Tony Williams: Live From 1971 & 1972
Tony Williams was the original headbanger birthed out of the jazz idiom. Less interested in the Sly Stone, Jimmy Hendrix, and James Brown aesthetic that Miles Davis was heading into at the time (circa 1969), Williams left the Second Great Quintet to put together a group of his own more aligned with his British rock contemporaries of The Who and Cream for instance. Those were the influences that birthed the Tony Williams Lifetime. Rounding out Lifetime — or the “organ trio on steroids” as Lenny White describes it — were John McLaughlin on electric guitar and Larry Young on organ, both of whom were equally as innovative with their own instruments and compositions as Williams was with the drums (though this lineup would change numerous times over the years).
Newport Jazz Festival Announces Additional Acts
The historic Newport Jazz Festival announced some very exciting additional acts for what is sure to be another great year for the festival. Featuring Wayne Shorter’s 80th Birthday Celebration: Wayne Shorter Quartet with special guests Herbie Hancock ,Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, & Brian Blade; for starters makes this a must-attend event.
Esperanza Spalding to Headline “A Night Of Freedom” Benefit Concert at City Winery
After a triumphant two night run at the world famous Apollo Theater, Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding returns to New York City armed with her bass, and a message. The prodigy from Portland will headline “A Night of Freedom,” an intimate concert at City Winery on December 4, with featured vocalists Bobby McFerrin and Gretchen Parlato, to benefit the Free The Slaves organization.
Esperanza Spalding Live at the Apollo Theater
Radio Music Society is Spalding’s companion LP to 2010’s Chamber Music Society, in which she explored a lush, expressive hybrid of contemporary jazz and classical chamber music. The two dates at the Apollo were the last in an American run, before beginning a leg in Europe. As her showcase for Chamber Music Society was, a singular set piece that included music only from that album, the Radio Music show was geared with the same premise. Gone was the elaborate string orchestra, and in its place was a 12 piece band with a seven player horn section.
Esperanza Spalding to Host “Groundbreaking Music” on Aspire TV Network
Esperanza Spalding will be hosting a new weekly feature, “Groundbreaking Music,” which will premiere Friday, October 5 at 8:00 pm, with “Earth Wind and Fire Live.” Reported other specials will include “Beyond the Steps: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater” and “Dorothy Dandridge Singing at Her Best.”
Otis Brown III Featured in Downbeat
After raising nearly $12,000 from hundreds of donors for his debut record as a bandleader, Otis Brown III is getting down to business. He recorded the album in April 2011 with a set of musicians that have defined music in there own right including Robert Glasper, Ben Williams, John Ellis, Keyon Harrold, Bilal, Esperanza Spalding, Gretchen Parlato and Nikki Ross.
4/21: NYC – Esperanza Spalding at Webster Hall this Saturday
Esperanza Spalding launches the Radio Music Society World Tour today! She will be in New York with her full ensemble on 4/21 at Webster Hall.
Terri Lynne Carrington’s Mosaic Project at Harlem Stage
Harlem Stage is bringing Terri Lynne Carrington’s Grammy Award winning project the Mosaic Project to life Thursday May 10, 2012. The project which also features Esperanza Spalding, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sheila E., Nona Hendryx, Cassandra Wilson, and Geri Allen among several others.
NYC: Esperanza Spalding at the Apple Store Tonight!
Esperanza Spalding performs tonight at the Apple Store in New York City, 8pm, free !
Lalah Hathaway: The Lineage Progresses
The First Daughter of Soul comes into the world of music honestly. Heir to the reputation left by her father, the legendary Donny Hathaway, Lalah accomplished the seemingly impossible; she found her own voice. Moreover, she began changing the industry with her artistry and has become one of the most sought after vocalists in this generation of music as evidenced by her guest spots on two of the year’s most exciting releases — The Robert Glasper Experiment’s Black Radio and Esperanza Spalding’s Radio Music Society. Read on as Lalah sits down with The Revivalist to discuss her early influences, education in music, and how she plans to change the world through song.
Esperanza Spalding Radio Music Society
In the aftermath of winning last year’s Grammy for “Best New Artist,” Esperanza Spalding finds herself in the unique position of presenting a widely anticipated album to mass audiences that consists of inspirations which span generations, genres, continents, instrumentations, and peoples. Released at a time in which musicians are reconsidering what it is they play, critics are re-categorizing what it is they hear, and audiences are craving authenticity, the album is representative of what music can be.
Two Releases 3/20/12
Esperanza Spalding drops Radio Music Society today featuring producer, Q-Tip and special guests Joe Lovano, Terri Lyne Carrington, Billy Hart, Jack DeJohnette, Lalah Hathaway, Algebra Blessett, and more. The groove-oriented album is rooted is rooted in jazz sensibilities, but made for the average music consumer. It is both relatable and intricate, paying homage to legends and unknowns alike.
