Interviews

iRock Jazz Founder/CEO John Moultrie, Cheryl Davis, Erin Davis and Vince Wilburn, Jr. photo by Louis Byrd III The legacy of the ultra-legend, Miles Davis will outlast several eternities. One has to wonder if he knew that he would be a major musical influencer and innovator when his lips first …

SPARKLE, Dwan Smith, Lonette McKee, Irene Cara, 1976 When we hear the name Lonette McKee, many think of first; her beauty and second; the strong characters she has portrayed such as Malcolm X’s mother in Spike Lee’s movie Malcolm X or as Wesley Snipes’ wife in another Spike Lee Joint, …

Arturo Sandoval The year is 1977 and jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie is in Cuba playing ‘impromptu gigs’ with Stan Getz in the Caribbean. There is a young Cuban who also plays the trumpet and is eager to meet his idol Gillespie. A chance meeting occurs, and as they say the …

The Beginnings Legendary saxophonist and composer Gary Bartz was born in Baltimore, Maryland during the 1940’s. His father worked on a railroad and also worked part time at a local jazz club, later purchasing the night club, “North End Lounge”. He felt fortunate to visit many jazz clubs in the …

Brian Blade photo by Farrad Ali Gifts are meant to be given away. We all have gifts and once we are aware of them we are to give them back as service to humanity. This is a virtue drummer Brian Blade also believes in. His 2009 album, Mama Rosa speaks …

Leon Leon Robinson or better known as ‘Leon’ is the quintessential meaning to being tall, dark and handsome to his many female fans; however he is more than just AOL’s Black Voices Sexiest Actor of all time. Known for his roles in movie titles such as Cool Runnings, The Five …

Harry Lennix We had ‘nothing but love’ for Harry Lennix’s character “Dresser” in The Five Heartbeats as our pulses raced listening to his bass voice and swooning over his smooth moves. His work in the 1991 musical drama, co-written by Keenan Ivory Winans and Robert Townsend, was just the beginning …

Have you ever wondered how it would be growing up as the child of a celebrity? How about being the daughter of an iconic comedian? Most of us would probably think about the former rather than the latter however, Rain Pryor is of course, both. Born in 1969 to comedian …

When you think of the Blues what comes to mind? Maybe some down home feelings, feet tapping, soul stirring, finger snapping, or some rocking and rolling and definitely the sounds of legendary guitar player Buddy Guy. With over 50 years in the music industry, 6 Grammy Awards, being one of …

 For thousands of years man has chosen a myriad of vehicles to chronicle history. Tales of birth, life, and death passed down by the village griot, the graceful fluidity of the Alvin Ailey Dancers paying homage to the human experience in movements, the intro, climax, and resolution of an August …

Alex Bugnon photo by Nicola Stemmer Imagine growing up in Montreux, Switzerland, home of the great Montreux Jazz Festival, being the nephew of jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd or having other jazz legends such as Milton Jackson and Clark Terry hang out with you at your parent’s home. “I was in …

Michael Genet With a gracious spirit who is indebted to his past, actor and writer Michael Genet says he carries a low tolerance for mediocrity, something he carries from childhood. He follows the footprints of excellence set forth by his mother, Jeanette, who was an educator and an Ebony magazine …