Jazz Pianist Danilo Pérez Reflects On His Mentor- The Late Wayne Shorter (INTERVIEW)
Grammy Award-winning Panamanian jazz pianist Danilo Pérez, also composer, educator, and social activist, has had a close personal and professional relationship with Wayne Shorter and reflects on his memories with the late great.
Iconic Jazz Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis Talks Current State of Jazz, Improv & Role As Agent For Change (INTERVIEW)
As Wynton Marsalis approaches his 61st birthday, his career as an ambassador and curator of jazz history, its seminal importance and influence as an original American art form, has been both critical and essential. Beyond his accomplishments as a supremely gifted trumpeter and composer, stellar performer & veteran band, and orchestral leader of top-tier talent […]
Dewey Bunnell of America Talks 50 Years of Exceptional Harmonies (INTERVIEW)
A perfect match was found between the intimate setting of The Cabot theater, in Beverly, MA., and the distinctive mellow sound of the folk-rock band, America, on their 50th Anniversary tour. This newly renovated 850 seat theater, from the 1920’s art-deco period, offered an acoustically exceptional and cozy setting for these ballad troubadours. The two […]
2020 Four Day Digital Montreal Jazz Festival Recap: The Barr Brothers, Malika Tirolien, Jeremy Dutcher & More
As one of the premier jazz festivals in the world, the Montreal Jazz Festival has taken the impact of their festival’s cancellation this year and turned it into a musical happening that celebrates Canadian multiculturalism. As Canada celebrates the inclusivity of all ethnic groups inside their border, Canada Multiculturalism Day is celebrated on June 27th. […]
Boston Lyric Opera’s ‘Fellow Travelers’ Invokes Timely Political Power Message
Boston Lyric Opera has once again successfully adapted and tackled politically and socially topical subjects in “Fellow Travelers”, an opera by Gregory Spears with Libretto by Greg Pierce. In a tale of covert romances, politics and power “Fellow Travelers”, based on the best-selling novel by Thomas Mallon, superbly balances a contemporary storyline with a gorgeous […]
Little Feat Guitarist Paul Barrere Dies at 71 From Liver Disease – Revisit January 2019 Glide Interview
Little Feat guitarist Paul Barrere passed away today at age 71(10/26/19) from liver disease after recently announcing he would not be taken part in the band’s current fall tour. Barrere came into the band on their third release, Dixie Chicken in 1973, alongside new bass player Kenny Gradney and percussionist Sam Clayton. Barrer along with founding keyboardist […]
Boston Lyric Opera’s Production of ‘Pagliacci’ Is Passionate & Contemporary (SHOW REVIEW)
The 2019/2020 Boston Lyric Opera’s opener Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci again brings an inventive staging and design to their products that promote a carnival-like atmosphere, that invigorates the storyline and engages the audience. Following the plot of a traveling troupe of performers, going from town to town, “Pagliacci” tells a short but intense story of “love, […]
Steel Pulse Call Out Injustice at Beverly MA’s Cabot Theatre (SHOW REVIEW)
When Bob Marley, the legendary reggae musician and spiritual leader of this Caribbean-based music, hit the UK and US charts in the 1970s, there was a wave of inspired Jamaican bands following on his popularity. Toots and the Maytals, Pete Tosh, Third World and Burning Spear also brought their version of this heavy rhythmic-driven, vocally […]
Ron Carter: Seminal Jazz Icon To Take Stage at the 2019 Newport Jazz Festival (INTERVIEW)
As you look at all the seminal legends and stars of jazz that have performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, now celebrating its 65th anniversary, a phenomenal list of artists follows that is also a ringing endorsement of this organization’s legacy, bringing these historic figures to the stage. A resume of performers too long to […]
Opening Performance of Boston Lyric Opera’s adaptation of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ at Harvard Creates Winning Formula
The opening performance(May 5th, at Harvard University’s Ray Lavietes Pavilion) of the Boston Lyric Opera’s original adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s dark, dystopian novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale” had by coincidence found the site – Harvard campus – where the author had originally planted her masterpiece of a brutal authoritarian society. With the physical stage re-imagined onto […]
Boston Lyric Opera’s Adaptation of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Novelist Margaret Atwood (PREVIEW)
The Boston Lyric Opera takes on another original operatic adaptation, embracing Margaret Atwood’s dark, dystopian vision, “The Handmaid’s Tale” and bringing it to the Boston-area stage with a major, mind-blowing production. On record now as the largest single BLO production, under a 72 hour deadline-based marathon, Production Director Bradley Vernatter and Assistant Producer Julia Noulin-Merat […]
Wadada Leo Smith Makes Vast Musical Discoveries On ‘Rosa Parks: Pure Love. An Oratorio of Seven Songs’
Wadada Leo Smith, acclaimed jazz trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator and “creator” has released a new musical composition, an oratorio of seven songs inspired by the iconic civil rights leader Rosa Parks(1913-2005). In his own words, the oratorio is “concerned with ideas of freedom, liberty and justice, a meditation centered around the Civil Rights movement.” Looking […]