Monthly Archives : June 2016

KANDACE SPRINGS LIVE TO AIR AT JAZZ FM

AN ANGEL SINGS

I had the opportunity to see Kandace Springs perform at a Live To Air event last night at Jazz FM.  What a treat that was.

Kandace Springs

This young singer/pianist from Nashville who had been mentored by her famous father Scat Springs along with all his well known artist friends in the R&B genre, is now a well know and accomplished artist in her own right.  From an early age she realized a passion for jazz through her father’s support and being influenced by artist such as Roberta Flack, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Nora Jones to name just a few.

But it was through a video she posted of herself on the net that caught the eye and ears of the late Prince.  He  contacted her directly and within a few days she was on her way to her destiny.

Listening to her speak and hearing her play, I could tell she truly loves her passion.  It’s “Who she is” as she said.  And what a voice?  Her vocal range is vast.  She can call upon softness or strength whenever needed and she is seasoned enough to know just where and when to use it.

Last night she played tunes from her album Soul Eyes (which contains some of her own well written original tracks) along with standards close to her heart.  Her arrangement of Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was mesmerizing.  I told her it was like Roberta was right there singing to us.

Kandace is an energetic, bright and talented artist with a huge future.  She is definitely one to watch. You can learn more about her here.

ELECTRIFYING FUNK WITH MARK KELSO

MARK KELSO’S JAZZ EXILES AT THE REX

Mark Kelso’s Jazz Exiles

Mark (drums), Rich Brown (electric bass), Luis Deniz (sax), Joey Martel (guitar), Robi Botos (keyboards)

I hadn’t planned to come back to The Rex so soon but I really wanted to check out Mark’s band.  Plus I’m a big fan of the band’s keyboardist Robi Botos.

As it turns out Robi had another solo gig across town and another keyboardist had to step in.

I had never seen this band and quite frankly wasn’t sure what to expect.  That question was boldly answered from the start of the first song.  Mark did warn us that it would be loud and loud it was but in a good way.  This group is funky as hell.  The group is tight but yet loose enough to explore during some very hair raising solos.  Saxophonist Luis Deniz is a melodic player with some very good chops. Joey on guitar, brings the funky rhythms you would expect in a group such as this but he also brings the “young spirit” into the group as Mark pointed out. One song even had some metal elements in it.

Replacing Robi on keyboards for this gig was a very talented and versatile Jeremy Ledbetter.  This dude stepped in with little knowledge of the charts and nailed it all.  His (many) solos were strong and inventive.  He played as if he had been in the group for years.

Mark’s quite capable rhythms were punctuated by the very talented bass player Rich Brown (featured in Downbeat Magazine here).  Rich is quite intriguing to watch and mesmerizing to hear (reminiscent of John Patitucci on electric bass).  He sits while playing and he doesn’t move much.  The crowd is boppin and swaying and grooving, while Mark the drummer is almost jumping out of his chair and the rest of the band is equally animated but Rich does’t move.  What is fascinating though is his fingers.  This dudes fingers are flying all over the bass.  His notes are many but precise and always soulful.  Yet all the while very rarely does he look a his instrument or show any sign of strain.  At the brake I commented to him about his calmness, he said “Yes but I’m sweating buckets up there.”

With Mark Kelso

Yes it was hot in the club and I don’t mean heat.  Song after song this group pumped out some great tunes.  All the music played were originals by Mark.  His writing is well influenced by artists like The Crusaders and Chick Corea’s Elektric Band but there is an edginess to the music.  This was full on Fusion Funk and I enjoyed every musical moment.

TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL KICKS OFF

MIKE MURLEY AT THE REX

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival kicked off on Friday June 24th and there seems to be a reoccurring theme with the two major Canadian jazz festivals, Toronto and Montreal. Not enough big talent shows but a lot of very good club bands. Sure there are some big names like Wynton Marsalis and the JLC Orchestra, Chick Corea and even Joe Alexander (who is only 13 by the way), but it seems nothing like the past years of block buster A-list artists.

What we do have is a whole lot of very good jazz artists who have been at it for a while and have amassed their own fame and following. I’ll be hitting up some of these clubs, bars and jazz venues to check out this year’s offerings and I’ll be letting you know what I find.

with Mike Murley

Last night I dropped by The Rex Jazz and Blues bar to check out Mike Murley and his septet. I was pleasantly surprised to see trumpeter Kevin Turcotte was on hand. Dude can blow a horn.
This group was tight. The front four (two sax, trumpet and trombone) were fantastic in those tight unison parts and hair raising solos. The rhythm section fueled by the very energetic drummer Ted Warren was smokin. These guys put on a fantastic show, with a great mixture of standard-inspired originals and funky jazzy brassy power grooves.

This was a great way to start off my jazz fest season. See you in a bit.

Ahead of their Time

MUSICAL CHILD PRODIGIES ARE SPROUTING UP EVERYWHERE

Have you noticed how many young kids are displaying unreal musical talents as of late? Seriously. I see 3 year olds playing the classical masters on pianos they can barely reach. I hear tiny young girls belt out perfectly pitched and toned operas and kids barely out of diapers pumping out guitar solos by Steve Vai and the likes.

What the heck is going on?

Joanne Ruthsatz. A psychologist at Ohio State University says they come 1 in 5 million or maybe 1 in 10 million.

Ok, first let’s get on the same page. A child prodigy is defined as a person under the age of ten who produces meaningful output in some domain to the level of an adult expert performer. Now you would think this is a rare thing. Well apparently not these days.

“A few prodigies you may already know; Mozart, Chopin, Yo-yo Ma, Esperenza Spalding, Paganini, , Dennis Chambers, Herbie Hancock, Bireli Lagrene, Keith Jarret, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin just to name a few.”