birdland, Crescent, A Love Supreme, and The John Coltrane Quartet Plays …, on the Impulse! label.

Tyner’s albums after leaving Coltrane’s group, are according to Wikipedia:

…often cited as examples of vital, innovative jazz from the 1970s that was neither fusion nor free jazz.Trident (1975) is notable for featuring Tyner on harpsichord (rarely heard in jazz) and celeste, in addition to his primary instrument, piano.

Tyner’s jazz piano style according to Wikipedia is…..

easily comparable to Coltrane’s maximalist style of saxophone.[1] Though a member of Coltrane’s group, he was never overshadowed by the saxophonist, but complemented and even inspired Coltrane’s open-minded approach.[1] Tyner is considered to be one of the most influential jazz pianists of the 20th century, an honor he earned both with Coltrane and in his years of performing following Coltrane’s death


Link for the Music of Jazz Pianist McCoy Tyner

Wikipedia: McCoy Tyner
AllMusic: Biography
 Discography
Facebook: McCoy Tyner
All About Jazz:McCoy Tyner

So let’s wish McCoy a Happy Birthday and watch McCoy and John Coltrane’s son Ravi as they perform “Walk spirit talk spirit” at Jazz à Vienne in 2012.

“Into the Morning” with Kenny Barron and Dave Holland Part 1 – “Billie’s Bounce”

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Kenny Barron Dave Holland

So over the last few days, I have listened to the new album from Kenny Barron and Dave Holland The Art of Conversation and I will try to write about it tomorrow. But for now let’s go “into the morning” with a video of Kenny and Dave performing “Billie’s Bounce” and for folks like me, here’s a little about the song… from Wikipedia…

“Billie’s Bounce” (also known as “Bill’s Bounce”) is a jazz composition written in 1945 by Charlie Parker in the form of a 12 bar F blues. It was dedicated to Billy Shaw by the Yardbird. The original recording by Charlie Parker and His Re-Boppers was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.[1] Copyright 1945 by Atlantic Music Corp. Copyright renewed and assigned 1973 to Atlantic Music Corp.

The players on the original 1945 recording

Charlie Parker – Eb alto saxophone
Miles Davis – Bb trumpet
Dizzy Gillespie – piano (Gillespie also plays trumpet in other recordings from the same session)
Curley Russell – bass
Max Roach – drums

Read More

Enjoy!!

From the Archives – A Morning of Jazz – Wes Montgomery and Wynton Kelly – Smokin’ at the Blue Note!

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Smokin' at the Half Note

Last night when I was sifting through my vinyl collection I came across the Wes Montgomery album Willow Weep For Me, Finding that album reminded me of this post I had written a while ago. I read the liner notes for the album which has always been a favorite and discovered that in the summer of 1968 Verve Records discovered previously unreleased tracks and the seven that are included on Willow Weep for Me were recorded at the same booking at The Half Note in Greenwich Village! In the notes Richard Lamb writes:

The Half Note is one of the last remaining landmarks of a legendary era. A real “jazz joint” a room where come to hear jazz and actually listened.

For a buck, you can have a beer at the bar while you listen to Zoot and Al. Gary McFarland is probably sitting on the next stool with Blossom and Mingus and maybe even Mathis scattered at the tables.On any evening several “names” will stop by…..

The point is , when Wes and Wynton sat down and dug in, they knew they were playing for their people. And they played -perhaps heavier than you ever heard them

Which is probably why these two albums are so great. Here is my original post about the album…..

So this morning was as jazzy kind of morning as I was out and about doing some errands I had Smokin’ at the Half Note by Wes Montgomery and Wynton Kelly playing on the iPod! The album was recorded live in late June 1965 at the Half Note Club in New York City, and September 22, 1965 at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and released by Verve.

The album features Montgomery teamed with the Wynton Kelly Trio. The Wynton Kelly Trio is basically Kelly with bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Cobb and bassist Paul Chambers had already appeared on other Montgomery albums for Riverside Records such as Bags Meets Wes and Full House.. Both of those great albums are in my collection. Kelly had worked with Montgomery previously but in 1965, he began his association with the Wynton Kelly Trio in the summer of 1965. Together they toured the major jazz clubs in the US and also appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival on the afternoon of Sunday, 4 July. Kelly also appears with Montgomery on the album Willow Weep For Me another favorite album of mine and the track “Four on Six” is included on both albums!

