Kenny G: Four Decades of Making Smooth Music
In 1973, 17-year-old Kenneth Bruce Gorelick landed a gig with the late Barry White and his Love Unlimited Orchestra at the Paramount Northwest Theater (now the Paramount Theater). After Arista Record’s president Clive Davis heard his rendition of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”, the saxophonist signed with the label as a solo artist …
Roy Hargrove – “The Music is Flowing Through My Head All the Time”
IRockJazz caught Roy Hargrove in Chicago, and discussed how music is ever present in his thoughts, and how he will be inspired, and is thinking about music all the time…
Lee England, Jr: Instrumentalist Fiddles His Gift in the Music Industry
Lee England Jr. Lee England, Jr. never imagined an introduction to string instruments as a child would foreshadow his future as a nationally-recognized instrumentalist. At six years old, he was immediately drawn to the violin and rushed home to tell his parents he wanted one. Although it gained his …
Centric Television Station Carries Torch to Use Entertainment in Media to Create a Sense of Community
(L-R) BET’s Paxton Baker, Tracey Costello, Phyllis Toben Bancroft and Johnson & Johnson’s Anthony Carter hold the grand prize check presented for the movie “RENT” at the “Lens On Talent” grand prize winner reception at Taj Lounge on March 31, 2010 in New York City. (March 30, 2010 – Source: …
Benny Green- Playing in the Jazz Messengers with Art Blakey
iRockJazz caught Benny Green in Chicago, in the first segment of his interview, he discusses playing in the Jazz Messengers with Art Blakey
Legendary Pete Escovedo Talks Music, Family and Loving Life
Pete Escovedo Do what you love and love doing it. Simple, right? Legendary percussionist Pete Escovedo, an artist who broke down the barriers between Smooth Jazz, Salsa, Latin Jazz and Contemporary music, has thrilled his fans for more than 50 years. One only has to listen to one of his …
Andy Allo Versus The Machines
Andy Allo Two of the most celebrated film franchises of the past 30 years have been The Terminator and The Matrix. Both deal with an ominous struggle between humans and machines. The underlining irony that binds the two stories is the conflict was birthed by the people’s embrace of …
Celebrating 50 years of Music with Dionne Warwick
Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick “Some people make things happen, some watch things happen, while others wonder what has happened”. –Author Unknown Dionne Warwick is the first. Singing since the age of six, Dionne Warwick has carved out a path that has resulted in nearly sixty charted hits since “Don’t …
Striking a Chord with Nik West
Nik West From as early as she can recollect, bassist Nik West rocked to the beat of her own tune. Growing up, she traded in her Mary Jane’s and ballet flats for L.A. Gears as she played basketball with the boys, and preferred a Transformer over a Barbie doll …
Alfredo Rodriguez Makes New Sounds from All Spaces
Alfredo Rodriguez photo by Anna Webber Oil and water. These are two items that do not mix. Some would say science and spirituality don’t mix either. Well, when listening to pianist Alfredo Rodriguez’s album Sounds of Space, it’s difficult to support the idea that barriers exist being the technological and …
