The 25th Annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest

San Jose, one of the most advanced tech hubs in the world—home to tech giants like eBay, PayPal, and Cisco—usually marches to the beat of 0’s and 1’s, but August 8th-10th, the heart of Silicon Valley beat with the pulse of the harmonic melodies, venerable voices and musicians, and the …

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iRock Jazz LIVE! with Guitarist Russell Malone

“Obviously, we are in the capable hands of a master. Absolutely fluid touch and beautiful integration between moving lines and harmonic cadences. The sound of the instrument is well-balanced throughout the entire register. The relaxed quality of everything that’s being played gives it such a warm feeling. To play that …

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Festival Review: Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival 2014

While much of the world was just beginning to enjoy summer, the Caribbean island of St. Lucia said goodbye to its sunshine season with the “2014 St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival.” This was the second year of the festival under a new rebranding structure following its first 22 years. …

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Monty Alexander: Roots of The Harlem-Kingston Express Spring Up in Saint Lucia

For American fans of Kingston, Jamaica-born pianist Monty Alexander, the chance to see him in concert – in the Caribbean – at the “Saint Lucia Music & Arts Festival” was a highly anticipated treat, and the artist did not disappoint. With his sleeves rolled up on a cool white shirt …

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Monty Alexander: From Kingston to Harlem

Legendary jazz pianist Monty Alexander’s latest release, “Harlem-Kingston Express Vol. 2” has gained a lot of attention and critical acclaim. When iRockJazz spoke with Alexander about his latest project, he described the album as an “imaginary train ride of his life.” A train ride that started over fifty years ago …

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