The Jazz Voyager
Atlanta, Georgia is the next stop on the Jazz Voyagers sojourn from Washington, D.C. It’s always good to return to the ATL to see friends, hang with family, blood and adopted, and enjoy their company. Downtown is where I’ll be heading for a fabulous night of jazz at The Commons, the entertainment arm of First Congregational Church.
>This week it’s the gifted pianist Kevin Bales who I haven’t seen perform in years since I left the city. An accomplished pianist with classical chops, he refined his talent from the age of 10. He auditioned for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at age 16, for its most storied conductor Robert Shaw,
Kevin brings to the stage years of experience performing and/or recording with Wynton Marsalis, Louie Bellson, Eddie Daniels, James Moody, Ben Tucker, Ira Sullivan, Marcus Printup, Sam Rivers, Nat Adderley, Bunky Green.
The venue is located at 125 Ellis Street NE 30303. For more information contact the venue at https…//firstfridayatfirst.eventbrite.com.
The Commons | Kevin Bales
Hitting the world’s best jazz spots!!! #JazzVoyager #Travel #Club #Adventure #WannaBeWhereYouAre #NotoriousJazz4You re” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen> Hitting the world’s best jazz spots!!! #JazzVoyager #Travel #Club #Adventure #WannaBeWhereYouAre #NotoriousJazz4You
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
David Liebman was born September 4, 1946 into a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York. As a child he contracted polio and began classical piano lessons at the age of nine and saxophone by twelve. His interest in jazz came when he saw John Coltrane perform live in New York City clubs aand throughout high school and college, Liebman pursued his jazz interest by studying with Joe Allard, Lennie Tristano, and Charles Lloyd. Upon graduation from New York University he began to seriously devote himself to the full-time pursuit of being a jazz artist.
In the early 1970s, he organized the cooperative, Free Life Communication, which became an integral part of the New York loft jazz scene. He landed a place with Elvin Jones’ band then an apprenticeship with Miles Davis from 1970 to 1974. Liebman explored his own music with the groups Open Sky Trio and Lookout Farm.In 1977 he toured the world with pianist Chick Corea, followed by his own quintet over three years.
David has worked with George Mraz, Al Foster, Ron McClure and Billy Hart, Vic Juris, Tony Marino, Bobby Avey, Matt Vashlishan and Alex Ritz, Joachim Kühn, Daniel Humair, Paolo Fresu, Jon Christensen, Bobo Stenson among others. He played with several European orchestras, and his artistic output is straight-ahead classic jazz, chamber music, fusion and avant garde.
As an educator he has published instructional DVDs, has taught at universities and clinics, and has regularly received grantees to study with him funded by the NEA, the Canadian Arts Council, as well as Arts Councils of numerous European countries. In 1989, he was the artistic director of the International Association of Schools of Jazz.
Saxophonist, flautist and jazz educator David Liebman, who received a NEA Jazz Masters lifetime achievement award, continues to perform and record.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Mark Jay Levine was born on October 4, 1938 in Concord, New Hampshire and began playing the piano at the age of five, trombone in his early teens. Attending Boston University, graduating with a degree in music in 1960, he also studied privately with Jaki Byard, Hall Overton and Herb Pomeroy.
Moving to New York City in the Sixties he freelanced and then played with musicians Houston Person, Mongo Santamaría, and Willie Bobo from 1971 to 1974. Levine then moved to San Francisco, California and played with Woody Shaw for two years. His debut album was made as a leader for Catalyst Records in 1976.
He went on to play with the Blue Mitchell/Harold Land Quintet, Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Luis Gasca, and Cal Tjader. From 1980 to 1983, he concentrated on valve trombone, but then returned to playing mainly the piano. He then led his own bands, and recorded for Concord as a leader in 1983 and 1985. From 1992 Mark was part of Henderson’s big band. He created a new trio in 1996 and recorded it for his own, eponymous label. His Latin jazz group, Que Calor, was formed in 1997.
He put on his educator hat in 1970, teaching in addition to private lessons at Diablo Valley College, Mills College, Antioch University in San Francisco, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Sonoma State University, and the JazzSchool in Berkeley. Levine wrote two method books: The Jazz Piano Book, and The Jazz Theory Book.
Pianist, trombonist, composer, author and educator Mark Levine, whose album Isla was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album, died of pneumonia on January 27, 2022 at the age of 83.
Get a dose of the musicians and vocalists who were members of a global society integral in the making and preservation of jazz for over a hundred and twenty-five years…
Mark Levine: 1938~2022 | Clarinet, Composer, Educator, Director, Producer
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Peter Andrew Bernstein was born on September 3, 1967 in New York City, He began playing piano when he was eight but switched to guitar when he was thirteen, learning the instrument primarily by ear. He studied jazz at Rutgers University with Ted Dunbar, and Kenny Barron.
While a student at the New School in New York City, he met guitarist Jim Hall, who offered him a job performing at the JVC Jazz Festival in 1990. He then appeared on albums with Jesse Davis, Lou Donaldson, Larry Goldings, Michael Hashim, Geoff Keezer, and Melvin Rhyne. He released his first album as a leader with pianist Brad Mehldau.
He has worked with Jimmy Cobb, Tom Harrell, Diana Krall, Lee Konitz, Eric Alexander, Joshua Redman, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Walt Weiskopf. In 2008, Bernstein became part of The Blue Note 7, a septet formed that year in honor of the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records. The group recorded the album Mosaic.
Guitarist Peter Bernstein continues to perform, record and tour.
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On The Bookshelf
I Should Care: The Sammy Cahn Story
I Should Care: The Sammy Cahn Story is an autobiography by the acclaimed lyricist Sammy Cahn. Published in 1974 by Arbor House, the book is written from Cahn’s own perspective, offering his insights into his life and career, along with anecdotes, photographs, and lyrics of his well-known songs.
The title itself is a nod to one of his famous songs, which first appeared in the 1944 MGM film Thrill of a Romance. The Academy Award winner for Three Coins In The Fountain, High Hopes, All The Way and Call Me Irresponsible, star performer in his own Broadway musical Words & Music.
This Lower East Side New York City boy who made more than good now tells his whole loving story – personal, public and professional.
I Should Care ~ The Sammy Cahn Story: 1974 | Sammy Cahn
Arbor House Publishing Co.
