Music
Aretha Franklin
Photo by Earl Perry On the Wednesday preceding her Friday night Essence Festival performance, Aretha Franklin was in her bus heading to New Orleans. Ten of the 23 musicians who […]
Shannon Powell: A Decidedly Different Drummer
“I had a hell of an upbringing in New Orleans—rich, rich, rich,” declares Shannon Powell. The drummer, who shows off his prowess as vocalist on his recording debut as leader, […]
Surrendering To The Trumpet
Nicholas Payton The Satchmo SummerFest’s Club Strut (Friday, August 5), Frenchmen Street’s nighttime musical banquet, is always a blast. This year it boasts some of New Orleans’ very finest who, […]
Leroy Jones, New Orleans Brass Band Music: Memories of the Fairview & Hurricane Band (Independent)
“It started a reaction,” trumpeter Leroy Jones once said of the Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band, which was established by Danny Barker in 1970 and introduced so many youngsters to […]
James Andrews and the Andrews Family, Hear No Evil (Keep Swingin’ Records)
Trumpeter/vocalist James Andrews remains old-school as he waves away the notion of preconceived stylistic barriers. On Hear No Evil, he moves naturally between New Orleans rhythm and blues, hymns, swing, […]
John Ellis’ Sound Advice
Catching an early Thursday afternoon Jazz Fest set can be difficult for some people and often impossible for many hard working, nine-to-fivers. But folks who missed saxophonist John Ellis’ performance, […]
Peter Martin, In the P.M. (MaxJazz)
The beauty of Peter Martin is that even when he opens a standard like “Never Let Me Go” or “Come Rain or Come Shine” he expands on the melodic statement. […]
Jeff Albert, One (Independent)
Trombonist Jeff Albert approaches creative music from a variety of angles. His compositions allow for an abundance of free improvisation while also embracing melodic cores and a range of rhythms. […]
