Home » Posts tagged with "Robin James"
Posts tagged with "Robin James"
Ravi Coltrane’s Blue Note debut arrives right on time
Jun. 27 | Saxophonist, composer and bandleader Ravi Coltrane’s debut recording for Blue Note Records, Spirit Fiction, was released on June 19. I believe that’s cause for celebration. You may recall reading the news about Coltrane’s...
Rich summer music menu: Bill Frisell, Rachelle Ferrell, Cassandra Wilson
May. 30 | I was scanning the magazine newsstand the other day and picked up a copy of the June issue of Ebony magazine. It’s their music issue. I open it up, and who is the first person I see? It’s Esperanza Spalding. So, I read the blurb about...
Summer Jazz festivals blend new and old school talents and genres
May. 16 | The summer festival season is upon us. Would you believe there is a complete listing for over 175 festivals? Yes, folks, it’s the truth. Just take a look at the 2012 May issue of DownBeat magazine. Both fans and musicians are gearing up...
MSR talks with New Orleans trumpeter Irvin Mayfield
Apr. 4 | By Robin James Jazz Columnist Irvin Mayfield (IM) recently spoke with MSR. Among the topics: the music of New Orleans, jazz vocalists that interest him now, his leadership as artistic director of Jazz at Orchestra Hall, and his upcoming...
Spring starts strong with jazz bandleader concerts
Apr. 4 | It’s springtime, and romance is in the air. So, lately I got to thinking… Why is the music of New Orleans so romantic? Go check out Irvin Mayfield at Orchestra Hall on April 6 at 8 pm and find out. If you can’t make the gig,...
New music from Lionel Loueke, Grégoire Maret, Branford Marsalis
Mar. 14 | Among all the emails, press releases and newsletters received, believe it or not, there is real news. Below is just a sampling of the mix. With so much competing for our attention these days, it helps to plan your free time and make...
A season of musical romance for jazz lovers on CD, in concert
Feb. 29 | When I think about the reasons I first fell in love with jazz, I think of tenor saxophonist Kirk Whalum. Among some of my most prized recordings, signed copies of his albums Unconditional (Warner Bros., 2001) and For You (Warner...
Best albums of 2011 make for optimism about 2012
Jan. 4 | As the year 2011 ends and 2012 begins, one word comes to mind: optimistic. Optimistic is how I feel. Kind of like the song “Optimistic,” sung by the Sounds of Blackness and written by Jimmy Jam for his mother. It’s one of my favorite...