The opening thirteen minute track “No Blues,” is phenomenal as both Montgomery and Kelly soar. The track was a cornerstone of the Miles Davis Quintet with Hank Mobley, circa 1961. The other four tracks on the album are just as good. “Unit 7” and “Four on Six” have become jazz standards based on their recording on this album!

The great Pat Metheny has said, “I learned to play listening to Wes Montgomery’s Smokin’ at The Half Note.” In addition, Metheny stated to the New York Times in 2005 that the solo on “If You Could See Me Now,” from this album is his favorite of all time.

Allmusic jazz critic Jim Smith called the album “essential listening for anyone who wants to hear why Montgomery’s dynamic live shows were considered the pinnacle of his brilliant and incredibly influential guitar playing.” and wrote that “Montgomery never played with more drive and confidence, and he’s supported every step of the way by a genuinely smokin’ Wynton Kelly Trio.”

Finally Stuart Nicholson of Jazz Institute of Chicago can tell you more of the details about the album than I ever could. I know is that I love what I hear and this album will be played whenever I need to hear a little great guitar and piano!

Here’s Wes with “Round Midnight”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOm17yw__6U&w=480&h=390]

This Day in Music – May 20, 1975 – Tunisian Jazz Pianist Wajdi Cherif was born. Happy Belated Birthday, Wajdi!

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Wajdi cherifSo May 20th was a holiday in several nations including, Cambodia, East Timor and Cameroon. It was also the birthday of a Tunisian jazz piano player, Wajdi Cherif!! Knowing nothing about his music, other than that he played piano, I went to Spotify and listened to his 2009 release Fuzzy Colours and I didn’t have to listen long to become intrigued by and enjoy his music. Returning to All About Jazz, I discovered that at five years of age Wajdi was learning to play tunes he heard on the radio in his homeland of Tunisia on his little piano. Wajdi never lost his love for music and along his life’s journey, he earned his BA in English Literature, but more importantly he discovered jazz!! At the American cultural center in Tunis, he watched live performance videos of pianists Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans. He soon decided to make jazz music his career, and set out exploring it on his own. He made his professional debut in 1998. In 2003, he released his first album Phrygian Istikhbar in Paris. Accompanying Wajdi on the album were Diego Imbert on acoustic bass, Jeff Boudreau on drums and Habib Samandi on Arabic percussion. The album went on to become a finalist in the Indie Acoustic Awards in the USA in 2004!! From All About Jazz:

Three years later, Wajdi Cherif recorded his second album entitled Jasmine with some of the finest young French jazz musicians, released in 2006 in France. “Jasmine” shows the maturity and excellent artistic standard that pianist and composer Wajdi Cherif has accomplished so far (Honorable Mention in the International Songwriting Competition (Judges included Sonny Rollins ,John Scofield, Steve Vai…), Indie Acoustic Project winner Best CD of 2005, UNISONG songwriting Contest 1st place winner…).

Wajdi’s music has been described as…..

… a fusion of the modern jazz piano styles ranging from Thelonious MONK to Keith JARRET and Chick COREA, but at the same time with the influence of the colorful melodies of Arabic music that he was exposed to since his early childhood. All this resulted in the creation of a brand new jazz sound, a symbiosis of jazz and Arabic sounds. Read More

Not surprising, since it was watching performances of Monk and Corea that set him on the path to a career in jazz. I Fuzzy Coloursstarted this post saying that I listened to his 2009 release Fuzzy Colours, which I really enjoyed, From what I’ve read and from quick listens to his first two albums it seems that Middle Eastern influences are less prominent on this album than his earlier albums, particularly his first. From The Voice Magazine….

The Arabic influence and instrumentation is a little more salient on Jasmine than on Fuzzy Colours, with the oud and the percussion instruments granting a delicious texture to the improvisations, but in Fuzzy Colours (which also incorporates Latin sounds) Cherif has incorporated Arabic modes into his compositions and has revived, as is the wont of many Maghreb and Maghreb-influenced players, tunes penned eons ago by jazz greats like Gillespie (“A Night in Tunisia”), Juan Tizol (“Caravan”), and Miles Davis (“Nardis”), highlighting his awareness of the natural understanding that Arabic music shares with jazz. Fuzzy Colours has brought remarkably lively interpretations to these standards and Cherif’s own compositions have beautiful melody lines and an innovative élan while sitting squarely within the jazz tradition. Read More

So Happy Belated Birthday Wajdi!! And check out this fine pianist and composer and his latest album – Fuzzy Colours  Here is a performance by  the Wajdi  Cherif Electric Quartet  with  Manu Codjia sitting in on guitar…….

