Pharoah Sanders possesses one of the most distinctive tenor saxophone sounds in jazz. Harmonically rich and heavy with overtones, Sanders’ sound can be as raw and abrasive as it is possible for a saxophonist to produce. Yet, Sanders is highly regarded to the point of reverence by a great many jazz fans. Although he made his name with expressionistic, nearly anarchic free jazz in John Coltrane’s late ensembles of the mid-’60s, Sanders’ later music is guided by more graceful concerns.
The hallmarks of Sanders’ playing at that time were naked aggression and unrestrained passion. In the years after Coltrane’s death, however, Sanders explored other, somewhat gentler and perhaps more cerebral avenues — without, it should be added, sacrificing any of the intensity that defined his work as an apprentice to Coltrane.
Harold Mabern – Master Pianist Harold Mabern, one of jazz’s most enduring and dazzlingly skilled pianists…
August 29th is a very famous birthday for various people..One for Michael Jackson so-called King of Pop, but this one is about the King of Be Bop Saxophonists Charlie Parker or, aka, Yard Bird! The Jazz community in Leimert Park was honoring the “Bird” on his 99 birthday.
Parker a 34 year old man died in March 1955, months before his 35th Birthday. Before that happened, Yard Bird or “Charlie’ was known as the absolute truth on jazz saxophone. Most youngsters or vet musicians wanted to play and sound like him..some even went to the pits of hell with major drugs and its abuse to follow the Bird. After saying all that, Robert J. Carmack wrote a play about the man, about the two inner-men other that “Bird,” Most people knew nothing about.. the others were the man as Father, Husband and musical genius!. Carmack’s play was not being performed, but a fictional dramatic scene from the tragic story of Parker through the eyes of a person who only wanted to be loved and to love those as he loved the music.
The amazing evening’s entertainment package consisted of a hand picked group of L.A. experienced musicians and a newcomer that’s trending very positive as a budding master of Jazz. Drummer/percussionist-Don Littleton’s Super Trio :James Leary Bass, Robert “Bobby” Pierce piano, Jazz soloists were Randall Willis Alto, Charles Owens Tenor and jazz sensation Chris Astoquillca on alto. Host/MC: Robert J. Carmack- producer, writer and actor.
The enthusiastic audience were up clapping and yelling from their seats because the musicians were off into another gear, especially young saxophonist Chris Astoquillca. who was let loose in second set and He did not disappoint. The buzz around Leimert Park Village the NEXT day told the true story. Chris made an IMPRESSION on the veteran players and the audience. Carmack is thinking ahead and looking forward to the followup event in November, Thanksgiving weekend…
POCKET JAZZ PRESENTS: CTI RECORDs Tribute ~ California Concert Redux 2! November 2019 music of Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine , Esther Phillips, Hank Crawford,Grover Washington,George Benson and other surprises..follow us on face book ~ Pocket Jazz Presents..#CaliforniaConcertRedux2
Robert J. Carmack has already begun discussions around presenting the entire play in August of 2020. Carmack has planned for a multi-night special event in 2020, on Charlie Parker Birthday next year in both Los Angeles, and San Francisco.. a Play – Night of Poets and Jazz Nu Beat Poets Society and Visual Artists(Painters,Sculptors and Assemblage art.
Producer/ Pocket Jazz Presents with Blues & Jazz singer/entrepreneur, Barbara Morrison outside the Barbara Morrison Theater LA Calif.
COMING SOON New Jazz Legends Series Pocket Jazz Presents! 2019/2020
About the producer: Robert J. Carmack He was first exposed to jazz in the late 1950s, as a kid watching the Steve Allen show. He would play with famous musicians, Robert liked the sound, He did not know the name of it. One day while watching the Dobie Gillis show with Maynard, who was a beatnik, said he would do anything to sit-in with Thelonious Monk playing Bongos.. years later, as young Robert was just starting out in music as a saxophone player, he heard a record by a friend’s big brother, who said “this is Monk’s, well you needn’t.” He made the earlier connection from his childhood, now a teenage player in a band, Carmack was hip and cool with his Tam and sunglasses .. Now all the young girls loved it because, He was different than the other guys.
