Thursday, November 28, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Chico Hamilton, Drummer, Bandleader And Exponent of Cool Jazz, Dies at 92 #jazz
By PETER KEEPNEWS NY Times
Chico Hamilton, a drummer
and bandleader who helped put California on the modern-jazz map in the
1950s and remained active into the 21st century, died on Monday in
Manhattan. He was 92.
His death was announced by April Thibeault, his publicist.
Never among the flashiest or most muscular of jazz drummers, Mr.
Hamilton had a subtle and melodic approach that made him ideally suited
for the understated style that came to be known as cool jazz, of which
his hometown, Los Angeles, was the epicenter.
He was a charter member of the baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan’s
quartet, which helped lay the groundwork for the cool movement. His own
quintet, which he formed shortly after leaving the Mulligan group, came
to be regarded as the quintessence of cool. With its quiet intensity,
its intricate arrangements and its uniquely pastel instrumentation of
flute, guitar, cello, bass and drums — the flutist, Buddy Collette, also
played alto saxophone — the Chico Hamilton Quintet became one of the most popular groups in jazz. (The cellist in that group, Fred Katz, died in September.)
The group was a mainstay of the nightclub and jazz festival circuit and
even appeared in movies. It was prominently featured in the 1957 film “Sweet Smell of Success,”
with Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis. (One character in that movie, a
guitarist played by Martin Milner, was a member of the Hamilton group on
screen, miming to the playing of the quintet’s real guitarist, John
Pisano.) And it was seen in “Jazz on a Summer’s Day,” Bert Stern’s acclaimed documentary about the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival.
Cool jazz had fallen out of favor by the mid-1960s, but by then Mr.
Hamilton had already altered the sound and style of his quintet,
replacing the cellist with a trombonist and adopting a bluesier, more
aggressive approach.
In 1966, after more personnel changes and more shifts in audience
tastes, Mr. Hamilton, no longer on top of the jazz world but
increasingly interested in composing — he wrote the music for Roman
Polanski’s 1965 film, “Repulsion” — disbanded the quintet and formed a
company that provided music for television shows and commercials.
But he continued to perform and record occasionally, and by the
mid-1970s he was back on the road as a bandleader full time. He was
never again as big a star as he had been in the 1950s, but he remained
active, and his music became increasingly difficult to categorize,
incorporating elements of free jazz, jazz-rock fusion and other styles.
He was born Foreststorn Hamilton in Los Angeles on Sept. 21, 1921. His
father, Jesse, worked at the University Club of Southern California, and
his mother, Pearl Lee Gonzales Cooley Hamilton, was a school dietitian.
Asked by Marc Myers of the website JazzWax how he got the name Chico, he
said he wasn’t sure but thought he acquired it as a teenager because “I
was always a small dude.”
While still in high school he immersed himself in the local jazz scene,
and by 1940 he was touring with Lionel Hampton’s big band. After serving
in the Army during World War II, he worked briefly with the bands of
Jimmy Mundy, Charlie Barnet and Count Basie before becoming the house
drummer at the Los Angeles nightclub Billy Berg’s in 1946.
From 1948 to 1955 he toured Europe in the summers as a member of Lena
Horne’s backup band, while playing the rest of the year in Los Angeles.
His softly propulsive playing was an essential element in the popularity
of Mulligan’s 1952 quartet, which also included Chet Baker on trumpet
but, unusually, did not have a pianist. The group helped set the
template for what came to be known as West Coast jazz, smoother and more
cerebral than its East Coast counterpart.
The high profile he achieved with Mulligan emboldened him to try his
luck as a bandleader, something fairly unusual for a drummer in the
1950s. His success was almost instantaneous.
He went on to record prolifically for a variety of labels, including
Pacific Jazz, Impulse, Columbia and Soul Note. Among the honors he
received were a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award in 2004 and a Kennedy Center Living Jazz Legend Award in 2007.
Although slowed by age, Mr. Hamilton continued to perform and record beyond his 90th birthday. He released an album, “Revelation,” in 2011 on the Joyous Shout
label, and had recently completed another one, “Inquiring Minds,”
scheduled for release in 2014. Until late last year he was appearing at
the Manhattan nightclub Drom with Euphoria, the group he had led since
1989.
Mr. Hamilton is survived by a brother, Don; a daughter, Denise Hamilton;
a granddaughter; and two great-granddaughters. His brother the actor Bernie Hamilton, and his wife, Helen Hamilton, both died in 2008.
