Thursday, December 24, 2015

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Kendrick Scott Oracle`s "We Are The Drum"

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Kendrick Scott Oracle`s "We Are The Drum":      If you are looking to give the gift of music for the Christmas season, I recommend Kendrick Scott Oracle`s "We Are The Drum",...

Kendrick Scott Oracle`s "We Are The Drum"

     If you are looking to give the gift of music for the Christmas season, I recommend Kendrick Scott Oracle`s "We Are The Drum", from Blue Note Records. This is a good CD. Superb performances are given by drummer and leader Kendrick Scott, saxophonist John Ellis, keyboardist Taylor Eigsti, Mike Moreno on guitar, Joe Sanders on bass, and vocalist Lizz Wright. This is not a show-offish recording (except for Kendrick Scott), but performances are strong.

     From Houston, TX, Kendrick Scott began playing drums in church. While in Houston, Scott was awarded the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship, given by the International Association For Jazz Education (IAJE). Kendrick Scott has gone on to receive other noteworthy awards. After graduating from high school, Kendrick Scott received a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where in 2002 he graduated.

     Scott has performed with Pat Methney, Joe Lovano, Kenny Garrett, Dianne Reeves, Terence Blanchard, and others. In 2006, Kendrick Scott`s debut recording "The Source" was the first for Scott`s group Oracle. "We Are The Drum"is Kendrick Scott Oracle debut recording with Blue Note Records.

     Comparisons are made to Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, and Tony Williams, but Kendrick Scott is his own musician. "We Are The Drum" will make a wonderful gift for jazz fans in your life, or if you are selfish, it will be a great addition to your musical library.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Star Spangled Banner, By Guns 'N Roses

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Star Spangled Banner, By Guns 'N Roses:      Saturday, November 28 football game between University of Southern California, and the University of California, Los Angeles, began wit...

Star Spangled Banner, By Guns 'N Roses

     Saturday, November 28 football game between University of Southern California, and the University of California, Los Angeles, began with the USC marching band performing "The Star Spangled Banner", with Slash from Guns 'N Roses on electric guitar. The audience applauded, and shortly after the game started.

     The Star Spangled Banner is a sacred song in American culture and life. After all, it is our country`s national anthem. I prefer hearing The Star Spangled Banner sung by a chorus in four part harmony. There are various ways to present The Star Spangled Banner, but it should always be presented in reverence and dignity.

     No, I cannot tell you I enjoyed The Star Spangled Banner performed by Slash, or for that matter by many other show-offish ways that popular entertainers sing and interpret The Star Spangled Banner. But I guess that`s the point. We are not all going to like and appreciate every rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, but we can respect the many voices, and the many ways those voices sing and interpret The Star Spangled Banner, without desecrating our national anthem.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: A Salute To Phil Woods

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: A Salute To Phil Woods:      On Monday, October 5, 2015, Paul Keller`s 15 piece orchestra is performing "A Farewell Tribute To Phil Woods". This tribute i...

A Salute To Phil Woods

     On Monday, October 5, 2015, Paul Keller`s 15 piece orchestra is performing "A Farewell Tribute To Phil Woods". This tribute is for a saxophone great who has contributed so much in the world of music, and will be truly missed in the jazz community.

     Those of us in jazz were sadden to hear the passing of alto saxophone great Phil Woods, who died on September 29, 2015, at age 83, in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, due to complications from emphysema. For more than 60 years Phil Woods performed in the jazz mainstream.

     Phil Woods gave his last performance on September 4, 2015, in Pittsburgh. In his performance with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Woods performed "Charlie Parker With Strings". A reporter with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Woods struggled with emphysema, and was retiring.

     Phil Woods began saxophone with encouragement from his mother upon the death of his father who left his saxophone for Phil. Phil Woods would go on to be influenced by alto saxophonist Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges, with Phil Woods biggest influence being Charlie Parker.

     More than 50 albums to his credit as a leader, Phil Woods has also performed with jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, and Clark Terry. Phil Woods has also won Grammy Awards, and voted top alto saxophonist nearly 30 times in Downbeat magazine`s readers` poll. In 2007, Phil Woods was named a National Endowment For The Arts Jazz Master.

     Join the Paul Keller Orchestra as he and his orchestra pay tribute to salute the late jazz great Phil Woods on Monday, October 5, 2015, at Zal Gaz Grotto, 2070 West Stadium Boulevard, in Ann Arbor, MI. Paul Keller and his orchestra will also be joined by alto saxophonist Doug Horn to celebrate a jazz great.

Monday, September 14, 2015