By Michael Katz For those of us in love with the Monterey Jazz Festival, the longest six months of the year are the time between the final note of the last Sunday night show at the fairgrounds and the April 1 announcement of artists for the next MJF. That wait ended Monday morning with the… Read More Preview: The Monterey Jazz Festival 56
By Michael Katz Saturday at the Monterey Jazz Festival is an Olympian feast, with just about everything you can imagine, from the blasting steel pedal of Robert Randolph to the nuanced guitar of Mimi Fox, the cult-like dominance of Trombone Shorty to the indomitable Tony Bennett. Not to mention the ear-splitting Thunderbirds flyover, courtesy of… Read More Live Jazz: Monterey Jazz Festival Notebook; Day #2
By Michael Katz Monterey, California. Sunday at Monterey began with a group of precocious teenagers and ended with an ageless octogenarian, concluding a festival that had highlights from every corner of the musical world. The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, MJF’s signature contribution to jazz education, is more than just a group of talented kids gathered… Read More Live Jazz: The 54th Monterey Jazz Festival — Sunday
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – July 6. (Wed.) The Ernie Andrews Quartet. The stylish, versatile Andrews – as convincing with a ballad standard as he is with the blues — performs with the bebop-driven alto saxophone of Richie Cole, and the stellar rhythm section of Art Hllary, piano, Richard Simon, bass and Ralph Penland,… Read More Picks of the Week: July 5 – 10
By Michael Katz This is the time of year when Monterey Jazz Festival diehards pour over the newly released lineup, plotting strategy for seeing as many of the 500 + artists spread over six venues as humanly possible. This year’s 54th Monterey Jazz Festival, September 16-18, promises to be one of the best. To begin… Read More News/Preview: The 54th Monterey Jazz Festival
By Michael Katz Saturday afternoon will long be remembered for Trombone Shorty’s march on Monterey. To say he stole the show doesn’t do him justice. It’s like calling Gen. Sherman a cat burgler. But I’ll try and set the stage, as the afternoon started innocently enough… JOHN FIRMIN & THE NOCTURNE BAND I always try… Read More Live Jazz: The 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival (Day 2)
The International Review of Music 