Archive for February, 2015
Duke Ellington Orchestra at Arizona Musicfest
By Patricia Myers:
The Duke Ellington Orchestra delivered a solid mix of swing and ballads from the colossal repertoire of its namesake and his gifted composing colleague, Billy Strayhorn. The enduring sophistication of their collaborative creativity was interpreted by a coalition of exceptional musicians. As soon as the band launched the concert with the most famous Ellington chart, “Take the A Train,” the Arizona Musicfest audience of 1,000 became immediately engaged.
Continue ReadingGeorge Benson and the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra at Mesa Arts Center
By
PATRICIA MYERS,
January 21, 2015
Guitarist-vocalist George Benson performed two straight hours of soul-satisfying and totally thrilling music that reprised his five decades of hits in jazz and pop-contemporary music acclaim. The non-stop set ranged from his 1964 jazz albums debut through multiple Grammy-winning gold and platinum CDs, to his 2013 Nat “King” Cole tribute, Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole (Concord Records, 2013).
Continue ReadingRiffs: Music News from Out and About
By Patricia Myers
Suspicions confirmed. I’ve always considered modern jazz the most inventive of all music genres. Its early influences of Prez, Diz, Duke and Miles are never-ending, but each new configuration offers newly creative elements. So when I saw an article about how similar country music hits are becoming, I thought, “Suspicions confirmed.”
Continue ReadingLewis Nash performs on friend’s album-tribute to young daughter
By Patricia Myers
Phoenix-born jazz drummer Lewis Nash was the drummer on tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene’s newly released tribute album, Beautiful Life (Mack Avenue Records). The CD is a remembrance celebration of Greene’s 6-year-old daughter, Ana Márquez-Greene, who was among the 20 children and six educators killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, on Dec.14, 2012.
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