Mr. Hamilton was highly regarded not just for his drumming, but also as a
talent scout. Musicians who passed through his group before achieving
stardom on their own include the bassist Ron Carter, the saxophonists
Eric Dolphy and Charles Lloyd and the guitarists Jim Hall, Gabor Szabo
and Larry Coryell. In a 1992 interview with National Public Radio, the
saxophonist Eric Person, a longtime sideman, praised Mr. Hamilton for
teaching “how to work on the bandstand, how you dress onstage, how you
carry yourself in public.”
Mr. Hamilton taught those lessons as a bandleader and, for more than two decades, as a faculty member at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music
in New York. Teaching young musicians, he told The Providence Journal
in Rhode Island in 2006, was “not difficult if they realize how
fortunate they are.”
“But,” he added, “if they’re on an ego trip, that’s their problem.”
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Monday, November 25, 2013
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - November 25th, 2013 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Jeff Golub - "Trains Keep A Rolling" - (eOne)
2 - 3 - Boney James - "The Beat" - (Concord Jazz)
3 - 2 - Dave Koz & Friends - "Summer Horns" - (Concord/CMG)
4 - 4 - Brian Simpson - "Just What You Need" - (Shanachie)
5 - 5 - Pieces Of A Dream - "In The Moment" - (Shanachie)
6 - 6 - Vincent Ingala - "Can't Stop Now" - (vicentingala.com)
7 - 7 - Steve Cole - "Pulse" - (Artistry/Mack Avenue)
8 - 12 - Chuck Loeb - "Silhouette" - (Shanachie)
9 - 8 - Euge Groove - "House Of Groove" - (Shanachie)
10 - 11 - Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Hacienda" (Heads Up)
11 - 9 - Paul Hardcastle - "Hardcastle VII" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
12 - 13 - Andy Snitzer - "The Rhythm" (Native Language)
13 - 15 - Jessy J - "Seconds Chances" - (Shanachie)
14 - 14 - Oli Silk - "Razor Sharp Brit" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
15 - 16 - BWB - "Human Nature" - (Heads Up)
16 - 19 - Spyro Gyra - "Rhinebeck Sessions" - (Crosseyedbear)
17 - 18 - Marion Meadows - "Whisper" - (Shanachie)
18 - 10 - Keiko Matsui - "Soul Quest" - (Shanachie)
19 - 22 - Nicholas Cole - "Endless Possibilities" - (Cutmore)
20 - 17 - Lebron - "Shades" - (Cutmore)
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Jazz from Amazon.com Monday, November 18, 2013
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - November 18th, 2013 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 3 - Jeff Golub - "Trains Keep A Rolling" - (eOne)
2 - 2 - Dave Koz & Friends - "Summer Horns" - (Concord/CMG)
3 - 1 - Boney James - "The Beat" - (Concord Jazz)
4 - 4 - Brian Simpson - "Just What You Need" - (Shanachie)
5 - 5 - Pieces Of A Dream - "In The Moment" - (Shanachie)
6 - 8 - Vincent Ingala - "Can't Stop Now" - (vicentingala.com)
7 - 7 - Steve Cole - "Pulse" - (Artistry/Mack Avenue)
8 - 9 - Euge Groove - "House Of Groove" - (Shanachie)
9 - 6 - Paul Hardcastle - "Hardcastle VII" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
10 - 10 - Keiko Matsui "Soul Quest" - (Shanachie)
11 - 12 - Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Hacienda" (Heads Up)
12 - 14 - Chuck Loeb - "Silhouette" - (Shanachie)
13 - 13 - Andy Snitzer - "The Rhythm" (Native Language)
14 - 15 - Oli Silk - "Razor Sharp Brit" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
15 - 17 - Jessy J - "Seconds Chances" - (Shanachie)
16 - 18 - BWB - "Human Nature" - (Heads Up)
17 - 16 - Lebron - "Shades" - (Cutmore)
18 - 11 - Marion Meadows - "Whisper" - (Shanachie)
19 - 19 - Spyro Gyra - "Rhinebeck Sessions" - (Crosseyedbear)
20 - 20 - George Duke - "DreamWeaver" - (Heads Up)
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Jazz from Amazon.com Esperanza Spalding Raises Awareness On Guantánamo Injustice In New Music Video #jazz
Bassist,
vocalist, composer and bandleader Esperanza Spalding has just
released “We Are America,” a new music video highlighting the injustice
of prolonged indefinite detention at the prison at Guantánamo
Bay:
Spalding
says she was motivated by nagging concerns that grew as she was on tour
with her band. “It was the first time I heard about the hunger strike. I
was touring in Europe, and I was appalled and embarrassed about what
was happening.
