Author Archive
The 16th Annual Festival at Arcosanti
The 16th annual festival at Arcosanti on June 7-8 will feature Charles McPherson-sax, Harrison Bankhead-bass; Ray Brown Jr.-bass (son of Ella Fitzgerald-Ray Brown), Sherry Roberson-vocals, Charles Lewis-piano, Dowell Davis-drums, plus Tommy Dukes Blues Band, Miles Dalto Trio and the Milt Cannon Quintet.
Continue ReadingThe Art Of Blues At Herberger Theatre
“The Art of Blues,” an original scripted tribute to blues legends Billie Holiday, Etta James, B. B. King and Buddy Guy, featured speed-artist Randall Hedden creating five-minute portraits to the accompaniment of a Phoenix-based sextet and four vocalists.
Continue ReadingYouth Honor Bands of Young Sounds Performance
The two youth honor bands of Young Sounds of Arizona will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 2, at theMusical Instrument Museum. This is the annual “Meet the Composer” featuring music written by Mike Shellans.
Continue Reading“Chapito” Chavarria’s 100th Birthday Celebration At The Musical Instrument Museum
By PATRICIA MYERS,
“Chapito” Chavarria Orchestra
Musical Instrument Museum
Phoenix, Arizona
April 6, 2014
A 10-piece band of Phoenix-area musicians performed a concert celebrating the 100th birthday of longtime bandleader Rafael “Chapito” Chavarria. The musician, composer and arranger attended the event, which included the dedication of a new segment of the “I Am AZ Music” exhibit at the Musical Instrument Museum.
Continue ReadingDiana Krall Sextet At Mesa Arts Center
Diana Krall applied her sultry voice and dynamic piano style to a captivating if surprising concert that combined jazz with tender childhood memories, silent-film clips and Seinfeld-style mischievous humor.
Continue Reading37th Paradise Valley Jazz Party At Scottsdale Hilton Resort
An A-team of East Coast, West Coast and Arizona musicians played a mix of swing and bebop sounds in 14 jam-session-style sets at the 37th annual Paradise Valley Jazz Party.
Continue ReadingHerb Alpert-Lani Hall Quintet At Musical Instrument Museum
Trumpeter-vocalist Herb Alpert and vocalist Lani Hall performed a lively and captivating concert that linked their past triumphs to their newest collaborations. The uber-professionalism of this concert conveyed the ambience of a New York City cabaret show, an informal and relaxing mode that brimmed with rich talent.
Continue ReadingCharles Lloyd At The Musical Instrument Museum
Saxophonist Charles Lloyd, who has continually reinvented his musical style since the late 1960s, delivered a deluge of sound and rhythm changes in a spell-binding concert that integrated avant-garde jazz with elements of Asian and Eastern European music.
Continue ReadingClayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra At Mesa Arts Center
By PATRICIA MYERS Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra Mesa Arts Center Mesa, Arizona March 7, 2014The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, one of the best big bands in the nation for three decades, swung mightily all night long with strong section work and stylish solos arranged for specific members, per Duke Ellington and Count Basie. A brief post-intermission QA period from triumverate co-leaders bassist John […]
Continue ReadingJeff Hamilton At Phoenix Musicians Union
An Oscar Peterson Trio-like swingfest was delivered by Los Angeles-based drummerJeff Hamilton in a reunion with longtime Phoenix pianist Armand Boatman, for a scholarship benefit concert presented by the Phoenix Musicians Union as part of its Centennial celebration.
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