In the four decades since the Newport Jazz festival first took place in 1954, it became a global brand with its production company- Festival Productions, Inc.- hosting hundreds of festivals worldwide. But only one other of their events took place in the city-by-the-sea; the Newport Folk Festival. This changed in 1995 with the birth of […]
In 1960, Creed Taylor founded Impulse! Records, which he dubbed “The New Wave in Jazz.” While over time, Impulse! established itself as one of the premier labels in the genre, it was always happiest around categorical edges. Ray Charles’ Genius + Soul = Jazz (Impulse!, 1960) blurred lines between the two styles. Later, Yusef Lateef – as […]
The 1990s was a period of change. The geopolitical order in place for nearly half a century ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The first American president to be born after the Second World War took office, bringing different attitudes and policies to the office. Rapid technological development – specifically the rise of […]
An artist’s final recording is often an unusual gift to the world. In large part, this derives from the fact that no one truly knows when they will leave. Even so, some can sense that their time is near, and this shows in their works. For David Bowie, his parting thoughts came through on Blackstar […]
Created in 1927, The Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan, Limited – more commonly known as Japan Victor Company (JVC) – was originally a Japanese subsidiary of America’s Victor Talking Machine Company. The parent was the most prominent photograph and record company of the era, renown for its Victrola record players. By 1929, the Victor […]
“We’re Back” announced the front page of The Providence Journal, complete with a photo of a smiling George Wein, upon the news of the Newport Jazz Festival’s return to America’s First Resort. And while it was indeed a cause for celebration, the newly reborn festival differed significantly from its predecessor. These differences emerged primarily from […]
Since first picking up the horn in fifth grade, Skerik has charted a less traditional route for a saxophonist. While inspired by music that came before, he’s never seemed confined to it. Instead, over the last few decades, he has been constantly searching for new and different sounds. This quest led him to become a […]
Portland-based flugelhorn and trumpet player Max Ribner makes his solo debut with 1st Language (Self-release, 2021), a colorful tapestry of groove and texture utilizing over 50 collaborators across multiple continents. Ribner’s warm, articulate trumpet sound sits atop some killer rhythm sections interspersed with the sounds of gospel choir, brass band, and a 12 piece string […]
Memorial day weekend 1921 started just like any other day in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma. One of the wealthiest communities in America, this segment of the city was such an economic powerhouse it would be dubbed “Black Wall Street.” By the end of the weekend, the prosperous region would be turned to rubble. […]
Joe Dyson has established himself as one of the go to drummers for some of today’s masters of the music, performing with a wide range of artists including Dr. Lonnie Smith, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Jon Batiste, Nicholas Payton, and Leo Nocentelli. Most recently, he has been performing in a trio with Pat Metheny and […]
