The second half of 2022 was full of change for Mei Semones. The musician had just moved to a new city, New York. She was falling in love as she began a new relationship while also ending a close friendship, and she was adjusting to the unglamorous realities of adulthood after having graduated from Berklee College of Music that spring.
“It was a transition period of my life,” says Semones, who struggled to find time for creativity now that she had a full-time job at a Japanese preschool. “I was trying...
“It was a transition period of my life,” says Semones, who struggled to find time for creativity now that she had a full-time job at a Japanese preschool. “I was trying...
- 2/15/2024
- by Jonathan Bernstein
- Rollingstone.com
Richard Davis, the prolific bassist who adorned jazz classics by Pharoah Sanders, Eric Dolphy, and Andrew Hill and laid the musical foundation for Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks, has died at the age of 93.
Davis’ daughter Persia confirmed her father’s death Thursday on both a memorial page and to Madison 365; Davis taught at the University of Wisconsin for over 40 years, but spent the last two years in hospice care. “We appreciate all the love and support the community has shown him over the years,” Persia Davis added.
The Chicago-born...
Davis’ daughter Persia confirmed her father’s death Thursday on both a memorial page and to Madison 365; Davis taught at the University of Wisconsin for over 40 years, but spent the last two years in hospice care. “We appreciate all the love and support the community has shown him over the years,” Persia Davis added.
The Chicago-born...
- 9/7/2023
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
23 May 2023 — Cautious Clay has signed with Blue Note Records and released “Ohio,” the lead single of his forthcoming label debut due out later this year. Since 2017, Cautious has been steadily building a devoted fanbase with his heartfelt songwriting and a unique sound that moves fluidly between pop, alternative R&b, and indie rock. For his next move, the Cleveland-born, New York-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer also known as Joshua Karpeh takes a giant artistic leap forward with an ambitious album that reveals a new side of his artistry by delving deeper than ever into his jazz influences.
“Ohio” touches upon Cautious’ early experiences growing up in Cleveland. The song struts to a buoyant fat bassline reminiscent of 1970s-era Isley Brothers as Cautious’ emotive tenor voice floats through a dreamy soundscape with lyrics depicting a young Joshua exploring his options in a vast heartland.
Growing up, Joshua’s parents would...
“Ohio” touches upon Cautious’ early experiences growing up in Cleveland. The song struts to a buoyant fat bassline reminiscent of 1970s-era Isley Brothers as Cautious’ emotive tenor voice floats through a dreamy soundscape with lyrics depicting a young Joshua exploring his options in a vast heartland.
Growing up, Joshua’s parents would...
- 5/24/2023
- by Music Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Music
Country singer Jamey Johnson and saxophone player Dave McMurray have combined their talents for a new cover of Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter’s “To Lay Me Down” that’s out now. The song appears on McMurray’s upcoming album Grateful Deadication 2, a tribute album that reimagines the work of the Grateful Dead.
The track opens with some celestial sax runs and percussion, but quickly shifts to a subdued arrangement of acoustic guitar and piano for Johnson’s tender delivery of the verses. McMurray accents the tune with some soulful...
The track opens with some celestial sax runs and percussion, but quickly shifts to a subdued arrangement of acoustic guitar and piano for Johnson’s tender delivery of the verses. McMurray accents the tune with some soulful...
- 4/28/2023
- by Jon Freeman
- Rollingstone.com
Celebrated singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello is back with a new song, “Virgo.” The single will appear on her first album of all new material in nearly a decade, The Omnichord Real Book, out June 16 via Blue Note.
“Virgo” is a slinky, eight-minute jazz-soul epic that blends everything from disco guitar and plucky synths to atmospheric washes of sound and a bit of ethereal harp: “They’re calling me back to the stars,” Ndegeocello sings. “Deep outer space, they’re calling me.”
The Omnichord Real Book follows Ndegeocello’s 2018 covers album, Ventriloquism,...
“Virgo” is a slinky, eight-minute jazz-soul epic that blends everything from disco guitar and plucky synths to atmospheric washes of sound and a bit of ethereal harp: “They’re calling me back to the stars,” Ndegeocello sings. “Deep outer space, they’re calling me.”
The Omnichord Real Book follows Ndegeocello’s 2018 covers album, Ventriloquism,...
- 3/22/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Visionary composer, saxophonist and visual artist Wayne Shorter has passed away at the age of 89.
His cause of death remains unknown, however the devoted husband, father and grandfather was surrounded by his loving family in Los Angeles at the time of his transition. He is survived by his wife Carolina, daughters Miyako and Mariana, and newly-born grandson Max.
Prior to his death, Shorter won his 13th Grammy award in February.
Read More: 2023 Grammy Awards: Complete Winners List
During the last few prolific years of his life, the extraordinary musician attained his opera …Iphigenia, written in collaboration with Esperanza Spalding, which played to widespread critical acclaim across the country in 2020, and released his Grammy-winning triple album and graphic novel Emanon in 2018.