Carmack went on to play professionally under a undisclosed stage name, for 25+ years, then due to medical issues became a writer of jazz history and avid fan of great players. As a writer / producer or blogger, He has worked, interviewed or promoted such luminaries as, McCoy Tyner, Doug Carn, Azar Lawrence, Bobby Womack, Commodores, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Fortune, Andy Bey, Mandrill/Lowrider band, Acknowledgement, Juini Booth/ LA Fog Band and the Sun Ra Tribute with R J Carmack & Juini Booth. contact: blues2jazz2003@yahoo.com~ @blues2jazzguy , or just follow on this site http://www.hipstersanctuary.com
“I’ve got a nice crew with me and I’m excited we we’re able to put this album together,” says trumpeter Curtis Taylor about Snapshot, his latest record that dropped last month. Snapshot was recorded live and it features up-and-coming San Diego pianist Hugo Suarez alongside L.A. veterans Ben Shepherd on bass and Gene Coye on drums. (sharing reprint from http://jazzbluesnews.com)
Taylor, an Ohio native, came to San Diego from New Jersey in 2014 with one primary motivation: to work with Kamau Kenyatta, who enlisted him to play on the Grammy-Award winning Gregory Porter album Liquid Spirit.
In the Spring of 2016, Taylor got hired as a professor/guest lecturer at Cal State San Marcos. I wanted to know what his goals were for his students.
“The music program there is pretty new, so I’m just trying to give them the basic skills they need. A lot of them come in not knowing much, with this being their first experience playing jazz, so I’m introducing them to a lot of new concepts.”
Does he miss home? “I fly back to Ohio or the Midwest pretty regularly, so that’s not an issue. I do not miss New Jersey or New York. I don’t know if I feel like a San Diegan yet, but I love the community. Everyone has been really welcoming, and there’s a lot of transplants like me here, and we make a nice melting pot.”
The 34-year-old jazz man’s perspective recently changed dramatically when he became a father. Taylor’s son Khamari is less than a year old and he lives with his mom in Michigan, which explains the frequent flyer miles. “It’s hard, because I’m very much in a transitional time right now,” says Taylor. “Your entire life changes when you have a child — and I think about my son on a daily basis. I want to be there for him.”
In the meanwhile, Taylor is pleased with his new album, recorded live at the World Stage in L.A. “We did a one-week tour to promote it, and I would love to put 52 of those weeks together, man. There’s something to be said for the live experience — you just can’t duplicate that in the studio. Our music is improvisational — you could hear the same four cats play the same tune 10 times in a row, and each one would be different. That’s why the album is called Snapshot, it’s a sonic snapshot of that moment in time. This music should be experienced live, because the audience becomes a part of it, and if the audience is hip, you feel like you can do anything.”
