The academic teachings that go into the career of a symphony orchestra musician only whet Peter Kogan’s appetite for something much more freeing…like jazz. The former Assistant Principal of Timpani and Principal Percussion of the Pittsburgh Symphony has continued in the symphonic vein but has also taken a sharp turn to jazz, forming both a... Continue Reading →
Against a backdrop of city sirens that open the piece “Blue Prelude” Lolo Irving springs into a high dive and hits her target with a sax that cries out with increasingly assertive statements. What a way to grab your face and drench you with music on this first track of her CD “No Limit.” Funkier... Continue Reading →
There's a unique timbre to Gaby Paul’s voice that makes it hard to describe; rich and sweet but with layers of character, like burnt caramel. At its core is a titanium-strength midrange and depth, but it can easily shoot to the higher registers with sniper-like accuracy. Hot and bluesy on originals like “The Record.” Mournful... Continue Reading →
Versatile, musically immersed and bursting with a backlog of material yet to be released, tenor sax player Peter Sparacino says it’s because he came late to the party. His incredibly productive catch-up scheme has him in two ensembles: one, called Anouman, as co-leader (creating some killer, strong-spirited gypsy jazz) and the other called Orkestra Eustoria... Continue Reading →
Tonal lows that shake the earth below your feet emerge when Finnish-born bass clarinetist Paul Austerlitz breathes jazz into his instruments. With “Water Prayers” (the first CD of his world-music-inspired trilogy) just out, Austerlitz creates wicked good music that is tinged with the impossibly deep-dark blues from his bass or contra-bass clarinet, adding in to... Continue Reading →
With fonts that are chunky, designs that are funky and color palettes that are as striking as the harmonies within, the Blue Note-era album covers live on. Inspiring graphic designers from their midcentury debut onward, these iconic visuals were the perfect complement to the rhythms and riffs of the jazz albums they contained. Art director,... Continue Reading →
Debbie Burke - jazz author 
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