“Wayne Shorter, my best friend, left us with courage in his heart, love and compassion for all, and a seeking spirit for the eternal future,” said Herbie Hancock, Shorter’s...
His cause of death remains unknown, however the devoted husband, father and grandfather was surrounded by his loving family in Los Angeles at the time of his transition. He is survived by his wife Carolina, daughters Miyako and Mariana, and newly-born grandson Max.
Prior to his death, Shorter won his 13th Grammy award in February.
Read More: 2023 Grammy Awards: Complete Winners List
During the last few prolific years of his life, the extraordinary musician attained his opera …Iphigenia, written in collaboration with Esperanza Spalding, which played to widespread critical acclaim across the country in 2020, and released his Grammy-winning triple album and graphic novel Emanon in 2018.
“Wayne Shorter, my best friend, left us with courage in his heart, love and compassion for all, and a seeking spirit for the eternal future,” said Herbie Hancock, Shorter’s...
- 3/2/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
Wayne Shorter, the legendary, Grammy-winning saxophonist who — in addition to his own renowned albums and work with jazz supergroup Weather Report — collaborated with the likes of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Steely Dan, and Joni Mitchell, has died at the age of 89.
The venerated musician died Thursday morning, March 2, in Los Angeles, Shorter’s rep confirmed to Rolling Stone. No cause of death was provided. His longtime label Blue Note said in a statement Thursday, “Visionary composer, saxophonist, visual artist, devout Buddhist, devoted husband, father, and grandfather Wayne Shorter has passed...
The venerated musician died Thursday morning, March 2, in Los Angeles, Shorter’s rep confirmed to Rolling Stone. No cause of death was provided. His longtime label Blue Note said in a statement Thursday, “Visionary composer, saxophonist, visual artist, devout Buddhist, devoted husband, father, and grandfather Wayne Shorter has passed...
- 3/2/2023
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of her debut album Come Away With Me, Norah Jones appeared on The Tonight Show to perform her breakout single, “Don’t Know Why.” Jones revisited the emotive song on a grand piano from the late-night show’s stage, which is the same spot where she made her late-night debut in 2002.
Jones recently released Come Away With Me: 20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition, a 44-track collection including 22 previously unreleased tracks, out now via Blue Note/UMe. The reissue includes the original demos Jones submitted to Blue Note,...
Jones recently released Come Away With Me: 20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition, a 44-track collection including 22 previously unreleased tracks, out now via Blue Note/UMe. The reissue includes the original demos Jones submitted to Blue Note,...
- 5/5/2022
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Saxophonist Dave McMurray has enlisted Bob Weir and Bettye Lavette for a rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Loser,” the first single from McMurray’s upcoming Dead tribute album Grateful Deadication.
McMurray’s version of the Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter-penned track, sung by Lavette with Weir on guitar, also features assistance from Wolf Bros., the Weir-led group featuring Jeff Chimenti, Jay Lane, Greg Leisz, and Don Was. McMurray and Was were bandmates in Was (Not Was), with Was — in his role as president of Blue Note — set to release...
McMurray’s version of the Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter-penned track, sung by Lavette with Weir on guitar, also features assistance from Wolf Bros., the Weir-led group featuring Jeff Chimenti, Jay Lane, Greg Leisz, and Don Was. McMurray and Was were bandmates in Was (Not Was), with Was — in his role as president of Blue Note — set to release...
- 6/4/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Norah Jones has shared an airy rendition of her Grammy-sweeping hit “Don’t Know Why” from her upcoming live album ’Til We Meet Again, out April 16th on Blue Note.
The singer and her ensemble — Pete Remm on organ, Christopher Thomas on bass, and Brian Blade on drums — recorded this take on the 2002 single in 2018 at Live au Campo in Perpignan, France.
Jones previously released “It Was You” from ’Til We Meet Again, her first-ever live album, which collects 14 performances from various cities recorded between 2017 and 2019. In addition to new renditions of her own songs,...
The singer and her ensemble — Pete Remm on organ, Christopher Thomas on bass, and Brian Blade on drums — recorded this take on the 2002 single in 2018 at Live au Campo in Perpignan, France.
Jones previously released “It Was You” from ’Til We Meet Again, her first-ever live album, which collects 14 performances from various cities recorded between 2017 and 2019. In addition to new renditions of her own songs,...
- 4/2/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Iggy Pop joins Dr. Lonnie Smith for a cover of Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman,” one of two collaborations between the Stooges singer and the jazz great from Smith’s upcoming album Breathe.
Pop and Smith put a soulful spin on the 1966 single, with Smith’s organ the highlight of a spacious arrangement that nearly doubles the song’s original runtime.
