Marquis Hill and the Sounds of the City
Marquis Hill released his second CD Sounds of the City on Aug. 23. An accomplished musician, composer, arranger, and music educator at age 24, he mastered how to temper his emotional center while playing. He exhibits a more complex thinking and reasoning when he plays the trumpet or flügelhorn. It …
Robert Glasper Scats to the Beat of His Own Tune
Jazz pianist and producer Robert Glasper is at the head of the class when it comes to breaking rules in his genre. Known for thinking outside of the musical box, he fuses Hip Hop, Soul and Jazz to create his own element and niche in one of the oldest …
ABIAH’s “Vocal Distinction”
The music industry attributes the decline of music sales to the Internet. With the click of a button, any web surfer can access millions of songs of any genre. However, are music labels and moguls taking into consideration the listening audience is not overjoyed with what they are hearing …
Stretching Madonna’s MDNA – LIVE at the United Center
As I gazed across the pulsating crowd at the United Center, I began to wonder how many people there were actually old enough to know the vast musical canon of Madonna. It is hard to believe that she has been doing music for over 30 years, with hits that …
Ali Jackson- 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival
iRockJazz had the opportunity to interview Ali Jackson back stage at the 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival, and we discussed his musical upbringing, and philosophy of playing the music seriously. Special Thanks to 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival and its Sponsors
Lionel Loueke Heritage CD Release with Special Guests Robert Glasper, Mark Guiliana and Derrick Hodge
September has been an auspicious month for New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club. It played host to Chick Corea & Gary Burton, Stanley Clarke & Hiromi, The Brecker Brothers and Roy Ayers! This saturation of renowned dates was kicked off by an equally formidable artist. Fatefully, from Sept. 4-6, …
Nicki Richards….The Soulful Vibe of a Musical Diva
If you have ever listened to an R&B, Rock, or Pop song that has landed in the Top 10 on the Billboard Charts within the past twenty years, you have heard the incredible vocals of Nicki Richards. Her voice is resonates on the background vocals for artists that include Mariah …
Amikaeyla Cultivates Community with Music
Amikaeyla With a Native American name that means “one who fights for love”, jazz artist Amikaeyla seeks to use her vocal powerhouse for good as she seeks to return to the basics of feel-good music. “I want to revisit a place in music where people can drink a glass of …
LIVE at the CSO! – Symphony Center Presents The Wynton Marsalis Quintet
With the passing of Von Freeman, the Chicago jazz scene lost one of its great local stars. His loss has reverberated across the jazz scene, garnering attention from many jazz artists. Wynton Marsalis and his quintet came into Chicago with a heavy heart after learning about Von’s passing. He dedicated …
Rockin’ with Kahil El’Zabar
Kahil El’Zabar has been playing music nearly all of his life. One could say that he was a musical prodigy who learned from music’s best in class. As a teenager, he was a professional jazz musician touring the world. Today, he continues performing around the world to audiences that …
Sonny Rollins: A Conversation with a Legend
Jazz will always be here and depending on the people we have coming up, jazz will always be something that other music will come to get their inspiration from. – Sonny Rollins There are few people that can call the likes of John Coltrane and Miles Davis their immediate peers. …
A Gradual Change of the Guard: Ben Williams at the Detroit Jazz Festival
“You have to deal with your art. If you can go to bed at night and be happy with what you are doing, you’re on the right track.” – Ben Williams When the opportunity to play with a jazz legend was given to Ben Williams, he didn’t hesitate. The …