Femme Fatale Friday: Pianist Geri Allen

Geri Allen is an internationally known composer and pianist. Since 1982, she has recorded, performed or collaborated with artists as diverse as Ravi Coltrane, Donald Walden, Farah Jasmine Griffin, Bill Cosby, Sir Simon Rattle, Vernon Reid, JoAnne Akalaitis, Clark Terry, Carrie Mae Weems, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, Carmen Lundy, Lester Bowie's From the Root To The Source, Mino Cinelu, Dr. Billy Taylor, Joan Rivers, and Mary Wilson and the Supremes. [geriallen.com]

Click to read more ...

Femme Fatale Friday: Violinist Regina Carter

Happy Birthday (August 6) to Regina Carter!

Some people don't readily associate the violin with jazz music. If they are aware of a jazz violinist, it is usually Jean-Luc Ponty, Noel Pointer or Stéphane Grappelli. Therefore, I would like to share a little about Ms. Carter's philosophy and music.

”I think a lot of people look at the violin and they get a little nervous,” Carter notes. “They have a stereotype of what the violin is - very high, kind of shrill-sounding with long notes, and a lot of vibrato. It doesn't have to be that at all, it can be a very fiery persuasive instrument and that's how I like to use it." 

Click to read more ...

Femme Fatale Friday: Drummer Cindy Blackman

❁Good morning❁ 

If people know about drummer Cindy Blackman, it is usually because she has recorded and toured with Lenny Kravitz for almost two decades starting in 1993 with "Are You Gonna Go My Way". 

I typically get a "Huh?" or a confused expression when I mention that she started out in jazz and continues to be a prolific jazz drummer. 

Lenny Kravitz's powerful percussionist has recorded several straight-ahead jazz albums under her own name, and has performed with acclaimed jazz and rock artists, including Pharoah Sanders, Ron Carter, Sam Rivers, Cassandra Wilson, Angela Bofill, Buckethead, Bill Laswell and Joe Henderson! 

“Some drummers act, some react. Some keep time, others create it. Cindy Blackman is among the few who can....” says Mike Zwerin of the International Herald Tribune. 

Click to read more ...

Femme Fatale Friday: Pianist Hiromi

✺Good morning✺

As my knowledge and curiosity grew about jazz, I began to explore the world of the jazz pianist. The piano is one of my favorite instruments (the other faves are trumpet and the drums).

Early on, I discovered Hiromi via YouTube. Her boundless energy and virtuosity made me say, "Whoa!"  Hiromi also has a habit of throwing everything but "the kitchen sink" into her compositions (her influences run the gamut from Bach and Debussy to Parliament Funkadelic and King Crimson). I find that intriguing.

"She is nothing short of amazing," says jazz legend Ahmad Jamal. "Her music, together with her overwhelming charm and spirit, causes her to soar to unimaginable musical heights."

Hiromi Uehara is one of my favorite musicians these days. I hope that you enjoy her creativity as much as I do.

Click to read more ...