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Rubén Blades Swings Big Band Jazz And Rumba On New Album
We all knew vocalist Rubén Blades knew his way around the clave, the rhythmic pattern that propels the Afro-Cuban dance music he’s known for. But I bet you didn’t know he could swing a big band jazz tune with an easy flair that recalls past masters like Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra. Keep reading »
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Kerns: LSO sponsors unforgettable show by Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
It may have taken a touch of clever marketing—a few unexpected BOGO (buy one, get one free) days—to guarantee a music lover for every seat at Monday’s concert at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Afterward, all present were standing, applauding and undoubtedly grateful that the sponsoring Lubbock Symphony Orchestra had booked a rare appearance by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. It was, at the least, a concert no one could forget. Keep reading »
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Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Wildly Entertaining
Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, with three incredible dancers — tap star Jared Grimes and jook virtuosi Charles “Lil Buck” Riley and Ron “Prime Tyme” Myles — captivated a sold-out house at The Granada Theatre on Saturday night. Keep reading »
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UCSB A&L, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Engage Students in Arts, Learning and Inspiration
In advance of UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 60th anniversary season-opening performance by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra last Saturday night, the ensemble also opened A&L’s season of outreach and learning programs. Keep reading »
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Wynton Marsalis Conjures a Musical Incantation
Totem. Nahual. Daemon. Cultures the world over have often described in great terms the spiritual implication of everyday animals, and on Saturday night at The Granada Theatre, one modern-day musical shaman took it upon himself to exemplify their mythical significance through the language of rhythm and melody. Keep reading »
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Marsalis and His Orchestra Dazzle with Duke in Irvine
Jerry Mandel’s day job is running the Irvine Barclay Theatre, but at nights and on weekends he’s a jazz saxophonist with a steady stream of gigs. I caught him a while back at Newport’s Bayside Restaurant, where he plays regularly. Keep reading »
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Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra & Damian Woetzel – Spaces – New York
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is a most impressive ensemble; as I listened to them play Wynton Marsalis’s Spaces at the Rose Theater last Friday, the Vienna Philharmonic came to mind. Their playing has confidence, virtuosity, luster, and a wondrous sense of play. Each player is a powerhouse in his own right, further magnified by the give-and-take of his fellow musicians. Keep reading »
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Father and son Ellis and Wynton Marsalis showcase taste, technical chops to jazz aficionados
Father and son Ellis and Wynton Marsalis showcase taste, technical chops to jazz aficionados at Tanglewood. Keep reading »
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David Robertson brings his tenure as SLSO music director to a high-energy finish with W. Marsalis
In her program notes for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concerts this past weekend (May 4 - 6, 2018), René Spencer Saller quotes composer and jazz trumpet virtuoso Wynton Marsalis as describing the final, quiet moments of his “Swing Symphony” this way: “It’s a wistful feeling; it’s not sad, and it’s not happy. It’s a feeling of contentment, a quiet celebration. It’s like the last breath you take: ‘We did this. We had a good time.’” Keep reading »
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Marsalis, Guests Explore the Blues
The blues is the lingua franca on United We Swing: Best Of The Jazz At Lincoln Center Galas (Blue Engine), a new compilation featuring the Wynton Marsalis Septet. The album features memorable performances by a parade of stars from the worlds of pop music, gospel and blues: Bob Dylan, Ray Charles (in one of his final performances), Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Jimmy Buffett, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lyle Lovett, John Mayer, Audra McDonald, Natalie Merchant, Carrie Smith, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, all backed by the trumpeter’s septet. As Marsalis put it in an interview with DownBeat, “All of them came to play.” Keep reading »
