Reviews

  At the 11 PM set on a Wednesday night in New York, concertgoers got a lot more than they bargained for. Joey DeFrancesco’s trio consisted of Peter Bernstein on guitar, George Coleman Jr. on drums, and his father George Coleman Sr. on tenor. The tunes that the band played …

On Friday, April 27, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis performed at Chicago Symphony Center, as part of the Symphony Center Presents Jazz series with a special tribute to bandleader Wynton Marsalis in honor of his 50th birthday—a yearlong celebration. The evening celebrated Marsalis’ compositions, …

Grammy Nominee Gregory Porter wooed fans during a recent performance at Mayne Stage in Chicago. An amazing musical treat especially during Jazz Appreciation Month, Porter performed several selections from both his Water and Be Good albums including favorites like “Illusion,” “1960 What?,” “Lonely One,” “On My Way To Harlem,” “Be …

When Joshua Redman heard Brad Mehldau play piano in the 1990’s, he hired him practically on the spot. Since then, the two have made names for themselves as fixtures on the jazz scene, and have once again come together for a tour. Mehldau is not as much of a straight-ahead …

A sold out crowd packed the house at Stanford University’s Campbell Recital Hall to experience the melodic, Caribbean flavored sounds of the Etienne Charles Quintet during the Stanford Lively Arts 2011-2012 Performing Arts Season. Donned in his signature porkpie hat a la Lester Young, Etienne Charles, the progeny of four …

If you’d asked me a few weeks ago, “Have you ever heard of Marcus Strickland?”, I honestly would have to say the answer would be, “No”. So, how is it possible not to know a guy who played with big jazz names like Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and Roy Hanes, and …

There is probably no musician within the broad encompassing label of jazz who is more of an enigma than guitarist George Benson. Is he a jazz or R&B singer? Is he a pop, straight-ahead jazz or contemporary jazz guitarist? Is he serious about the idiom or just all showmanship and …

The extraordinaire Nicholas Payton played with a twenty-piece ensemble as he debuted his own big band, the Television Studio Orchestra (TSO) at Chicago’s Symphony Center. The entire group took to the stage, each member adorned in black from head to toe, with the exception of Mr. Payton – in his …

Herbie Hancock’s St. Louis fans sold out The Bistro, filling more than 1000 seats to hear this legendary musician and his outstanding band. This electrifying concert featured familiar tunes that help to catapult Hancock to fame. The audience showed their appreciation by dancing in the aisles and rocking to the …

The Chicago Jazz Ensemble closed out this year’s season at Chicago’s Harris Theater with a tribute to the legendary Charlie “Bird” Parker. True to form, the Ensemble brought together tradition and innovation by featuring renowned saxophonist and pioneer, Miguel Zenon, recipient of a Guggenheim, a MacArthur “Genius Grant” and multiple …

The Anat Cohen quartet recently performed for four nights at Jazz At The Bistro in St. Louis. Anat is an Israeli jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and bandleader. She is known for her excellent writing and entertaining stage performances as she enjoys dancing while playing, often alternating between the tenor/soprano saxophones and …

It was standing room only at Vipers Alley in Lincolnshire, Illinois. You could see the anticipation and excitement grow among Rachelle Ferrell fans as show time approached. The musicians entered first and began to play and applause erupted. Then, Rachelle, wearing a tiered shimmering, knee length skirt, opaque tights and …