NPR First Listen: Esperanza Spalding’s Radio Music Society
It seems the radio is a popular subject this season. After the release of Black Radio I asked myself, “What could album could possibly distract me from listening to this?” Alas NPR has graced us with a First Listen of Esperanza Spalding’s widely anticipated Radio Music Society. Sit back and take a listen:
“Black Gold” Esperanza Spalding ft. Algebra Blessett
The web is on fire with Esperanza’s first single “Black Gold” from her upcoming release, Radio Music Society. Along with the single comes a thought-provoking music video that features a father picking his two sons up from school. After hearing they learned about Africa he questions the extent to which the teacher delved into the history of many of the oldest civilizations in the world.
Radio Music Society Tour Dates
Esperanza Spalding’s widely anticipated fourth solo album, Radio Music Society, will be dropping March 20, 2012 and she has just announced a slew of tour dates to accompany the album. Each of the twelve songs on the album are set to be accompanied by conceptual videos which begs the question of how Spalding’s live shows will be conducted. It will be interesting to see how she melds the visual with the auditory throughout her shows. Chamber Music Society set a classy, upscale vibe. Radio brings her music to a new level with the compositions being arranged for a big band format. These dates are not to be missed.
Lyric Jones ft. Esperanza Spalding & DJ Raydar Ellis
Emcee, drummer, and up-and-coming force in the hip-hop realm Lyric Jones has teamed up with fellow Berklee alum musical wonders Esperanza Spalding and DJ Raydar Ellis in releasing the third leak off of her upcoming album due out this February entitled Jones St. With Jones spitting verses and Esperanza flowing through the hooks, Ellis had the envious job of tying it all together. The three artists seem to have created a musically conscious track with the potential for widespread appeal. Worth a listen? No doubt.
Tia Fuller: Exposing Her Spirit
Saxophonist, bandleader, educator, and creator Tia Fuller sat down with The Revivalist to discuss where the music has been taking her this past year as well as where she sees it going in the new year. Check out below as she discusses her role in teaching the younger generations, her tenure as part of Beyonce’s band, and some projects in the works for 2012.
Best 2011 Features: The Instruments Issue
The Instruments Issue centers on exceptional, challenging or thought-provoking moments and movements in jazz. At the heart of our creative energy for this issue is an insistence on understanding the musician’s experience and illuminating the mystery around their instruments.
The ‘Make Believe You Were at Newport Jazz Festival’ Guide
So, you missed the Newport Jazz Festival? No biggie. We scoured the internet for all the necessary media so you will feel like you were there.
Terri Lyne Carrington The Mosaic Project
By giving birth to this project, these women are not only speaking to the intrinsic biological ability of the female species to give life, but of the infinite amount of ways in which they are able to do that, literally and metaphorically. Here, they just happen to employ powerful words and impressively thoughtful arrangements to conceive and deliver one of the most stunning albums that has been released by anybody this year; black, brown, green, purple, man, woman, or child. For that reason alone, it could be argued that Teri Lyne Carrington’s reluctance to execute an all-female project was an exercise in patience that The Mosaic Project and its contributors have made well worth the wait.
Snapshots of The Roots Picnic
I’ve often wondered what it would be like to hear Coltrane live. I’ve played Giant Steps upwards of a thousand times digitally, but it’s not exactly the same. It’s sort of like trying to compare the synthetic chill of air conditioning to a cool summer breeze on a sunny afternoon. It’s a matter of authenticity. And that’s the inherent beauty of live music. All those in attendance are privy to a moment so unique that it can only happen once. In this, the modern age of media piracy, the last remaining vestiges of musical irreplaceability lies within live music.
Jazz Journalists Association Announces 2011 Awards
The Jazz Journalists Association has released a list of hundreds of nominations in 39 categories ranging between music creation and music journalism. This year will be the 15th annual JJA Jazz Awards. Nominees include Sonny Rollins, Jason Moran, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Vijay Iver, and more.
A Conversation with Esperanza Spalding
When I’m practicing, or when anyone’s practicing, we’re honing the details. We’re studying physically how to become agile. We’re working out, in sort of frozen time, meaning we can take a long time with a concept or an idea or a pattern or sound if we need to, until we have access to it physically, and intellectually. We can sort of stop the clock, so to speak, and we can go in and hone in the details.
Esperanza Spalding at the Union County Performing Arts Center
Going to an Esperanza performance post Grammys evokes a similar feeling as Obama’s presidential win shortly after the 2008 elections. All music aside, the commentary from the audience at this Saturday’s performance at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Nahway, New Jersey, was more than an admiration for her technical prowess, but the collective rejoicing [...]
