tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51721415225344983602026-06-01T06:36:27.821-07:00Updates from the world of Jazz. Artist releases, concert coverage, photos, and more.James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-59046210444002324282025-10-07T19:55:00.000-07:002025-10-07T19:55:24.085-07:00

 After all these years, walking through the gates of the Monterey Fairgrounds still gives me chills. There’s something about the mix of salty coastal air, the smell of food stands, the low hum of people tuning up instruments, and the memories of the many "Monterey Moments" of legendary performances. The 68th Monterey Jazz Festival (Sept. 26–28, 2025) brought all the familiar magic — great

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-12347963411097351772025-07-22T19:05:00.000-07:002025-07-22T19:05:41.877-07:00

The 67th Monterey Jazz Festival presented a dynamic musical celebration of jazz which respected traditional music while embracing modern creative approaches. The 2024 festival at the Monterey County Fairgrounds presented Herbie Hancock and Dianne Reeves alongside Samara Joy and Immanuel Wilkins and DOMi & JD Beck in outstanding performances. The festival maintained its inclusive programming

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-75155904331629397992023-09-18T12:14:00.000-07:002023-09-18T12:15:09.453-07:00

Festivals offer the opportunity to see a variety of artists, within a short period of time, and frequently at the same venue. The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of that presents a well crafted mix ranging from established legends of the music to local fan favorites. Each year I especially look forward to hearing emerging artists that have either been part of groups or recordings from headliners

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-2722623187887070402023-08-20T23:49:00.014-07:002023-08-21T09:32:44.020-07:00

Closing Out The Summer, and Festival SeasonOpening Friday, September 22nd, the Monterey Jazz Festival continues its runHerbie Hancock as the longest continuously-running jazz festival in the world. After two years of adjustments coming out of the pandemic, the three-day festival has hit its stride without having to make many major adjustments. The richness of the performance schedule and variety

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-79227701060743842782023-08-18T10:17:00.000-07:002023-08-18T10:17:20.023-07:00

Jazz Currents returns 8/21/2023 We stepped away, unintentionally, 5 years ago.We're coming back, quite intentionally, on August 21st. Watch this space. 

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-40164379764948494512018-08-12T21:56:00.000-07:002018-08-12T21:56:44.642-07:00

Hello again. First, I must apologize for being away for so long. I wish I had more of an excuse to give you, but the fact is, sometimes life just gets in the way. In any case, I’m back just in time for the heart of the festival season. Next up for me is the Monterey Jazz Festival in September. We have our tickets in hand, and can’t wait for this, the 61st edition, of the longest

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-80686624541207497032013-10-16T22:56:00.002-07:002023-08-27T13:00:52.105-07:00

Charnett Moffett has had a connection to the elite artists in jazz for a very long time. His father, Charles, was a drummer for Ornette Coleman in the 1960s, so he's more than accustomed to being around the legends of jazz. This year, Saturday evening's performances on the Garden Stage featured the artists of the Motéma Records label. Moffett's fourth CD on Motéma , Spirit of Sound,

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-82752691060295720142013-10-12T23:19:00.000-07:002013-10-12T23:19:38.279-07:00

You don't have to have a ticket for the shows in the Arena to have a great time at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Of course you have the many artisan vendors and the great food booths. There are also seven other performance venues. Six of them feature live performances from a large variety of artists. The seventh, the Jazz Theater, shows simulcasts from the main Arena performances.  Several

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-35246484260816162272013-10-09T23:45:00.000-07:002013-10-09T23:54:54.968-07:00

Essential tracks highlights tracks that arguably should be found somewhere in any serious jazz collector's library. This segment is also meant to inspire readers to seek out foundational tracks from the various sub-genres of this great music. "Phase Dance", ECM Records release "Pat Metheny Group", 1978 This track quietly catapulted Pat Metheny from a relative unknown to a profound presence on

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-32590946883351334092013-10-08T22:07:00.000-07:002013-10-08T22:08:31.990-07:00

The Relatives were formed in 1970 by veteran Dallas gospel singer Rev. Gean West and his brother Tommie. Their sound bridges the gap between traditional gospel, soul, and psychedelia. They've always been known for their powerful original songs and searing stage show, and released three singles to limited success. They also recorded a session that was never released.  The group disbanded

