Lover of Jazz and Life

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30 Day Song Challenge: Day 2 - A Song That Always Makes Me Smile

New CurtJazz Blog Post! 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 2 - A Song That Always Makes Me Smile

Day 2 – A Song That Always Makes Me Smile – “Spanish Rice” – Clark Terry and Chico O’Farrill It was a close contest between this and another Clark Terry tune, “Mumbles” but the fact that I am addicted to 60’s soul jazz and Latin-soul jazz, won the day for this classic. It’s the title track to the album that these two legends made in 1966 for Impulse Records. The album itself is good (not great)…

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2021 Jazz (and More) Grammy Nominations

2021 Jazz (and More) Grammy Nominations

This is something that I usually do when the Grammy nominations are first announced, each November but I took a little unscheduled break from blogging and the awards still aren’t going to be presented for another four weeks, so I have (a little) time. Here’s a listing of all of the nominees for 2021 Grammys, in the jazz categories AND in the categories that are jazz related, such as Contemporary…

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In Memoriam: Jazz Artists we Lost in 2020

New CurtJazz.com blog post! In Memoriam: Jazz Artists We Lost in 2020 #jazz #2020jazz #curtjazz

We already know that 2020 was an exceptionally cruel year. And its effect on the jazz world was especially painful. With many of our music’s greats already at an advanced age (albeit vibrantly, for many) and with a brutal virus spreading around, that hits the elderly and those with underlying conditions, far harder than other segments of the population, we knew it could be a tough year for our…

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My Favorite Jazz Albums of 2020 - The Complete List

New CurtJazz.com Blog Post! My Favorite Jazz Albums of 2020 - The Complete List #jazz #bestjazzof2020 #curtjazz

In the three previous posts, I’ve listed and discussed my favorite jazz albums of 2020. Bright musical oases, in this otherwise miserable year. In this post, we bring all 30 of them together, in one place. In each album title is embedded a link to the album’s page on Amazon. In these extraordinarily difficult times, we encourage you to purchase these albums, if there’s something that you like.…

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My Favorite Jazz Albums of the Year: 30 for '20 (Part 2 of 3)

New Post on Curtjazz.com Jazz Blog. My Favorite Jazz Albums of the Year: 30 for '20 (Part 2 of 3) #jazz #BestJazzof2020 #curtjazz

Our second set of ten discs, includes a brilliant final musical statement from a true jazz great, a trumpet master, who is still creating incredible music, in his eighth decade; an exciting South African pianist, who is setting the jazz world aflame and a sparkling tribute to some legendary ancestors by a few modern masters. Let’s dig in. Once again, the albums are in alphabetical order, by…

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My Favorite Jazz Albums of the Year: 30 for '20 (Part 1 of 3)

New Curt's Jazz Cafe Blog Post! My Favorite Jazz Albums of the Year: 30 for '20 (Part 1 of 3) #jazz #bestjazzalbums #curtjazz #curtjazzradio

Man, this has been one strange year! (Insert your own “no kidding”, or some variant, here) Though I was fortunate enough to host a Zoom-based jazz talk show (Conversations with Curtis), thanks to JazzArts Charlotte, I heard less live music, this year than at any time, since my teens. I also somehow managed to hear less recorded music than any year, in recent memory. I feel less comfortable than…

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Keep Calm and Clave On - An Afro-Cuban Jazz Primer - Part 3

New CurtJazz.com Blog Post! Keep Calm and Clave On - An Afro-Cuban Jazz Primer - Part 3 #jazz #afrocubanjazz #latinjazz

The clave (/ˈklɑːveɪ, kleɪv/; Spanish: [ˈklaβe]) – a rhythmic pattern used as a tool for temporal organization in Afro-Cuban music. It is present in a variety of genres such as Abakuá music, rumba, conga, son, mambo, salsa, songo, timba and Afro-Cuban jazz. The five-stroke clave pattern represents the structural core of many Afro-Cuban rhythms (From Wikipedia)

Got it now? The clave, is the…

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Don't Call it "Salsa" - An Afro Cuban Jazz Primer - Part 2

New curtjazz.com blog post! "Don't Call it "Salsa" - An Afro Cuban Jazz Primer - Part 2" #jazz #afrocubanjazz

Cuba has produced a rich catalog of musical styles, especially since the beginning of the 20th Century. We will briefly describe some of these styles, shortly. However, one thing that you should not do, is refer to these styles as “Salsa”.

