The Queen of Hang: Sheila E. Anderson

Jazz and other Genres

Salon On-Line Magazine:

Rock vs. Jazz

For just the second time in 50 years, the top award at the Grammys went to a jazz album. Do the two genres have anything to say to each other?

---Gary Kamiya

Excerpt:

I don't know how much my love of rock affected my relation to jazz. But a lot of the jazz I truly love, that I listen to the most, has a certain odd kinship with rock. I don't specifically mean fusion, that hybrid form in which jazz musicians play fast and loud, usually using a more limited harmonic palette than they would on jazz standards. I definitely went through a fusion phase, and the seminal albums by Weather Report, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever and Tony Williams' Lifetime still hold up. No, I mean, for the want of a better term, dramatic jazz -- jazz that explicitly foregrounds an audacious musical concept, a concept or feeling that informs both the tune itself and the soloing. It's jazz that somehow escapes the technicians-soloing-over-the-chord- changes trap that prevents so many jazz tunes, no matter how proficient, feel less autonomous, less monumental, and more like exercises...

Jazz and Hip Hop

From the WBGO Blog:

Table of contents for "DIGGIN' THE CLASSICS"

A Tribe Called Quest and "Low End Theory."  This is one of my favorite Hip Hop CD's in part because of the inclusion of Legendary Bassist, Ron Carter.  From the blog:

This is one of my all-time favorite hip-hop albums. Arguably the best album by Tribe, this project contained a very “jazzy sound” (East Coast hip-hop was James Brown sample crazy before this). This was a very different vibe from the G-Funk gangsta music made popular by Death Row Records at the time.
While I was going through the credits, I noticed that Ron Carter played the bass on track #5 “Verses from the Abstract”. Being that I said this is one of my favorite hip hop albums of all time (and I know every lyric), I never noticed that Q-Tip shouts out Ron Carter at the end of the song….

More on the State of Jazz Music

I was pleased , yet somewhat surprised, to see Herbie Hancock on "The View" this morning.  Joined by Luciano Souza (three-time Grammy nominee), who performed the title tune of his most recent Grammy award, "River," it was a delight to see JAZZ on a major television show.  They pointed out that the CD was #28 on Amazon.com but after the Grammy's it shot up to #1.  I can only say that I am delighted that a major jazz artist has won that coveted award!  Let's hope we won't have to wait for another 43 years to go by before this happens again.

Excepts from the music review:  Upholding the Standards of Smooth Jazz Purists

Does anyone agree with what was written below?  Did anyone go to Kenny Gorelick's (aka Kenny G) concert this past week?  In his review of that concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Ben Ratliff wrote the following:

Poor smooth jazz, besieged by haters. Being righteous about what’s called traditional jazz is easy. Being righteous about smooth jazz is much more difficult. It is a commercial construct, a radio format more than a style of music. For 20 years it has appealed across race and class and gender, partly because it asks so little. It is a physical presence but an intellectual absence. It is an unverified claim.

It lost ground last week when WQCD-FM, the New York radio station known as CD101.9 and the station with smooth jazz’s biggest market share in the country, went off the air, replaced at 101.9 by the rock format WRXP. In related news, the saxophonist Kenny G — the regent of the smoothiverse, a man who at his height moved 15 million copies of just one album (“Breathless,” from 1992) — has been selling fewer records lately. Well, so has everyone. But as a consequence he now plays where actual jazz performers play, like the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where he appeared on Tuesday...

His new album, “Rhythm & Romance” — released by Concord Records and Starbucks — is his first Latin record, with traces of bossa nova, samba, salsa and Peruvian lando. You can’t really fault him for exoticism. That’s for adults. His show seemed more aimed at children...

Does Kenny's seemingly feeble attempt to return to jazz confirmation that "Smooth Jazz" is indeed dead and that it has finally bored one of its biggest stars?  I will be watching to see how many CD's he sells.

The demise of CD 101.9 Continued:

From David Hinckley of the Daily News:

"I lament that jazz, either straight or cool, is treated as a stepchild of modern music," writes Ed Nickens. "I've been a listener since Billy Taylor was on WLIB-AM, and have had to change the dial every 10 years or so, because it's convenient to bump the jazz slot.

"But more than jazz and blues lovers lose. With the saturation of rock formats in the area, AM and FM has become a monolith.

"When the PPMs [Personal People Meters] track for the Arbitrons, the overpopulated rock formats will lose out; they will be too fractured to make an impact. I can only say thank goodness for WBGO, Phil Schaap and WKCR, et al., for their jazz slots. Without them the spectrum would be a very boring place."

You can discuss this further on this blog or continue the discussion on the Daily News blog.  Cephas Bowles, WBGO General Manager did.  He wrote:

Before writing off the entire NYC radio market, please listen to WBGO at 88.3 FM or online at WBGO.ORG. It's a good station that plays real jazz, blues and R&B. After listening to the non-commercial presentations of these music forms, many people actually like it. And, believe it or not, WQCD andWQXR listeners also spent and spend time listening to WBGO. Check it out!

Let me hear from you...especially if you are a person who found WBGO and/or WKCR after WQCD went off the air.

Does Anyone REALLY Care About the GRAMMY'S?

A Victory for Jazz, or Just Grammy Being Grammy? 

By BEN RATLIFF

Published: February 12, 2008

When something newsworthy or popular or positive happens to a jazz musician — a big award, say — many in the jazz world feel astonished for about four seconds, then quickly act very smug. You know: We’ve been sitting here patiently, full of our aesthetic virtue, so used to being ignored, and the world has finally come around to our point of view. Are we happy about it? More to the point, what took you so long? 

