Tag: Ray Charles

Keeping the GAS (Great American Songbook) Flame Alive: “It Had To Be You”

By Roger Crane the Song Scout When I meet jazz performers, composers and fellow music fans I often inquire as to their favorite songs. I recall that the masterful jazz pianist Dave McKenna chose “I’ll Be Around,” giving particular praise to Alec Wilders’s bridge (where his lyrics state “Goodbye again.”). Another jazz pianist, Gerry Wiggins,… Read More Keeping the GAS (Great American Songbook) Flame Alive: “It Had To Be You”

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CD Review: James Booker’s “Classified: Remixed And Expanded” (Rounder Records)

By Devon Wendell The late, great James Booker’s recording career was just as mysterious and inconsistent as his troubled life would allow. Some of his earliest studio recordings got lost, he’d often back up or collaborate with other major artists, many of whom he inspired greatly – like Jerry Garcia and Doctor John. Or Booker… Read More CD Review: James Booker’s “Classified: Remixed And Expanded” (Rounder Records)

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Live Jazz: John Pisano’s Guitar Night with Graham Dechter

By Michael Katz There were generations bumping into each other Tuesday night, both on the stage and in the crowd at Lucy’s 51 in Toluca Lake, the current home of John Pisano’s Guitar Night.  Much of that is by design. For fifteen years, Pisano has been bringing guitarists from anywhere and everywhere to share an… Read More Live Jazz: John Pisano’s Guitar Night with Graham Dechter

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Live Jazz: The Mike Lang Trio at Catalina Bar & Grill

By Don Heckman It’s easy to take many musicians for granted.  The musicians, that is, who create the infinite array of melodies, textures and rhythms that are the soundtrack of daily life.  On television and film screens, Muzak, iTunes, videogame music tracks, favorite CD collections, and so on. “Studio musicians,” they’re called, usually with a… Read More Live Jazz: The Mike Lang Trio at Catalina Bar & Grill

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