Jawanza Kobie’s Weekly Wednesday Jazz Playlist February 15, 2023
Javon Anthony Jackson
Javon Anthony Jackson (born June 16, 1965) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and educator. He first became known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1987 until Blakey's death in 1990. and went on to release 22 recordings as a bandleader and tour and record on over 150 CDs with jazz greats including Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Haden, Betty Carter, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Stanley Turrentine and Ben E. King. For his Solid Jackson label, Jackson released his collaboration with the famed poet Nikki Giovanni, The Gospel According To Nikki Giovanni, in 2022. The track listing is the poet reimagining gospel hymns and spirituals set to jazz. Here is the old Black spiritual ‘Wade In The Water’
Franklin ‘Stix Bones’ Brown
Brooklyn native Franklin" Stix Bones" Brown started his career beating the skins for the likes of Jessica CARE Moore (Poet), Lyricist Lounge, Rahzel The Godfather of Noize(The Roots). and DJ Maseo(De La Soul) Stix earned his bachelor's degree in music at Purchase College in NY. Stix’smusic career included performing/ touring the US and England. Stix Bones whose musical influences are a mix of Hip Hop and Jazz musicians has built a respectable name amongst Jazz & Hip Hop artist and is credited as truly a Brother Of Noble Excellence. Here is the track ‘Promensde’ from his latest release Breaks From The Soul 2022.
Boney James
Boney James is an American saxophonist, songwriter, record producer and recording artist. He is a four-time Grammy Award nominee and a Soul Train Award winner. He has also received three NAACP Image Award nominations for Best Jazz Album. James took up the clarinet at the age of eight, switching to sax when he was ten having spent his early teen years in New Rochelle, New York. He became musically influenced by the R&B Motown genre and saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. He is a four-time Grammy Award nominee (Best Pop Instrumental Album, 2001, 2004, 2014 and Best Traditional R&B Performance, 2009) and a Soul Train Award winner (Best Jazz Album 1998) ‘Coastin’ is a track from his latest release Detour featuring Vocalist Lala Hathaway and daughter of Singer, composer Donny Hathaway.
Sam Gendel
Sam Gendel is a musician and producer living in Los Angeles, CA. He is most known for his work with the saxophone, though he is proficient on multiple instruments. His work is diverse and includes significant collaborations with a wide range of artists including Ry Cooder, Blake Mills, Sam Amidon, Perfume Genius, Moses Sumney, Knower, Vampire Weekend, and inc. no world. Gendel’s previous discography includes the critically praised Music for Saxofone & Bass Guitar with bassist Sam Wilkes and 4444. This is his latest release ‘Anywhere’ featuring vocalist and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello from his Cookup CD release Due February 24.
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter is a veteran Icon of American jazz and saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet, and then co-founded the jazz fusion band Weather Report. Many Shorter compositions have become jazz standards, and his music has earned worldwide recognition, critical praise and commendation. Shorter has won 12 Grammy Awards. He is acclaimed for his mastery of the soprano saxophone since switching his focus from the tenor in the late 1960s and beginning an extended reign in 1970 as Down Beat's annual poll-winner on that instrument, winning the critics' poll for 10 consecutive years and the readers' for 18. The New York Times' Ben Ratliff described . Shorter in 2008 as "probably jazz's greatest living small-group composer and a contender for greatest living improviser". In 2017, he was awarded the Polar Music Prize.[5] Here is his latest Grammy Award 2023 winning track recorded Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival featuring drummer Terri Lynne Carrington and bassist Esperanza Spalding ‘Drummers Song’
London Brew
London Brew is the debut album by London Brew, a band consisting of a dozen British jazz musicians including Nubya Garcia, BBC Radio 1 presenter Benji B, and multiple members of Sons of Kemet and the Invisible. The album is set for release on 31 March 2023. The album was announced 19 January 2023 along with the release of lead single "Miles Chases New Voodoo in the Church", an interpretation of Davis' Jimi Hendrix-inspired "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down", and is set for release by Concord Jazz on 31 March. The band was assembled by producer and guitarist Martin Terefe and executive producer Bruce Lampcov for a series of concerts in major cities across Europe, starting with one at the Barbican Centre celebrating the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tyler Mitchell
Tyler Mitchell is a jazz bassist and has recorded and toured with some of jazz's most respected artists, including: Art Taylor, Jon Hendricks, Shirley Horn, George Coleman and the Sun Ra Arkestra. He is unique in that he is active in both the traditional and avant-garde jazz idioms and is currently in demand as both a leader and a sideman in New York City. He studied the bass with Donald Raphael Garrett (John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, Roland Kirk) and Malachi Favors (Art Ensemble of Chicago). He has recorded on Grammy nominated recordings and has recorded at The Village Vanguard. His latest release as a leader ‘Topic’ from his Carefree CD was released in 2022.
I hope you enjoy
JK