Links
All About Jazz
CDBaby
The Voice Magazine

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No Herbie Hancock – What was I thinking?? Happy Belated Birthday – Herbie!!

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Herbie HancockSo last Saturday April 12th Herbie Hancock celebrated his 74th birthday, when I read that it was his birthday I started to think about his status in the jazz community and I asked myself – why haven’t you listened to more of his music through the years?? I think I’ve asked that question a dozen time, don’t you think?? And as usual my first response was – “Beats Me” But as I thought about it the only explanation that I can come up with is that when the roots of my music listening were being planted (1970 – 1975) Herbie was making some pretty avant-garde music in those years and since I really wasn’t that into that type of music, I never listened to Herbie – hum – but you did listen to Bitches Brew?? I think that the most likely scenario was that I heard something of his, didn’t really like it that much and from there figured I didn’t like his music, and so I never sought it out!  Now as I read this jazz icons biography and realize that he is not only a great jazz musician but also just a flat-out great person – I think I have missed out on a lot over the years!

Empyrean IslesSo one of the first things that I did as I set out to explore Herbie’s music was to go to AllMusic and check out the editor’s picks. The first editor’s pick that caught my eye was Herbie’s 1965 release Maiden Voyage it has a five-star rating as does the album that was released the year earlier, Empyrean Isles. So these two albums went on the iPhone and after listening to them I have confirmed that I made a mistake! On both albums Hancock’s band featuring two of his fellow alums from Miles Davis’ Second Quintet – bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams along with the trumpet of Freddie Hubbard is outstanding – from Allmusic:

 

…On Empyrean Isles, he returns to hard bop, but the results are anything but conventional. Working with cornetist Freddie Hubbard, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams — a trio just as young and adventurous as he was — Hancock pushes at the borders of hard bop, finding a brilliantly evocative balance between traditional bop, soul-injected grooves, and experimental, post-modal jazz -Stephen Thomas Erlewine  Read More

and about Maiden Voyage I readMaiden Voyage

Less overtly adventurous than its predecessor, Empyrean Isles, Maiden Voyage nevertheless finds Herbie Hancock at a creative peak. In fact, it’s arguably his finest record of the ’60s, reaching a perfect balance between accessible, lyrical jazz and chance-taking hard bop.-Stephen Thomas Erlewine Read More

After listening to both albums I think that I slightly prefer Empyrean Isles but it’s a toss-up Now this morning I did listen briefly to Herbie’s debut album Takin’ Off and I liked it, too.

Now before I wrote that he also is a great person, in reading his biography I discovered that he is a devout Buddhist about which Herbie says…

“Practicing Buddhism has brought several revelations to me. One that has been extremely important to my own personal development and consequently my musical development — is the realization that I am not a musician. That’s not what I am. It’s what I do. What I am is a human being. Being a human being includes me being a musician. It includes my being a father, a husband, a neighbor, a citizen and an African-American. All of these relationships have to do with my existence on the planet. “

He is a family man and has been married to Gigi since 1968 and is the proud father of one daughter Jessica. His philanthropic endeavors includes but is not limited to…

Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
International Committee of Artists for Peace (ICAP)
Daniel Pearl World Music Days Foundation
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Rhythm of Life Organization (ROLO)
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

You can read more about these organizations here!

So in closing let’s wish Herbie a belated “Happy Birthday, and I will apologize for not searching out his music, but now that I’ve found it I once again have a lot of catching up to do!! So let’s go “into the night” with “One Finger Snap” from Empyrean Isles

Links

Website
Wikipedia
AllMusic
Facebook

Morning Music from Soprano Saxophonist – Jane Ira Bloom – Sixteen Sunsets….

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Yesterday, I spent some time listening to the latest release from soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom Sixteen Sunsets and after the first fewJane Ira Bloom of tracks I knew that I was listening to a VERY special jazz musician. From her webpage biography….

