Great Live Moments - Branford Marsalis

June 30, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: ballad, bassist, branford marsalis, burnout, chicago jazz festival, drummer jeff, Great Live Moments, jazz quartet, jeff tain watts, kenny kirkland, Listening Post, pianist, revis, square park, tain, washington square, washington square park, wbgo

In 1998, Branford Marsalis was the host of JazzSet. He was also the leader of an amazing jazz quartet. In August of that year, they played a concert at Washington Square Park in New York. WBGO was there to capture the performance.
I remember seeing this band at the Chicago Jazz Festival, just a few weeks after this recording. Branford, along with bassist Eric Revis, drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, and the late pianist Kenny Kirkland had the unique ability to pin you to your seat for more than an hour. The music was relentless, whether it was some burnout tune or a ballad. Kenny Kirkland's "Mr. J.C." is a great example of the former. Enjoy the blistering solos from Kenny and Branford. Click here to listen.
-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

Share |
Rhonda Hamilton Interviews Guitarist Russell Malone

May 1, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: audience, ballad, busy day, fcc, fortunately, great guitarists, guitarist, hefty fines, hotel room, Interviews, Jazz Alive, jazz host, jimmy smith, jokes, kenny burrell, lesson in music, midday, organist, rhonda, russell malone, those guys, wes montgomery

Rhonda Hamilton interviewed guitarist Russell Malone yesterday.
Fortunately, Russell didn't share any of his really colorful jokes with our audience. If he did, the FCC would level some hefty fines.
He did, however, talk at length about his experience with Jimmy Smith. When Russell met the organist in Atlanta, he asked to sit in with the band. Russell played everything he knew, trying to impress Jimmy. The audience went wild. Then, Smith called a ballad, "Laura," and Russell did not know the song. That humbling experience led to an all-night lesson in music in Jimmy Smith's hotel room. Smith had played with some great guitarists, notably Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery. He taught Russell Malone a valuable lesson - to put himself into the music, rather than trying to emulate those guys. Listen to the interview.
-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

Share |
Great Live Moments - Roy Hargrove

April 1, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: ballad, Great Jazz Moments, Iridium, jazz, Jazz Alive, Listening Post, Live Music, Never Let Me Go, roy hargrove, wbgo blog

In 1996, trumpeter Roy Hargrove could hardly be called The Waco Kid. By this time, the Texas native was a fully-fledged gunslinger in the jazz tradition. Most musicians will tell you that playing a ballad is one of the hardest things to do...especially when you're playing to an audience. But when Roy Hargrove draws from the emotional wellspring, he's tapping a fairly deep reserve.
Check out his take on the classic "Never Let Me Go," one of my all-time favorite ballads. Twas the week before Christmas, 1996, and Roy's quartet was stirring the house at the old Iridium location, near Lincoln Center. The quartet features pianist Allen Farnham, the late Dennis Irwin on bass, and drummer Karriem Riggins. And for those of you who like to sing the words, follow along:

Never let me go
Love me much too much
If you let me go
Life will lose its touch
What would I be without you?
There's no place for me without you

Never let me go
I'd be so lost if you went away
There'd be a thousand hours in a day without you
I know

Because of one caress my world was overturned
at the very start
All my bridges burned by my flaming heart
You'd never leave me would you?
You couldn't hurt me could you?

Never let me go
Never let me go

© 2008 WBGO

Share |

Bookmark & Share

RSS Feed

The easiest and most convenient way to catch up with the latest blog posts is to subscribe to WBGO's Blog RSS Feed.

Get the WBGO Blog Feed

Discover WBGO

RADAR: Terence Blanchard's MAGNETIC

Hear Terence Blanchard's MAGNETIC now - exclusively on WBGO more
Montreal Jazz Festival Trip

WBGO Travel invites you to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Montreal Jazz Festival, June 30 -... more
SportsJam with Doug Doyle

Host Doug Doyle talks to Veteran Boxing Referee Eddie Cotton. more
Allan Wolper talks with community activist Julie Menin

Julie Menin, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Borough President of Manhattan, is... more
Volunteer for WBGO!

Volunteers are very important to WBGO's existence. We welcome you to become involved in our... more
Newark Today with guest Mayor Cory Booker

The next Newark Today is on Thursday, May 23, at 8pm. more
Two Decades of JazzSet

See and hear highlights from WBGO’s national series, JazzSet from NPR Music more
Free WBGO Mobile app

Click here to download the free WBGO app for iPhone, iPad, iTouch and Android phones. more
WBGO HD2 - the jazz bee

WBGO's new showcase for emerging jazz artists and styles. Hear it at 88.3 HD2 and online now. more
Midday Jazz with Rhonda Hamilton Weekdays 10am - 2pm

Rhonda gives you the great music you need to get through the day, and she does it in her own... more
Morning Jazz with Gary Walker Weekdays 6 - 10am

Gary Walker helps you start your day each weekday morning. Join Gary and Morning News Anchor... more
Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez

Classic & contemporary soul, R&B, funk, blues, salsa/bugalu, Afro-soul and rock 'n... more
Afternoon Jazz with Michael Bourne Weekdays 2 - 6:30pm

Music host Michael Bourne bops in at 2pm, then strikes a chord with the Blues Hour each day at... more
The Checkout

An hour-long music magazine hosted by Josh Jackson features what's new on the New York jazz... more
Sunday Night Music Mix with Eulis Cathey

Each Sunday from 7-11pm, tune into WBGO to hear Sunday Night Music Mix with Eulis Cathey.... more
The WBGO Blog: Dr. Lewis Porter profiles

Visit the WBGO Blog for Dr. Lewis Porter's series "You Don't Know Jazz," to learn little known... more
Page 1 of 6
Show more