At the 2013 Toronto Jazz Festival in late June, perhaps my favorite moments were with the astonishing Brazilian pianist/singer Eliane Elias and her trio with bassist Marc Johnson and guitarist Steve Cardenas. Here’s the first of my two festival reviews in DownBeat.
Bobby McFerrin at sound check, Adelphi University. Photo by Adam McCullough
After years of singing mostly songs without words, or in improvised languages of his own invention, Bobby McFerrin has returned to singing the type of songs in which the lyrics are as essential as the music, with words that express his deepest yearnings: spirituals. In my interview with McFerrin, he talks about his early career and influences, why he considers himself a “folk” musician, and the process of creating his new album spirityouall.
Filed under Bobby McFerrin, Downbeat, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips
“Free to be Jane Monheit” – DownBeat, June 2013
Jane Monheit, one of the most accomplished jazz singers of her generation, no longer strives for perfection. Here’s my article from the June 2013 DownBeat.
Filed under Downbeat, Jazz, Music Writing and Clips, Uncategorized
Alto sax master Paquito D’Rivera resurrects “Charlie Parker w/Strings at Jazz at Lincoln Center. My review in DownBeat: http://ow.ly/kgRhH
My dinner with Wynton. OK, it was lunch. Great sushi and even better conversation. Here’s my interview/profile of him, as published in the December 2012 issue of DownBeat: “Wynton Marsalis – Profoundly Grateful” (DownBeat, Dec. 2012)
Filed under Downbeat, Music Writing and Clips, Wynton Marsalis
Luciana Souza and producer/husband Larry Klein discuss her two new albums, “The Book of Chet” and “Duos III,” their music, their marriage and much more in this interview published in the October 2012 DownBeat. You can read it here.
Filed under Downbeat, Larry Klein, Luciana Souza, Music Writing and Clips
Lee Konitz is 84 and is cooler than you. DownBeat is currently running my review of the alto sax legend and his “Enfants Terribles” (feat. Bill Frisell) as their lead story. http://bit.ly/RF1D2D
Filed under Bill Frisell, Downbeat, Lee Konitz, Music Writing and Clips, Uncategorized
Brilliant Lee Konitz, 84, and Bill Frisell, a mere 61, lead “Enfants Terribles” @BlueNote NYC. I’ll review for DownBeat tmrw night. http://ow.ly/cZLuA
Filed under Bill Frisell, Downbeat, Lee Konitz, Music Writing and Clips
I recently traveled to L.A. to interview the wonderful singer/composer Luciana Souza – and her equally brilliant producer-husband Larry Klein – for a feature story in DownBeat. The article will preview two new albums to be released simultaneously in late August.
Filed under Downbeat, Luciana Souza, Music Writing and Clips
The new “Porgy and Bess,” adapted for Broadway by Suzan Lori-Parks and Diedre L. Murray is up for 10 Tonys, including Best Musical Revival, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Orchestrations. For the May 2012 issue of DownBeat, I interviewed Diedre Murray on how she and her collaborators re-imagined Gershwin’s score for 21st Century Broadway. (Click the pic to read.)
Filed under Downbeat, Music Writing and Clips, Porgy and Bess, Uncategorized
Luciana Souza brings Brazil to New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, covers songs from Jobim to Leonard Cohen http://bit.ly/AAPMSO
I’m currently working on an interview for Downbeat with “Porgy and Bess” musical arranger Diedre Murray. Meanwhile, here’s a treat — Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis sing highlights, including an incredible “Bess, You Is My Woman Now.”
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/2012/jan/17/audra-mcdonald-and-norm-lewis/
Filed under Downbeat, Music Writing and Clips, Porgy and Bess
Allen Morrison - Music Journalist, Jazz Pianist, Songwriter, Lecturer - Long Island, NY 
You must be logged in to post a comment.