Both Pop and Smith are currently Florida natives, with Pop residing in Miami and Smith in Fort Lauderdale. “I was playing with my trio at Arts Garage in Delray Beach in Florida,...
Pop and Smith put a soulful spin on the 1966 single, with Smith’s organ the highlight of a spacious arrangement that nearly doubles the song’s original runtime.
Both Pop and Smith are currently Florida natives, with Pop residing in Miami and Smith in Fort Lauderdale. “I was playing with my trio at Arts Garage in Delray Beach in Florida,...
- 3/3/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
At age 12, Tevin Campbell — freshly signed to Warner on the strength of a voice that was already drawing comparisons to Michael Jackson — hopped on a call with Prince. “I remember riding in the limo and talking to him over the phone,” Campbell says. “I knew who Prince was, of course, but at the time, I had a really, really, really high voice, so I didn’t pay attention to a lot of male artists — I couldn’t sing male artists’ songs. To me, meeting Whitney would’ve been, ‘Aaaah!'...
- 2/12/2021
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
The looks in animated films combine lots of research, wild imagination and thought. For Pixar’s “Soul,” the artists had to construct the real world of New York City as well as the abstract world Great Before, where protagonist Joe ends up after he plunges down a manhole and hovers between life and death — that presented a whole new challenge: making the intangible concrete.
“One thing on this film, when we’re working with something that you can’t see or imagine, is you have to take it very seriously,” says production designer Steve Pilcher. They decided against going for “quick gags, like a soul world with soul cars,” but “you don’t go for gags, you go for, what would it really be like? And not in terms of reality, but how does it work contextually, visually, with the rest of the film?”
For the Great Before, Pilcher was...
“One thing on this film, when we’re working with something that you can’t see or imagine, is you have to take it very seriously,” says production designer Steve Pilcher. They decided against going for “quick gags, like a soul world with soul cars,” but “you don’t go for gags, you go for, what would it really be like? And not in terms of reality, but how does it work contextually, visually, with the rest of the film?”
For the Great Before, Pilcher was...
- 1/28/2021
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
This article contains Soul spoilers. You can find our spoiler-free review here.
What are you going to do with your life? It’s a looming question, and one that a few days ago Jamie Foxx’s Joe Gardner thought he knew the answer to. He was going to play jazz, professionally, and break into the music industry—specifically as the pianist for Dorothea Williams’ jazz quartet. But standing there on the ramp toward the Great Beyond, and staring at his second chance back on Earth, he’s posed the question again by a well-meaning Jerry.
So just what are you going to do with the rest of your life? For the first time, perhaps since he was a child, Joe didn’t have a firm answer. He simply says, “I don’t know but I’m going to live every moment of it.” And with that we see Joe, resurrected from the dead,...
What are you going to do with your life? It’s a looming question, and one that a few days ago Jamie Foxx’s Joe Gardner thought he knew the answer to. He was going to play jazz, professionally, and break into the music industry—specifically as the pianist for Dorothea Williams’ jazz quartet. But standing there on the ramp toward the Great Beyond, and staring at his second chance back on Earth, he’s posed the question again by a well-meaning Jerry.
So just what are you going to do with the rest of your life? For the first time, perhaps since he was a child, Joe didn’t have a firm answer. He simply says, “I don’t know but I’m going to live every moment of it.” And with that we see Joe, resurrected from the dead,...
- 12/26/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Like nearly every working musician on the planet, Suzanne Vega knows firsthand the impact of the Covid-19 shutdown: An entire summer European tour — along with U.S. shows in October and November — were postponed until next year after live music abruptly stopped.
To help some of the struggling, now-empty venues where she would have played, Vega and her manager Mark Spector have announced a pair of livestreamed shows on Wednesday and Thursday at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club. Any venue that sells tickets to either show (by way...
To help some of the struggling, now-empty venues where she would have played, Vega and her manager Mark Spector have announced a pair of livestreamed shows on Wednesday and Thursday at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club. Any venue that sells tickets to either show (by way...
- 10/5/2020
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
Wilco’s Nels Cline has dropped a new song from his ongoing side project, the Nels Cline Singers, “Beam/Spiral,” off the upcoming album Share the Wealth, out November 13th via Blue Note.
“Beam/Spiral” is a sprawling composition that begins with an atmospheric, cool jazz feel, but builds steadily into a driving rhythm before exploding into a finale that feels both chaotic and concise. The track arrives with an animated video, directed by Yuka Honda, that perfectly matches the song’s exploratory aura.
Cline said of the song: “It...
“Beam/Spiral” is a sprawling composition that begins with an atmospheric, cool jazz feel, but builds steadily into a driving rhythm before exploding into a finale that feels both chaotic and concise. The track arrives with an animated video, directed by Yuka Honda, that perfectly matches the song’s exploratory aura.
Cline said of the song: “It...
- 10/2/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
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