Soprano saxophonist/composer Jane Ira Bloom has been steadfastly developing her unique voice on the soprano saxophone for over 30 years. She is a pioneer in the use of live electronics and movement in jazz, as well as the possessor of “one of the most gorgeous tones and hauntingly lyrical ballad conceptions of any soprano saxophonist – Pulse.”

Her continuing commitment to “pushing the envelope” in her music has led to collaborations with such outstanding jazz artists as Kenny Wheeler, Charlie Haden, Ed Blackwell, Rufus Reid, Matt Wilson, Bob Brookmeyer, Julian Priester, Jerry Granelli, Matt Wilson, Jay Clayton, Mark Dresser, Bobby Previte, & Fred Hersch Continue ReadingSixteen Sunstes

I know Jane’s music may not be the best music for getting you started in the morning, but let’s say we sit back, with our morning coffee, as we surf the Internet, and listen, first to Jane discuss the making of Sixteen Sunsets followed by the opening track from that album. Maybe I’ll listen while doing a few sun salutations – Have a Good Morning!!

 

Today in Music – The Safari wishes a Happy 30th Birthday to Polish jazz pianist – Pawel Kaczmarczyk!

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Today Polish jazz pianist, Pawel Kaczmarczyk celebrates his 30 birthday. Pawel was born in Krakow of Feb 8, 1984. By the time he was in high school Pawel and his band, began to participate in jazz festivals, winning first prizes and awards and he hasn’t stopped since!

In 2001 he founded the KBD trio with Michael Barański and Paul Dobrowolski. Were inspired music in the style of Bill Evans , Herbie Hancock andWayne Shorter . A year later, the trio took first place at the 26th International Competition for Young and Debuting Jazz “Jazz Juniors”, and he was recognized as the best instrumentalist of the competition. Trio won the Grand Prix at the 40th Wroclaw Jazz Festival Jazz on the Oder in the same year. 

Pawel has become one of the most renowned pianists of the younger generation od European jazz artists.and is known for  his virtuosity, creativity and extremely mature technique. Here’s a partial list of the awards that he has garnered…

  • 2002 – 1st place at the 26th “Jazz Juniors” International Competition for Young and Debuting Jazz Groups (with Kaczmarczyk/Jaros/Dobrowolski Trio)
  • 2002 –  the title of Best Instrumentalist at Poland’s Jazz Juniors competition
  • 2004 – Grand Prix at the 40th “Jazz on the Oder” Jazz Festival in Wroclaw (with KBD Trio)
  • 2004 – several medals at the “Kultursalen Horbiger” competition in Vienna (with Kaczmarczyk/Nowicki/Traczyk/Dobrowolski Quartet)
  • 2004 – “Key to a Career” prize at the “Pomeranian Jazz Autumn” festival
  • 2006 – 1st place at the “JUNIOR JAZZ 2006” International Competition for Jazz Groups in Usti nad Labem (Czech Republic)
  • Album of The Year (2007) in Jazz Forum Magazine’s “Jazz Top” readers’ poll (for “Audiofeeling”)
  • Fryderyk (Nomination) (2008) (for “The Songs From A New Place” by Rafal Sarnecki)
  • Pianist of The Year (2009) in Jazz Forum Magazine’s “Jazz Top” readers’ poll
  • Album of The Year (2009) in Jazz Forum Magazine’s “Jazz Top” readers’ poll (for “Complexity in Simplicity”)
  • “Melomani” Jazz Society’s Jazz Oscars Grand Prix in the Artist of The Year 2009 category
  • “Melomani” Jazz Society’s Jazz Oscars Grand Prix in the Album of The Year 2009 category (for “Complexity in Simplicity”)
  • Fryderyk (Nomination) – the Jazz Musician of the Year 2009

 

I am still working my way through the 2009 release from Pawel Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band Simplicity in Complexity and it is really good!! The Chicago Tribune writes….

To hear Kaczmarczyk dig deeply into the keys is to understand what full-bodied, wholly committed jazz pianism is all about

Here’s the playing “Get More Chicks” at the Garana Jazz Festival So Happy Birthday, Pawel!! Check out his music at….

Pawel’s Website: http://www.pawelkaczmarczyk.com/en#/news/index
Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/dilberg1?feature=watch
Wikipedia: http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paweł_Kaczmarczyk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paweł-Kaczmarczyk-Audiofeeling-Band/10150151196775217

 

The Safari – meets Philadelphian, Chicagoan, New Yorker, pianist, organist Ben Paterson!!