The reason was explained by Afro-Cuban jazz legend, Mario Bauzá, during a 1992 television interview. Said Bauzá: “After the [Cuban] Revolution…they started…

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Ricky Ricardo Ain't Real - An Afro-Cuban Jazz Primer - Part 1

New Curtjazz.com Blog Post! "Ricky Ricardo Ain't Real" - An Afro-Cuban Jazz Primer - Part 1 #jazz #afrocubanjazz #latinjazz #classicjazz

April is Jazz Appreciation Month. So let’s show love to one of the most vibrant of jazz styles – Afro-Cuban. Some have called it “Latin Jazz”. However, the originators of the style, such as Mario Bauzá, usually bristled at the generic and watered-down sound of that term.

Another thing that caused many Cuban musicians anguish was the fact that Desi Arnaz, the Cuban born actor and conguero was…

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Album Reviews - A Sack Full of Sax

New CurtJazz.com Blog Post! Album Reviews - A Sack Full of Sax #jazz @nickhemptonband @chrisgreenejazz #justinrobinson #ralphmoore #wj3records #newreleases

Our first review post of the year, features four new albums from veteran saxophonists who should all, be better known than they are. Start to right that wrong, by picking up these projects, which are all recommended.

Chris Greene Quartet – Playspace (Single Malt)

The native of Evanston, IL has spent most of his career…

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Duke fires Mingus ("Juan's an old problem")

New curtjazz.com blog post! Duke fires Mingus ("Juan's an old problem") #jazz #classicjazz #charlesmingus #mingus

For those of you who weren’t with us in Charlotte on February 22-23, 2019; well, you missed some amazing jazz, as Neil Caine honored Charles Mingus. I was fortunate enough to be the MC for the weekend and in that capacity, tell a few stories related to one of the greatest bass players in the history of jazz. Due to time constraints, I only made passing mention to one of my favorites – one from…

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Obscure Trumpet Masters #12 - Dupree Bolton

Obscure Trumpet Masters #12 – Dupree Bolton

Dupree Bolton (1929 – 1993)

“If things had worked out right for [Dupree] he could have been one of the most important trumpet players of our time. There was a certain grandeur he was able to capture. . . He had a unique, fresh quality—something different.” – Harold Land on Dupree Bolton

There are Obscure Trumpet Masters…and then there’s Dupree Bolton. To say that a shroud of mystery has…

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Who's Hazel Scott? (Unsung Women of Jazz #11)

Who’s Hazel Scott? (Unsung Women of Jazz #11)

I must admit, it did my jazzy little heart good to hear Alicia Keys give a shout out to Hazel Scott during her impressive dual piano stint on the 61st Grammy Awards. As soon as she sat down between the two keyboards, I thought of Ms. Scott and her scene in the 1943 film The Heat’s On which clearly was Ms. Keys’ inspiration.

“Th…

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Who's Hazel Scott? (Unsung Women of Jazz #11)

New curtjazz.com blog post! Who's Hazel Scott? (Unsung Women of Jazz #11) #jazz #hazelscott #womeninjazz #classicjazz

I must admit, it did my jazzy little heart good to hear Alicia Keys give a shout out to Hazel Scott during her impressive dual piano stint on the 61st Grammy Awards. As soon as she sat down between the dual keyboards, I thought of Ms. Scott and her scene in the 1943 film The Heat’s Onwhich clearly was Ms. Keys’ inspiration.

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2019 Jazz Grammys Overview: Best Jazz Instrumental Album

New curtjaz.com blog post! 2019 Jazz Grammys Overview: Best Jazz Instrumental Album #jazz #2019grammys #jazzgrammys #grammy

BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

In the second of the two biggest jazz categories, we have a race between a great saxophonist who is finally earning a little recognition; two of the finest pianists working today; a respected veteran who is still getting it done and a true legend, admired and respected by all.

The nominees are:

DIAMOND CUT Tia Fuller

The crackle from the moment her alto…

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2019 Jazz Grammys Overview: Best Jazz Vocal Album

New curtjazz.com blog post! 2019 Jazz Grammys Overview: Best Jazz Vocal Album #jazz #grammys #grammys2019 #jazzgrammys

BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM

An eclectic group in this category, this year. It includes two past winners, who must be considered the favorites. There is also a veteran performer, a member of a legendary musical family, who is still seeking his first Grammy in a career that has spanned over half a century.

The nominees are:

MY MOOD IS YOU Freddy Cole

Truth be told, I am rooting like mad for…

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