Jawanza Kobie’s Weekly Wednesday Jazz Playlist June 29, 2022
Alto saxophonist Luis Gonzalez Deniz was born in Camaguey, Cuba on April 21st, 1983. In 1993, Luis started his musical studies at the Escuela Vocacional de Arte Luis Casas Romero in his hometown of Camaguey before continuing at the Escuela Profesional de Musica Jose White. Luis has performed and taught workshops throughout Cuba, Australia, Japan, USA, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, England, Ireland, Scotland, Luxembourg and Switzerland. He has also shared the stage with international figures such as Barry Harris, Howard Johnson, Ray Vega, Steve Turre, Randy Brecker, Donald Harrison, Ingrid Jensen, Mark Feldman, Gary Versace and Hermeto Pascoal. ‘Entre Dos Ideas’ is a track from his most recent release.
Esthesis Quartet, is the sensory, whimsical and expansive self-titled debut statement from a new creative quartet formed by pianist Dawn Clement, flutist Elsa Nilsson, bassist Emma Dayhuff and drummer Tina Raymond. The record features original compositions modeled by tactile sensitivity and exploratory improvisation and is available now via Orenda Records. This is ‘Cricket’ from their latest release.
David Alan Douglas is an American musician, most widely known for being in the Christian music industry as the drummer of the Christian rock band Relient K. Douglas joined the band after their former drummer, Stephen Cushman, departed in late 2000. His style often focuses on heavy snare hits on the beat and complex kick patterns. Not much information found on this drummer but here he is with his group for the track ‘Instrumental Angels’
The Chicago Soul Jazz Collective (CSJC) is a band driven toward a performer-audience relationship of headshaking, hard-grooving, spirit-lifting original music influenced by the renown of classic soul-jazz. According to SoulTracks, CSJC produces music that "…really SWINGS". The CSJC took shape in 2017 and booked on a session with Chicago alt-country hero Robbie Fulks, began talking about their shared tactic for coping with difficult times: listening to the soul jazz LPs that proliferated in the hard-bop era. From that first discussion came the Collective, whose debut album, Soulophone (2018), covered vintage hits by Ramsey Lewis, Lee Morgan, and Jimmy Smith among others. ‘Nothing Good ever Goes Away’ is from their latest release.
Charles Lloyd is an American jazz musician. Charles Lloyd was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 15, 1938.
Though he primarily plays tenor saxophone and flute, he has occasionally recorded on other reed instruments, including alto saxophone and the Hungarian tárogató. A NEA Jazz Master, now in his eighth decade, has never sounded better. The depth of his sound reflects a lifetime of experience. His concerts and recordings are events of pristine beauty and elegance, full of intensely felt emotion and passion that touches deep inside the heart. This is not entertainment, but the powerful uncorrupted expression of beauty through music. Charles Lloyd maintains an active performance and recording schedule with the New Quartet, Sangam, Maria Farantouri, The Marvels and special projects around the world. Charles Lloyd, who turned 80 in March 2018, was awarded the prestigious honor of “Chevalier des Arts et Lettres” by the French Minister of Culture in August 2019. At 84, Lloyd remains a vital and creative force in the world of music and arts. ‘Song My Lady Sings’ is from his latest release.
NYO Jazz gives young musicians the opportunity to perform as cultural ambassadors on an international stage and share a uniquely American musical genre with cultures around the world through an international tour each summer. NYO Jazz, comprising outstanding young musicians ages 16–19 from across the US, showcases the legacy and bright future of American jazz. Led by Artistic Director Sean Jones, these remarkable musicians come together each summer to engage in a rigorous training residency with world-class jazz masters on the campus of Purchase College, State University of New York. In addition to the residency, NYO Jazz performs an annual concert at Carnegie Hall with a celebrated guest artist and embarks on a tour to some of the world’s great music capitals. This is ‘We’re Still Here /He’s Alright’ from their latest release.
Ella Jane Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. A concert from 1958 has been reissued and released in 2022 of the great Ella Fitzgerald singing the from the song book of songwriter Irving Berlin. Here she is singing ‘I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm’
Julius Rodriguez, also known as "Orange Julius", is an American pianist, drummer and composer. In 2021, Rodriguez signed with Verve Records. Rodriguez grew up in White Plains, New York and is of Haitian descent. He began to study classical piano at an early age. He was exposed to jazz, particularly music by Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and John Coltrane through his father, an avid jazz fan and aficionado. At age twelve, he enrolled in Manhattan School of Music's precollege division and studied there continuously throughout high school. He later studied at The Juilliard School. Rodriguez’s music integrates elements from jazz, avant-garde, R&B, hip-hop and popmusic. He has worked as a sideman with Keyon Harrold, Ben Williams, Carmen Lundy, James Morrison, Jazzmeia Horn, Dev Hynes, Roy Hargrove, Macy Gray, Wynton Marsalis, Veronica Swift, Gabriel Garzón-Montano, Nick Hakim, and Meshell Ndegeocello and others. This is ‘Two Way Street At Home’ recorded live from his most recent release.
Could not find much information about this tenor saxophonist Binker Golding from the United Kingdom. It appears he has released about eight albums during his young career. Here is his latest ‘Howling And Drinking In God’s Own Country’
I hope you enjoy
JK