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So on Sunday while I was exploring the music and legacy of Lester Young, I also listened to the music of a new musician, Ben Paterson. His Trio’s new album Essential Elements is currently,number 4 on the Roots Music Reports Jazz Chart. On Sunday I put the album on while I was reading and I really didn’t notice the album as the first two songs went by, but then the songs and Paterson’s piano playing got stronger and stronger and by the end of the album I was a fan! I listened to the album again tonight and was more impressed the second time around! Now I’m listening to his second release Blues for Oscar, which is pretty good, too. Now, I only have to go and listen to his first album Breathing Spaces! From his biography at his website:

Originally from Philadelphia, Ben spent his younger years studying both classical and jazz music before moving to the great city of Chicago. There he spent years performing and working with the best musicians in town, absorbing the unique blend of Jazz and Blues that can only be found in the Windy City. Now, moving to New York, Ben is poised to bring his unique talents and style to a wider audience, combining hard-swinging grooves and melodic improvisation with an impeccable touch.Full biography

On Essential Elements Paterson covers songs from Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Keith Jarrett and Ray Charles and others, in addition to five original compositions. As I listen I think I like some of the originals the best, particularly “Around the Block”. Joining Paterson on the album are two Paterson’s favorite Chicago-based musicians: Josh Ramos on bass, and Jon Deitemyer on drums.

Here’s what some others are saying about Ben Patersn’s music…..

“On first listen, you can hear why so many people on the Chicago jazz scene are singing Paterson’s praises. His playing is always where it needs to be: one minute sensitive and relaxed, at another moment, explosive and muscular, and always musical.”
–Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz Magazine

“An inspired repertoire… some creative arrangements and reworkings… the first-rate musicianship and the joyful spirit are other reasons why Breathing Space is heartily recommended to fans of piano trios.”
–Scott Yanow, All Music Guide (4 out of 5 stars)

“…a monster on the Hammond B3.”
–Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

I particularly like that last quote!  From his website…

….Ben’s own organ group blends hard swinging jazz chops with blues and funk influences, creating a sound that is hard not to like, and impossible to ignore.  This group recently performed at the 2013 Chicago Jazz Fest, receiving a standing ovation,

….Also keep an eye out for his debut Organ record scheduled for release in Summer of 2014.

I think I will keep an eye out for that album….. But for now let’s go “into the night”with  “On the Move”  from Ben’s album Blues for Oscar……

This Day in Music – Jan 10, 1978 – Happy Birthday, Jazz Pianist Kekko Fornarelli!!

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So on this date in 1978….I was married for three years and was a year  away from the start of several turbulent years, and jazz pianist Kekko Fornarelli was born……from Wikipedia:

Kekko Fornarelli is a pianist and a composer. He was born in Bari, Italy in 1978. He began learning classical piano at the age of three, first through private tuition and later at the Conservatorio Piccinni in Bari.

Fornarelli’s interest in jazz music began at the age of 18. From there on, he has immersed himself in jazz, which has led him to travel worldwide.

He has recorded three albums, Circular Thought in 2005, A French Man in New York (2008), inspired by French pianist Michel Petrucciani in the three years he spent in France.
Room of mirrors was released in 2011 by Auand sound. Alison Bentley writes “I can’t stop listening to the CD: a fusion of Romantic classical music, modern jazz and 21st century dance rhythms, played with Italian brio from the heart.”[1]

and at All About Jazz I read

Kekko Fornarelli is one of the most widely appreciated young pianists internationally. His unique ways of balancing an endless research with universal usability, and his ability to draw the profanes up to that foreign thing called jazz makes him one of the most eclectic and pervasive artists in the current international music scene. His unique style is characterized by its attempt to create music to observe, more than just to listen to. A way to tell stories, emotions and situations……

Then I went to YouTube to check out Kekko’s music and watched and listened to the following……. 

After that I traveled to his website and saw that he is at work on his fourth album and like many artist he is fund-raising to pay for the album. You can visit his page here.

So after reading and listening,I’d like to wish Kekko a Happy Birthday and I am putting Room of Mirrors on the iPhone for some listening tonight. Why don’t you join me and then let me know what you think???