Jessye Norman To Host An Hour On WBGO, Today, 9/10

Jessye Norman (Photo credit: Carol Friedman)

Famed opera singer Jessye Norman will be sitting in the DJ chair for an hour today, Tuesday, September 10, starting at Noon on WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM. She will host an hour of her favorite music on Mid-Day Jazz with Rhonda Hamilton.

Two weeks later, on Tuesday, September 24, Norman will serve as Hostess and Honorary Chair for a special performance of Lady Day.  Lady Day stars her friend and host of WBGO's JazzSet, Dee Dee Bridgewater as Billie Holiday. The show takes place at Little Shubert Theatre, 7PM.  This special event will benefit WBGO and The Actors Fund.  For more information about the benefit and tickets visit, www.WBGO.org/LadyDay.

What You May Have Missed: Ula Ruth at Mercury Lounge

Ula Ruth: September 6, 2013 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY 

I was down at Mercury Lounge on Friday to catch a band I dig. I got there early and caught Ula Ruth rocking out.  It looked something like this...

What You May Have Missed: Jazz In The Valley

Jazz In The Valley - August 18, 2013 @ Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie, NY

I made my way to the Hudson Valley, Poughkeepsie to be exact, to take in Jazz In The Valley.  The annual festival is held along the Hudson River at Waryas Park. If you've never been, check it out next year!

Denise Thimes with Houston Person & Danny Mixon

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Sax Appeal (Part 1)

Javon Jackson, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz & Donald Harrison

(Maurice Brown came out and jammed with them.)

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Newport Jazz Festival: Day 3 Through My Lens

Newport Jazz Festival - August 4, 2013 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

It was three days of great music in a great location.  As the weekend came to an end, we had to bid adieu to the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management ... well, at least until next year when the iconic festival will be celebrating 60 years since it's birth!  See you all there?!

Harbor Stage

Jon Batiste & Stay Human

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Dirty Dozen Brass Band

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Quad Stage

Donny McCaslin Group

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Jim Hall with Special Guest Julian Lage

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Dee Alexander

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Hiromi: The Trio Project

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Fort Stage

University of Rhode Island Jazz Festival Big Band

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Joshua Redman Quartet

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Chick Corea & The Vigil

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Jihae To Release New Album + Launches Kickstarter Project

Jihae will release her new album, Illusion of You, via her own Septem label in January 2014.  The record was executive produced by Dave Stewart who also co-wrote a track with Leonard Cohen and Jihae.  

On working with Dave Stewert, Jihae stated, "It was a fun learning experience working with Dave on this album. He is a mad scientist of a creative mind and has quirky ways of envisioning structure, sound and texture. Quite a joker too.. Loved hearing his stories of working with Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Annie Lenox etc.. As Ringo Starr always said.. we said before each take, 'Good luck studio!'"

Jihae launched a Kickstarter project today to raise funds to complete the album process and do a proper tour.  Check out the project's video below.  She has already grabbed a bevy of attention with her smokey and sophisticated voice paired with her cool edginess.  With this upcoming record, Jihae is sure to breakthrough in a major way.

What You May Have Missed: Jake Lewis and The Clergy

Jake Lewis and The Clergy: August 31, 2013 @ The Fastnet Pub, Newport, RI

This past Saturday, I went over to see Jake Lewis and the Clergy at The Fastnet Pub.  This was the first time I had the pleasure of seeing the band perform; and let me tell you, they're pretty darn good!  If you haven't already, you should definitely check them out.  Your ears will thank you for indulging in their indie Americana goodness.

And for your listening/viewing pleasure, we captured a clip of "Lost" from their set.  The studio version of the track is from the album Location, Location.

Around New York ... September 1 - September 7, 2013

Upcoming Shows in the New York area ...

September 2 -- Vermont Joy Parade / Bird Dog / SWF at Glasslands

U.S. Royalty at Cameo Gallery, 9/5 & Mercury Lounge, 9/6

September 3 -- Dan Tedesco / The Pluto Moons / With Snack at The Rock Shop
September 4 -- Mon Khmer / Foley Stewart / Midnight Hollow at Mercury Lounge
September 4 -- Royal Southern Brotherhood at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
September 5 -- U.S. Royalty / Bury Me A Lion / Chainwave at Cameo Gallery
September 5 -- The Henry Millers / Billi Shakes / Mariachi Flor De Toloache at Pianos
September 5 -- Wishes and Thieves / Dear Comrade / The Love Ways at The Bowery Electric
September 6 -- U.S. Royalty at Mercury Lounge
September 6 -- Dirty Beaches / SISU / Ell V Gore at Bowery Ballroom
September 6 -- John Prine / Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal at Beacon Theatre
September 7 -- Hollis Brown / Motive / Raccoon Fighter at Cameo Gallery
September 7 -- Felix Pastorius' Social Experiment at Blue Note
September 7 -- Hey Anna / Dead Sexy Sheila / The Toothaches at The Bowery Electric
September 7 - 8 -- Glenn Tilbrook / Joe Michelini at City Winery

Newport Jazz Festival: Day 2 Through My Lens

Newport Jazz Festival - August 3, 2013 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

This is what day two of the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management looked like through my lens.

Harbor Stage

Rez Abbasi Trio

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Quad Stage

Mary Halvorson Quintet

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Amir ElSaffar Two Rivers

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Robert Glasper Experiment

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Terence Blanchard

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Gregory Porter

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Fort Stage

The Ali Amr Experiment

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Michel Camilo Sextet

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Wayne Shorter Quartet with Special Guest Herbie Hancock

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Esperanza Spalding Radio Society

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Marcus Miller

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Upcoming: Mission South at Pianos, 9/19

This is happening...

... you should go!  

Mission South

The Hollows, The Ugly Club, Maude

Thursday, September 19

Pianos

158 Ludlow Street

New York, NY

Doors: 8PM

Tickets: $8

21+

Upcoming: Kingsley Flood at Mercury Lounge, 9/12

This is happening...

... you should go!  

We caught Kingsley Flood at the Newport Folk Festival back in July where they put on a highly enjoyable, energetic set.  It looked like THIS if you missed it. 

Kingsley Flood

Water Liars

Thursday, September 12

Mercury Lounge

217 E Houston Street

New York, NY

Doors: 9:30PM

Tickets: $10 adv / $12 dos

21+