[Yes, it took over 40 years]

The Jazz Musician who won the Grammy is Herbie Hancock, one of the most gifted pianist, composer and arranger.  An unnamed source who performed in the "Grammy" orchestra said that the crowd was "inscenced" that a "no-named" jazz artist, an artist they never heard of could win such a coveted award.  Those sentiments were overheard from both the audience and fellow orchestra musicians.  I must point out that of 40 musician only SIX were not white.  Oh, thankfully, the Black musicians DID know who Herbie is...And, in attempt to give the impression of "diversity" all of the black folks were put in the same area of the stage where the cameras panned often.

So, I ask, has this Grammy win for Herbie helped Jazz at all?  Shamefully, I must confess that I have not heard the CD but I plan on checking it out.  I don't know how this one got away from me considering how much I love Joni Mitchell and have loved her since her 1969 "Clouds" album.  With "Smooth Jazz" in NYC gone, will people gravitate to WBGO or other jazz stations like WKCR to find music that they want to hear?  Another irony is that Herbie won the award performing the music of Joni Mitchell, a singer/songwriter who I grew up listening to, who has always been connected to Jazz musicians and the art form.  Don Alias and Wayne Shorter are two who come to mind.  Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams comprised one of Miles Davis greatest bands. 

Another win that I like to mention is that of Barack Obama...how cool that he beat two ex-Presidents!  But, if you ask me, it seems that Random House was the real winner here...!!

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)

• The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts On Reclaiming The American Dream
        Barack Obama
        [Random House Audio]
     
  
• Celebrations
        Maya Angelou
        [Random House Audio]
  
  
• Giving: How Each Of Us Can Change The World
        Bill Clinton
        [Random House Audio]
  
  
• Sunday Mornings In Plains:  Bringing Peace To A Changing World
        Jimmy Carter
        [Simon & Schuster Audio]
  
  
• Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself
        Alan Alda
        [Random House Audio]

Last, but not least, congrats to John Clayton and Paquito D'Rivera.  John who won his first Grammy!!    To get the complete list of winners click on this link.

Tell me, do any of you care about the Grammy's?  Will you now purchase some of the music that has won?  How many of you NEVER heard of Herbie Hancock or Joni Mitchell???

Smooth Jazz in NYC has Died!

Well, I am not surprised to read the message below from CD101.9.  What surprised me is that it took them that long for them to realize that Smooth Jazz, or what has become of it, is not interesting.  The timing is perfect, in that, WBGO (a public radio station and NPR affiliate) is in the midst of a fundrive.  You don't have to purchase a new radio and you can listen on line.  So, for those of you who want to hear "Real" Jazz tune into 88.3FM. 

Smooth Jazz listeners, let me know your thoughts on this news....

The staff of CD101.9 would like to thank you for your support over these past 20 years of Smooth Jazz CD101.9. Due to a declining audience for Smooth Jazz over the past few years, we are sad to announce that Smooth Jazz will no longer be available on the 101.9 signal. On February 5th we launched an innovative new adult rock format on the 101.9 frequency called 101.9 RXP The New York Rock Experience. 101.9 RXP is a respectful and intelligent mix of new music, classic rock and alternative - we invite you to try it. If you are solely a Smooth Jazz lover, "Smooth Jazz CD101.9" will continue to exist on our HD2 channel. Just purchase an HD capable radio and you will be able to listen to your favorite Smooth Jazz artists for free as always! CD1019.com will continue to provide you with upcoming smooth jazz events in association with the HD2 channel, and if you are a member of the CD101.9 Loyal Listener Club you will continue to receive e-mail updates.

If you do not have an HD radio and are not a fan of Rock, we invite you to try 98.7 Kiss FM The Best Variety of Old School and Today's R&B as an alternative. Listen to 98.7 Kiss FM for your chance to pick up tickets to the "Concert In Red" Valentine's concert at the Beacon Theatre February 14th. It's one of the many amazing shows coming in 2008 that you can find out about on 98.7 Kiss FM.

We hope that this note finds you sharing the same excitement that we feel! We look forward to many more years of providing New York with Smooth Jazz in HD, and The New York Rock Experience on 101.9 RXP!

NOTE: Upcoming Concerts

The Concert in Red featuring Al Jarreau & Najee 'IS STILL ON'!!!

Star Jones

TruTV cancels 'Star Jones Show'

TruTV (formerly Court TV) just announced internally that Friday, Feb. 1 will be the last episode of the "Star Jones show."  But, she gets to keep the $24MM she got for the three year contract.  I watched the show today to see if I was missing anything.  Given that I watched the first two weeks I felt that I needed to watch the show today.  Though she may be out of a job she won't be out of money.  All I can say is that she must have a great agent.

Also, Montel's show has been given the boot, as the story goes, he was replaced by a younger model of himself.  I ask, what is going on?  Please give me your thoughts....

Dizzy's Club Coca Cola

RUN, Don't WALK to this club this weekend!!! 

Not only is the music incredible, Bobby Hutcherson (vibes master) is performing but they have a visiting chef from New Orleans!  Once a year they invite a guest chef and Tom Wolfe has created a fabulous menu.  You can order the menu ala carte or prix fixe at $35.00 including the recommended wine.  I must admit, though I was drinking Chianti, the recommended wine was perfect with it's peppery taste.  Now, I'm not a big scallop fan but the appetizer was spectacular.  If you don't have plans this weekend or to watch the Superbowl, so check out  Dizzy's Club Coca Cola.