When I returned home, I remember I started researching online to see
what I could do about it, and I saw that I could download this action
pack. With that you had some important info to use to call your
representative. And I did, I did call my representative
and Senators. In fact, I got a letter back from one Senator who
basically said that she was not going to proactively deal with it but
that they would ‘keep my comments in mind', or something like that. But I
really wanted to do more. And my band actually came
to me first and said they wanted to do something too.”
Read Spalding’s guest editorial in the LA Times:
Next
week, the U.S. Senate can take a major step toward closing Guantanamo
by passing this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). To
email your Senators now and tell them to vote “No” on any amendments to
the Guantanamo provisions
in the NDAA:
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Thursday, November 14, 2013
Theresa Grayson - "Live2Love" #jazz
Mesmerizing. Spellbinding. Exotic. Soulful. Explosive. Interesting. Star. These are some of the words critics have used recently to describe soul-jazz saxophonist Theresa Grayson (www.TheresaGrayson.com) and her just released “Live2Love” album. Rooted in R&B, Grayson’s 12-song jazzy pop affair offers an irresistibly infectious spin on classic hits from decades past to present along with a handful of well-appointed contemporary jazz and sensual soul originals.
Some journalists have seen the album cover and asked if the fashionable beauty can really play. Damn straight she can and she’s got the brains to complete the package. Grayson earned a pair of master’s degrees and is presently pursuing a doctorate in music education. She expresses her love through the tenor and soprano sax, flute and vocals on “Live2Love,” her sophomore outing after years of performing with some of contemporary jazz’s luminaries as a sidewoman or opening act. Producer Terence Fisher captured Grayson’s live sound and surrounded her skillful, impassioned play with real players.
Radio is playing cuts from the collection and Grayson is performing shows at jazz venues in her hometown - Houston, Texas - and surrounding areas through the end of the year. She anticipates touring nationally next year.
Below are excerpts from some of the album reviews:
“Saxophonist Theresa Grayson’s ‘Live2Love’ mesmerizes us with a spellbinding album for those nights when passion runs wild.” – Hill Rag
“Grayson’s up-tempo jams shake you to your core and beckon those dancing feet to do their thing while something so soothing and exotic surfaces in her handling of the slower material. Mesmerizing might be a good word.” – The Smooth Jazz Ride
“’Live2Love’ is a soulful and soul filled look at pop music and beyond with one of the most exciting contemporary players emerging today!” – Bop-N-Jazz
“An explosive and uniquely arranged album of great top hit favorites and originals with a dash of jazz!” - JazzUSA
“‘Live2Love’ really stretches out and begins to enjoy itself with the introduction of Grayson’s own compositions…With tunes like this Theresa Grayson might just be positioning herself to capture the market in the contemporary jazz version of quiet storm.” – Smooth Jazz Therapy
“Theresa moves up a gear with a very pleasing secular 12 tracker that mixes her own compositions with a varied and interesting selection of covers.” – Soul and Jazz and Funk
“I expect to hear a lot more from Theresa Grayson in the future. A star on the rise…” – ABYSSJazz
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Monday, November 11, 2013
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - November 11th, 2013 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Boney James - "The Beat" - (Concord Jazz)
2 - 2 - Dave Koz & Friends - "Summer Horns" - (Concord/CMG)
3 - 3 - Jeff Golub - "Trains Keep A Rolling" - (eOne)
4 - 5 - Brian Simpson - "Just What You Need" - (Shanachie)
5 - 6 - Pieces Of A Dream - "In The Moment" - (Shanachie)
6 - 4 - Paul Hardcastle - "Hardcastle VII" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
7 - 8 - Steve Cole - "Pulse" - (Artistry/Mack Avenue)
8 - 13 - Vincent Ingala - "Can't Stop Now" - (vicentingala.com)
9 - 11 - Euge Groove - "House Of Groove" - (Shanachie)
10 - 9 - Keiko Matsui "Soul Quest" - (Shanachie)
11 - 14 - Marion Meadows - "Whisper" - (Shanachie)
12 - 15 - Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Hacienda" (Heads Up)
13 - 16 - Andy Snitzer - "The Rhythm" (Native Language)
14 - 7 - Chuck Loeb - "Silhouette" - (Shanachie)
15 - 12 - Oli Silk - "Razor Sharp Brit" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
16 - 18 - Lebron - "Shades" - (Cutmore)
17 - 17 - Jessy J - "Seconds Chances" - (Shanachie)
18 - 20 - BWB - "Human Nature" - (Heads Up)
19 - 19 - Spyro Gyra - "Rhinebeck Sessions" - (Crosseyedbear)
20 - 10 - George Duke - "DreamWeaver" - (Heads Up)
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Jazz from Amazon.com Wednesday, November 06, 2013
Sax Stunner: Theresa Grayson captures hearts with the newly released "Live2Love" #jazz
Theresa Grayson captures hearts with the newly released “Live2Love.”
