Playboy Jazz Festival – Day 2 – Sunday June 14, 2015
A Concert Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
Photos: Mathew Imaging
Brown Bunnies of Playboy
An afternoon of tradition and roots gave way to an evening of mash-ups and fusions for the second day of the 37th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.
Playboy Jazz Festival – Saturday June 13, 2015
Concert Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
Photos: Mathew Imaging
June gloom morphed into jazz-soul glory for Saturday June 13, 2015 – the first day of the 37th annual Playboy Jazz Festival – a day of great music that found the heat slowly and consistently escalating to the very end.
Honeys at Playboy
Isha Love | Jars of Waters
by Peggy Oliver
The main attraction for me when artists piece together impactful music is how they pour their genuine heart out for their craft, especially for the independent musician. Before diving into those independent waters, Isha Love began playing the piano at an early age before she realized her career in high school as a musician in the jazz market, along with an extensive discipline in classical music.
Jazz Great Andy Bey Kicked Off First Season for New Nostalgically Intimate Manhattan Performance Space Café Noctambulo
by A. Scott Galloway
The atmosphere is quaint and hushed as revered jazz vocal veteran Andy Bey slides in behind the ivories to premier music from his brand new CD, Pages From an Imaginary Life. In a space as cozy as a living room, the master is comfortable enough to speak candidly about his music by way of introducing songs – sometimes reflecting, other times joking. Amid his loving tributes to Billie Holiday which he rendered floating from his warm natural baritone to his high plaintive falsetto, Bey penetrates deepest with his more recent original compositions that offer keen insight into his mind’s inner workings at that more important life juncture – today. Songs like “Bad Luck May Be Good Luck,” “Worried Life Blues” and “Humor Keeps Us Alive.” These are songs so new that even though Andy wrote them, he stumbles occasionally in performing them perfectly. What master would ever allow this to happen in front of an audience in a New York City nightspot? It is only because of THIS particular nightspot that Andy feels free enough to “try” things as opposed to sticking to his tried and true.
(Photo: James Gavin)
Al Jarreau – My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke
(Concord Records)
Album reflection by A. Scott Galloway
Al Jarreau’s tribute to George Duke, his longtime friend and one-time partner on the jazz club stages of San Francisco, has been one of 2014’s most anticipated CDs. The eclectic project – with three sets of producers – works best when Cousin Al is pushing his creative envelope or indisputably touched with pure raw sentimentality.
Dianne Reeves | Beautiful Life
Concord Music Group – 2014
by Peggy Oliver
Sometimes the element of surprise conceived by the creative minds of musicians remind me of the hook from an inspirational pop hit: “Everything is beautiful in its own way.” Growing up versed in jazz but always willing to cross musical boundaries, Dianne Reeves completely invested in whatever genre she could adapt to her inimitable vocal style.
Jazz Singer Anthony Jefferson and Friends Treat Fans to Presidential CD Release Concert Under The Stars in Sosua (Dominican Republic)
Event Reflections by A. Scott Galloway
Concert Photographs by Will Alfredo
With an album titled after the luscious vocal standard “But Beautiful” and his home base/fan base being the breathtaking ocean side town of Sosua, Dominican Republic, dashing vocal gentleman Anthony Jefferson made clear his musical mission as sharing romance and style in abundance with the people that have grown to adore him over the last seven years. The night was a miraculously rain-free Saturday in typically drenched October, the audience Sosua’s wealthy and well-heeled, and the event the locally long-anticipated CD release for Jefferson’s new project, But Beautiful – a first class soiree of music wine, canapés and cigars coordinated by Linda Love, and additionally showcasing singer Tracy Hamlin, trumpeter Mark Rapp and singer/guitarist Peter Novelli.
Jonathan Butler | Merry Christmas To You
Artistry Music
By Peggy Oliver
Just like the department stores who prepare in advance to entice shoppers
for Christmas, so do the music marketers who are just as attuned to
sharing good cheer for the year end fanfare. That season of Christmas
offers one of its first major releases with Jonathan Butler, the latest
to join others with their inspirations centered around the most
celebrated commercial time of the year.
Gregory Porter | Liquid Spirit
Blue Note Records
By Peggy Oliver
In recent years, Motema Music emerged into a respected independent label
with a solid commitment to their artists’ improvisational gifts and
musical diversity. From Caribbean-born pianist Monty Alexander to former
Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun, the New York-based company has
drawn comparisons to jazz giant Blue Note Records in its heyday, swiftly
integrating soul, blues, gospel and avant garde flavors into its be-bop
jazz mix.
George Duke | DreamWeaver
Concord Records
by Peggy Oliver
Those who make a living creating off the cuff are entitled with an occasional moment of writer’s block. And in their strong devotion to the art, they usually find their way back to fill up their creative cup. Jazz icon George Duke recently faced that dreaded drought. In 2012, his compositional well temporarily ran dry as he was experiencing deep grief from the loss of his wife, Corine. The death was undoubtedly bittersweet, but in an almost blink of an eye, Duke returned to his musical refuge that he has embraced since childhood.