THE BAYLOR PROJECT
A husband. A wife. An astonishing duo built on love, family, faith, culture and community.
These are the things that power The Baylor Project featuring Jean Baylor and Marcus Baylor. This enticing collaboration is steeped in the heart and soul of jazz. As the children of Pastors, Marcus’ and Jean’s musical roots were planted deep within the church, and it was there that the road was paved for the influence of jazz, gospel, blues and soul to make it’s mark. Their debut CD “The Journey“, released on their own label, Be A Light, topped the Billboard Jazz Chart at Number 8 in 2017 and a year later garnered 2 GRAMMY® Nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Traditional R&B Performance. Two years later during one of the most challenging years in recent history, The Baylors released their single, “Sit On Down” in 2020 which earned a 3rd GRAMMY® Nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance, solidifying The Baylor Project as an undeniable force. Their second album, “Generations,” released in 2021 earned the duo its first NAACP Image Award win for Outstanding Jazz Album-Vocal and it’s 4th GRAMMY® Nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. And their first live album, “The Evening : Live At APPARATUS” earned The Baylors their 5th and 6th GRAMMY® Nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo.
Marcus and Jean Baylor signed an exclusive distribution agreement, in partnership with their artist-owned label, Be A Light with Motown Gospel (a division of Capitol CMG/Capitol and Universal Music Group) making The Baylor Project’s catalogue available for the first time across all streaming platforms.
Jean, a “Jersey Girl”, was introduced to jazz in college as a Vocal Performance Major at Temple University, where she was heavily influenced by artists such as Carmen McCrae, Jimmy Scott, and Shirley Horn. She subsequently made her mark as one-half of the platinum recording duo, Zhane´. In time, Jean grew into a composer, arranger, producer and bandleader. She has been a featured guest artist on performances and recordings with artists including Yellowjackets, Kenny Garrett, Marcus Miller and legendary bassist, Buster Williams. Well-equipped with an agile mezzo-soprano range, Jean combines a fresh, whimsical approach to phrasing with clever improvisation resulting in singing of such vocal purity that she embraces the soul.
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BANSKO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Three groups perform each evening beginning at 8:00pm.
The Lineup:
August 5: Velislav Stoyanov | Frank Gambali and His All~Star Band | Cinga Manga Funk
August 6: Camelia Todorova and Konstantin Kostov Trio | Ari Erev Trio | Petar Slavov Special Quartet
August 7: Veronika Todorova & Christopher Herman | Yonder Fokan Trio | Lucy Woodward Quartet
August 8: Xul Gaspar Selko Quintet | On The Road~JP3 | Mauro Sigura Quartet
August 9: Bluetronic~Miroslava Katsarova Trio | Presti~Lanzoni Duo | Zara Macfarlane Quartet
August 10: Show Trio | Sheki And Friends | Jackson Mathod Quintet
August 11: Posbalkanton | Georgi Kornazov Quartet | Jesus Molina & Los Dromeros
August 12: Desy & The Shiny Stockings with Guest Atanas Popov | Espen Eriksen Trio and Andy Shepherd | Alfredo Rodriguez Trio
Tickets:
Single Event: 30~50 bgn | $16.84 ~ $28.07
Eight Event Package: 120~260 bgn | $67.38~ $145.99
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EUGENIE JONES
As part of the Ellensburg Music Festival happening on July 28th & 29th, Eugenie Jones will be performing as part of the lineup performing at various venues in downtown Ellensburg.
Singer/Songwriter Eugenie Jones is an exceptional vocalist and cleverly gifted lyricist who has released highly-praised, primarily original, vocal projects. Her current release – Players – was a Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy® contender and internationally ranked #7 on Jazz Week’s top 50 charts. Jones is additionally an Earshot Jazz Vocalist of the Year award recipient and the first vocal recording artist to receive Earshot’s Recording of the Year Golden Ear award.
Friday, July 28 – Saturday, July 29, 2023 | 5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Tickets: Weekend Pass – $70 | Friday & Saturday Day Pass – $50
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The Jazz Voyager
Leaving India and heading east for Asia, the Jazz Voyager is landing at Itami Airport in Osaka, Japan. I will then transfer to a bus for a 36 kilometers ride, about 22 miles, and fifty-five minutes through the countryside to Kyoto where I will find Le Club Jazz. A non-smoking jazz bar that is closed on Monday but presents live performances and workshops the rest of the week. Performances start at 7:30pm each night.
Serving up drinks by the shot is one of their offerings and they invite musicians to bring their instruments and play during their sessions. This week I will be in attendance for a one night performance by saxophonists Eric Alexander on tenor and Vincent Herring on alto, Yoichi Kobayashi on drums and Koji Yasuda on bass.
Located in Sanyo, Kyoto, Japan at 〒604-8082 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Miyukicho Nishiiri Benkeiishicho 48. For more information they can be reached at +81 75-211-5800.
Le Club Jazz ~ Eric Alexander & Vincent Herring | Kyoto, JapanMore Posts: adventure,club,festival,genius,jazz,music,preserving,restaurant,travel
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Edward L. Wilkerson Jr. was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on July 27, 1953. Over the course of his career he has associated himself with medium-to large-scale projects and has been a major presence in Chicago, Illinois’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), teaching and serving a term as president.
The AACM collective has been a nurturing force for Wilkerson and has informed much of his work. He was an original member of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble formed by percussionist Kahil El’Zabar and remained with the group from 1976 until 1997. Though he recorded on three albums with the group he was becoming more involved in leading his own projects. His most ambitious project, Shadow Vignettes, was initiated in 1979 with 25 musicians and incorporated dance, poetry, and visual arts. The ensemble’s influences include the big band work of Muhal Richard Abrams, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Sun Ra.
Wilkerson’s best-documented octet as a leader is 8 Bold Souls, a series of concerts that led Wilkerson to establish the group as a working band. They have released four albums, 8 Bold Souls, Sideshow, Ant Farm, and Last Option. Their music is influenced by the small groups of Duke Ellington and Jimmie Lunceford, but leaves room for adventurous experimentation.
In addition to his work with the preceding groups he has played with the AACM Big Band, Roscoe Mitchell, Douglas Ewart, the Temptations, Chico Freeman, the late Geri Allen, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Muhal Richard Abrams, Aretha Franklin, and George Lewis.
Wilkerson has received grants from the Illinois Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, Meet the Composer, and the Community Arts Assistance Program, and has been cited in numerous music polls.
Saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist, composer, arranger and educator Ed Wilkerson Jr., who has recorded 14 albums and two soundtracks, continues to teach composition at the AACM School of Music and explore the realms of jazz from his base in Chicago.
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