Tracks
Bolivia 6:58
Hashtagged Theme 9:18
Naima 10:50
So Beautiful 7:49
Motion 9:43
Kham’s Dilemma 12:06
Curtis Taylor – trumpet Theron Brown – piano Hugo Suarez – keys Benjamin J. Shepherd – bass Alex White – drums
Appearing at Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, a select cadre of LA based musicians ,formed a super Trio of veteran bassist, James Leary, Don Littleton Drummer & leader, Robert “Bobby” Pierce piano”
Meet all the Cats and Kits at 7:30PM to celebrate Charlie Parker’s 99th birthday. early Thursday evening of jazz fun and friendly head-cutting jam session immediately following the scripted portion of the evening’s festivities. Producer Robert J. Carmack first thought about celebrating “Bird’s” birthday in 2015 in front of the Leimert Park World Stage, he, and a band of 7 seven saxophonists all got together for Now’s the Time, Parker’s Mood and a bursting jolt of Crazy runs & phrasing some of the Best, including Thursday featured soloist, Randall Willis, and special invited saxophonist Dale Fielder..Now just 4 years later we have put together a rollicking show of some of Bird’s greatest recorded songs. Look for an added bolster sound in Tenor man Charles Owens, Ricky Woodard and young Chris Christopher Astoquillca on alto, the youngest saxophonist under 30, maybe 25.. It all spells FUN for everybody in attendance.See You There Thursday!(photo 2015 – Chuck Koton. Jazz archivist)
Charlie Parker’s 95th Birthday.. Just us Seven just gave him a honorary “21 Toot Salute”, Left to right , Robert J. Carmack, Shondell Johnson Baritone Sax, (unknown alto player ) Azar Lawrence soprano, Randall Willis Alto,unknown soprano player??) Dale Fielder Baritone Sax.. That day’s activities were coordinated globally around the world including New York & Kansas City, with sax man, Bobby Watson and The Charlie Parker Jazz Society. Next Year , Carmack promises multiple-days activity for Bird’s 100 2020! Play, Poetry and an All-star concert in both LA & SF Bay area.
Pocket jazz Presents hosts Robert J. Carmack & this week’s co-host , Ms. Sandra Booker, songtress & jazz artist of top shelf variety. https://www.sandrabooker.com/ & #@blues2jazzguy
One of the beauties of living in southern California , are great weather, lots of places to go, or just chill on a beach or a hilltop. my preference has for a lot of years, checking the great music and beautiful people . Last Friday’s concert was off the chain with our old friend from Black Note, Gilbert Castellanos. Today, he’s an award-winning trumpeter. He spared no energy or musical dexterity as he galloped, and pranced, then even some “dizzying” triple-staccato phrasings on some super “Burners,” as he pushed the groove with B-3 organist Joe Bagg, and drummer Tyler Kreutel on jazz classics all night long. It hearken back to when I saw Gilbert burn High grade fuel with the late Bobby Matos Latin Jazz Band.. Fire! Sabor!! Sabor!! You can follow LACMA.org for schedules …Fridays & Latin Saturday evenings too, 5 – 7 pm . Follow me & special guests along with jazz artists or vocalists of varying degrees … through the Lens of POCKET JAZZ PRESENTS. Catch us on Face Book. the next time you want to check out great vocals with a singer that have the vocabulary of jazz in her soul Go to http://www.sandrabooker.com….
He is also a producer on the Grammy-winning “Miles Ahead” soundtrack for “Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media.” Wilburn, Jr. is also the bandleader/drummer of Miles Electric Band, which has played to sold-out crowds at SF Jazz Center (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), Billboard Live in Osaka and Tokyo, and at Australia’s Blues Fest (2017), Lotos Jazz Festival (2014), and at the Hollywood Bowl (2012) and Playboy Jazz Festival (2018)
About the host Vince Wilburn, Jr. Miles Electric Band founder/drummer Vince Wilburn, Jr. brings “Evolution Of The Groove” to KPFK Radio 90.7FM in Los Angeles. In the spirit of Miles Davis, (Vince’s Uncle) the free-form, progressive platform covers a multitude of genres and topics, designed to keep the cultural conversation moving forward. Host Wilburn, Jr., will take a deep dive into music, art, and culture with no genre boundaries Wilburn, Jr. is a highly accomplished drummer and producer, who has both toured and recorded with Miles on many legendary recordings from 1984 through 1987, including: The GRAMMY-Award winning album “AURA” — which he co-produced; “Decoy” – which he also co-produced; “You’re Under Arrest”, and the 2008 GRAMMY nominated “Miles From India” – which hit #8 on the Billboard jazz charts. Wilburn, Jr. also toured internationally with the All-Star “Miles From India” ensemble to sell-out crowds.
posted by @blues2jazzguy
Harold Mabern – Master Pianist Harold Mabern, one of jazz’s most enduring and dazzlingly skilled pianists…
