The Jazz Voyager
Remaining on the continent the next sojourn takes The Jazz Voyager to Ethiopia and the African Jazz Village. An intimate venue in Addis Ababa, one can enjoy great musicians, including the timeless Father of Ethiopian Jazz, Dr. Mulatu Astateke.
Located on the spacious, verdant compound of the Ghion Hotel, popularly known as ‘The Garden Palace Hotel of East Africa’, which dates back to 1950s, one will be surrounded by tranquil trees and gardens filled with indigenous flora and bird life.
This week the adventure continues as this Jazz Voyager is going to hold down a performance by the Ethio Jazz Band starting at 9:30pm. And maybe I will be fortunate enough to catch a set with the doctor himself. The address is 2Q75+HVM, Addis Ababa Harar City. For more information they can be reached at +251 91 189 7438.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Nat Janoff was born on July 13, 1970 in New Jersey and began his musical education on the piano before switching to bass. After hearing Eddie Van Halen he settled on the guitar. Growing up in the 80’s his musical interests were all things rock and metal and soon earned a reputation for being one of the best shred guitarist in the area. However, seeking a platform to improvise longer than a standard rock riff led him to jazz and hearing the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Birds of Fire for the first time.
He pursued jazz earning his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University in 1996 and set to work forging his own musical path.
Recording his debut album, Looking Through, he enlisted the talents of electric bassist, Matthew Garrison and drummer Gene Lake, that showcased him as a player and a composer. Two more albums as a leader followed, a live acoustic date and a studio session, then contributing to the ESC tribute album Mahavishnu Redefined II.
In addition to playing with his own groups, Janoff has performed with Joe, David “Pic” Conley, Norman Simmons and drummer Victor Jones’ group Culturversy, Debelah Morgan, and Roland Clark.
Guitarist, composer and educator Nat Janoff teaches guitar privately, has been a guest instructor at the annual William Paterson University summer jazz camp, and continues to perform and record.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Mark Soskin was born on July 12, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York. Attending Colorado State University he pursued classical piano studies but his interests in jazz music grew and by 1973 he enrolled in Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachiusetts. He studied composition and arranging. While there he began working professionally until moving to San Francisco, Califonia and eventually going on to work with some of the west coast’s finest players.
Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, he was introduced to Pete Escovedo and along with his daughter Sheila. E they toured and recorded as Azteca, a group in which Soskin’s keyboard, writing, and arranging talents were showcased. Eventually, the group, including trumpeter Tom Harrell, went on to record twice for Fantasy Records. Enlisted in Cobham’s band for two years produced two recordings for Columbia. Between tours for Cobham, Soskin did a tour and live recording for the CBS All Stars with Tom Scott, Alphonso Johnson and Steve Khan. At this time Soskin was an active session player at Fantasy.
Mark signed his first recording contract with Prestige titled Rhythm Vision with Benny Maupin and Harvey Mason among others. Introduced by Orrin Keepnews to Sonny Rollins, the two started a fruitful collaboration that lasted 14 years. By 1981 he was living in New York City as an active sideman and leader.
He has been written up in numerous music publications, including Ira Gitler and Leonard Feather’s Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz and The Jazz Book by Joachim E. Berendt. Mark Soskin is featured in the film documenting latin jazz artists entitled Calle 54. Pianist Mark Soskin has recorded 10 albums as a leader, three as co-leader and continues to maintain a busy tour schedule as well as giving master classes, workshops, teaches privately and is on the faculty of The Manhattan School Of Music.
Three Wishes
The Baroness was having a conversation with Archie Shepp when she brought up the topic of three wishes and asked him what his would be. He responded by telling her:
- “To be free of poverty.”
- “I don’t know the next.”
- “To be free.”
*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Grady Nichols was born on July 11th in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. He studied under legendary saxophonist Joe Davis during his high school years and was first exposed to jazz from listening to the Weather Channel. Growing up on a farm he would practice for hours at a time outside. After graduating from John Brown University with a degree in broadcasting, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and became recognized for his mix of jazz and gospel music. Impressing the university staff so much, they let him keep a key to the Cathedral and practice whenever he wanted.
Over a career spanning two decades, Nichols has crafted seven highly acclaimed albums and performed extensively, opening for such luminaries as Luciano Pavarotti, Ray Charles, Al Green, Wayman Tisdale and The Beach Boys. A chance meeting with David Sanborn during his college years cemented his desire to become a professional saxophonist. It set him on a course of discovery.
Establishing his own unique sound he recorded his debut album in 1996, Between You and Me. Right after he released the album, Tulsa got a jazz station and they started playing him. Management followed as did more live performances and airplay. As his career gained momentum he played prestigious venues and in the studio he has worked with Chris Rodriguez, Jeff Lorber, Michael Omartian, Zac Maloy and David Hamilton.
Saxophonist Grady Nichols, who has recorded eight albums and has been on Billboard’s Jazz chart, continues to perform and record.
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