iRock Jazz LIVE! with Pianist John Beasley
Grammy-nominated recording artist John Beasley’s music career spans three decades. LA Times jazz critic Bill Kohlhaasee describes Beasley’s music and playing as “a variety of generational influences, incorporating the emphatic chordal clusters of Herbie Hancock, the rhythmic quirkiness of Monk and the lush intelligence of Art Tatum into a highly refined personal …
Chuck Loeb: All About The Music
Chuck Loeb is a versatile guitar player who has played with many musicians from many different genres, including well known greats such as Michael Brecker and Stan Getz. Although known for his excellent skills as a smooth jazz musician, Loeb has varied musical interests that include straight-ahead jazz as well …
Ravi Coltrane: We Can’t Always Be Our Heros
Ravi Coltrane photo by John Watson Bearing the last name Coltrane and the genes of John and Alice, Ravi Coltrane seemed destined to a career in jazz . However, he hasn’t relied on his bloodlines and developed his own voice to carve out a niche of his own. He’s stood on …
CD Review: Otis Brown III
Modernity has prescribed a certain mode of discourse when engaging this thing we call “jazz.” Tangible dissections of sound are cast aside for more abstract debates around authenticity and contextualization. Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, if you’ve at all discussed jazz in the present, you’ve most certainly discussed …
Jazz Fest Attracts Top Talent to New Buffalo
NEW BUFFALO, MI — The Veteran’s Day weekend this year will be hotter than ever in New Buffalo, as iRock Jazz brings some of the finest local, national and internationally known jazz musicians to town for its first-ever iRock Jazz Fest. The one-day music fest on Saturday, November 8 will …
iRock Jazz Festival “Finding Fela” Documentary Film Premiere
Join producer Stephen Hendel for the VIP screening of “Finding Fela” at the iRock Jazz Festival Friday November 7. http://irockjazz.com/festival/purchase-tickets/ $20 VIP tickets to the Friday evening film screening of Finding Fela include: Tabor Hill Winery VIP meet and greet at 7 p.m. “Finding Fela” film screening at 8 p.m. Q …
iRock Jazz LIVE! with Saxophonist Marqueal Jordan
In 2008, when Brian Culbertson was in his old hometown of Chicago for a high profile gig as an opening act at United Center, his drummer Chris Miskel not only introduced him to his friend Marqueal Jordan, he also invited the keyboardist to check out the popular saxophonist at a local club – …
iRock Jazz LIVE! with Singer Diane Schuur
Long regarded as one of Contemporary Jazz’s leading vocalists, Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. Born in Tacoma, Washington in 1953, Schuur was blind from birth; but she was gifted with perfect pitch and initially taught herself piano by ear. She later received formal piano training at …
iRock Jazz LIVE! with Music Legend George Clinton
Recording both as Parliament and Funkadelic, George Clinton revolutionized R&B during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk by adding influences from several late-’60s acid heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and Sly Stone. The Parliament/Funkadelic machine ruled black music during the ’70s, capturing over 40 R&B hit singles (including three number ones) and recording three platinum albums. Born in Kannapolis, …
iRock Jazz LIVE! with Producer Matt Pierson
Award-winning producer Matt Pierson’s discography reads as an overview of the best that contemporary jazz has to offer, including the likes of Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Pat Metheny, Bob James, Kirk Whalum, Jane Monheit, and countless others. As an executive, Matt led Blue Note’s marketing and A&R departments before being …