Soul-jazz saxtress Theresa Grayson has the power to grab attention with both her sound and looks, but she will hold your attention with her talent and the dozen songs that comprise “Live2Love,” her sophomore album that was released Tuesday (November 5) on her L2L Records label. Captivating listeners, radio programmers and reviewers with her souled out mix of improvisational contemporary jazz, classic pop tunes and R&B grooves, the Houston, Texas resident’s self-penned originals along with a varied assortment of covers serve as a fine showcase for her impassioned play on tenor and soprano saxes and flute in addition to soothing lead and aptly-placed vocal highlights.
Grayson, a seasoned performer that has shared the stage with Peter White, Mindi Abair, Michael Bolton, Will Downing, Marion Meadows and Ronnie Laws as a sidewoman or an opener, recreated her live sound in the studio with the guidance of producer Terence Fisher, who captured the fashion-forward artist organically at her high-heeled best. She instills passion and sensuality into the vibrant sampling of soulful instrumentals, energetic dance workouts and sensual ballads. The album’s first single, “Afterthoughts,” is gaining traction at radio with increased spins each week. It has an upbeat rhythm to which Grayson applies soprano sax melodies and a scat vocal during a mid-tune breakdown.
To get into the holiday spirit, Grayson will release a pair of newly recorded tracks – a straight-ahead jazz version of “My Favorite Things” and the sultry Eartha Kitt-influenced “Santa Baby” – that will appear on her first Christmas album scheduled for release next year.
To support “Live2Love,” Grayson will perform in jazz clubs in Houston and in nearby Beaumont and Sugarland through the end of the year and anticipates touring major U.S. cities in 2014.
Below are snippets from some of the initial album reviews:
“Saxophonist Theresa Grayson’s ‘Live2Love’ mesmerizes us with a spellbinding album for those nights when passion runs wild.” – Hill Rag
“Grayson’s up-tempo jams shake you to your core and beckon those dancing feet to do their thing while something so soothing and exotic surfaces in her handling of the slower material. Mesmerizing might be a good word.” – The Smooth Jazz Ride
“’Live2Love’ is a soulful and soul filled look at pop music and beyond with one of the most exciting contemporary players emerging today!” – Bop-N-Jazz
“‘Live2Love’ really stretches out and begins to enjoy itself with the introduction of Grayson’s own compositions…With tunes like this Theresa Grayson might just be positioning herself to capture the market in the contemporary jazz version of quiet storm.” – Smooth Jazz Therapy
“Theresa moves up a gear with a very pleasing secular 12 tracker that mixes her own compositions with a varied and interesting selection of covers.” – Soul and Jazz and Funk
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Monday, November 04, 2013
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - November 4th, 2013 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Boney James - "The Beat" - (Concord Jazz)
2 - 2 - Dave Koz & Friends - "Summer Horns" - (Concord/CMG)
3 - 4 - Jeff Golub - "Trains Keep A Rolling" - (eOne)
4 - 3 - Paul Hardcastle - "Hardcastle VII" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
5 - 5 - Brian Simpson - "Just What You Need" - (Shanachie)
6 - 7 - Pieces Of A Dream - "In The Moment" - (Shanachie)
7 - 8 - Chuck Loeb - "Silhouette" - (Shanachie)
8 - 13 - Steve Cole - "Pulse" - (Artistry/Mack Avenue)
9 - 9 - Keiko Matsui "Soul Quest" - (Shanachie)
10 - 6 - George Duke - "DreamWeaver" - (Heads Up)
11 - 17 - Euge Groove - "House Of Groove" - (Shanachie)
12 - 12 - Oli Silk - "Razor Sharp Brit" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
13 - 18 - Vincent Ingala - "Can't Stop Now" - (vicentingala.com)
14 - 14 - Marion Meadows - "Whisper" - (Shanachie)
15 - 11 - Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Hacienda" (Heads Up)
16 - 16 - Andy Snitzer - "The Rhythm" (Native Language)
17 - 10 - Jessy J - "Seconds Chances" - (Shanachie)
18 - 15 - Lebron - "Shades" - (Cutmore)
19 - 21 - Spyro Gyra - "Rhinebeck Sessions" - (Crosseyedbear)
20 - 20 - BWB - "Human Nature" - (Heads Up)
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