Grammys to Jazz: No Prime Time for You!

Despite my best intentions, I tuned in tonight to the Grammys, the music industry’s annual orgy of self-love, er, popularity …

Support Your Local Jazz Station — Give to WUSF, 89.7 FM

Is jazz radio suffering the same fate as jazz recordings — i.e., a gradual drop-off of interest, a future that’s …

Happy 80 Candles to the Village Vanguard!

Has it really been 30 years since I interviewed Max Gordon at the Village Vanguard for The Villager newspaper, for a …

The Unstoppable Christian McBride — Remembering His Vanguard Show

Huge tone, impeccable technique, compositional acumen, big personality, ambition — just a few of the traits that have driven bassist …

Give the Bass Player Some: Ron Carter & Esperanza Spalding Top 77th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll

Veteran bassist Ron Carter and young bassist-singer Esperanza Spalding, a Grammy-winning star, grabbed the top spots in this year’s DownBeat …

Christian McBride Trio at the Mahaffey Theater (Concert review)

(Recently published in JazzTimes; direct link) (photos by Bridge Burke) What kind of double bass tone does Christian McBride pursue? …

Tampa Jazz Notes: Christian McBride Rules at the Mahaffey; Ybor Jazz Fest Continues; Rickie Lee Jones Cancelled

  Christian McBride, easily the most recorded and most honored jazz bassist of his generation, brought his trio to the …

Christian McBride Big Band, “That Good Feeling” (CD review)

(recently reviewed for Jazz Times; direct link)  Christian McBride Big Band, The Good Feeling (Mack Avenue Records) Christian McBride, one …

Clearwater Mayor on Jazz Holiday: “You get what you pay for”

As fellow musicians, other friends, and readers know by now, I have a complicated relationship with the Clearwater Jazz Holiday. …

Jazz Holiday: Gerald Clayton, Sammy Figueroa, Kevin Eubanks, Maceo Parker added to another uneven bill

Acclaimed young pianist Gerald Clayton (left), Latin jazz master percussionist Sammy Figueroa, former “Tonight Show” guitarist Kevin Eubanks, and jazz-funk …