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-84711583034721100142013-10-06T23:01:00.000-07:002013-10-06T23:01:15.813-07:00

Even serious Jazz fans find themselves forgetting about big bands. That is, until they hear a good one. The is much more than that; this is a great big band. In 1985, drummer Jeff Hamilton joined bassist John Clayton and saxophonist Jeff Clayton to form the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. It's comprised of a group of Los Angeles based veteran musicians who bring a big, big sound. Make no

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-65179040646947016542013-10-05T22:46:00.001-07:002013-10-09T23:29:09.393-07:00

Essential tracks highlights tracks that arguably should be found somewhere in any serious jazz collector's library. This segment is also meant to inspire readers to seek out foundational tracks from the various sub-genres of this great music. "Earth Tones", Kudu Records release "Mister Magic", 1974 The title track of this 1974 release, Grover Washington Jr.'s fourth on Kudu records, is

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-64499647058281066162013-10-04T23:34:00.001-07:002013-10-04T23:34:41.629-07:00

Each year, the Monterey Jazz Festival's Artist-in-Residence is featured in a number of ensembles. One of those is typically a group of all-stars from the Berklee College of Music. The 2013 Artist-in-Residence, Joe Lovano, helped open Friday night on the Garden Stage with a group from Berklee dubbed the Global Jazz Ambassadors. The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-42587409781896367542013-09-29T22:40:00.001-07:002013-09-29T22:40:32.655-07:00

Granted, Carmen Lundy is not a name that surfaces early in the discussion of jazz vocalists. That especially interesting when you consider her career spans several decades, and she is a noted singer, composer, and actor. In addition to jazz, Carmen has always been open to the influences of R&B, pop, and folk music. Lundy made her debut appearance at Monterey this year in the Night Club

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-62957657882420286582013-09-25T21:41:00.000-07:002013-09-25T21:41:20.809-07:00

It's been a number of years since George Benson last appeared on the Main Stage at Monterey. He was one of the headliners in the Saturday Afternoon set in the Arena. He also appeared on the Sunday afternoon panel discussion featuring recent NEA Jazz Masters honorees. Benson's 90 minute set was had plenty for the fans of George Benson the singer, and George Benson the critically acclaimed

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-60121952702003853272013-09-24T22:22:00.003-07:002013-09-24T22:22:51.687-07:00

There's nothing like the Monterey Jazz Festival. To begin with, it's truly a Jazz Festival. A few years ago, Branford Marsalis told the festival audience just how luck they were. As Marsalis put it, "...there is more jazz, than non-jazz, than any other festival in the world". Here, the legends of the music oar honored, the rising stars are recognized, and the emerging new artists are

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-73888116902034159142013-08-22T22:56:00.002-07:002013-08-22T22:56:45.937-07:00

Essential tracks highlights tracks that arguably should be found somewhere in any serious jazz collector's library. This segment is also meant to inspire readers to seek out foundational tracks from the various sub-genres of this great music. "My Favorite Things", from the brand new Mack Avenue Records release "Out Here" True, this segment normally features jewels from the treasure chest of

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-41496640806594780182013-08-20T23:17:00.000-07:002013-08-20T23:22:51.692-07:00

Essential tracks highlights tracks that arguably should be found somewhere in any serious jazz collector's library. This segment is also meant to inspire readers to seek out foundational tracks from the various sub-genres of this great music. "Young Rabbits", originally from the 1962 Pacific Jazz release, "Lookin' Ahead", most recently available on "Way Back Home" This is easily one of the

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-43626406857081935442013-08-12T22:18:00.000-07:002013-08-12T22:18:59.275-07:00

If there were such a thing as "comfort music" for jazz lovers, it would have to be the idiom(s) loosely known as straight ahead jazz, bop, hard bop, or post bop. Christian McBride is more than comfortable in all those formats. He stays busy as a sideman in constant demand, his big band, the “Situation”, and a number of other projects.  This is his combo alignment, Inside Straight, and he

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-92031908378989586392013-08-08T00:30:00.000-07:002013-08-15T17:26:57.420-07:00

Every jazz journalist knows they will eventually write about the passing of a great artist. Needless to say it is not something we look forward to. We also realize eventually that artist will be one of our own favorites. I received the news in the modern day equivalent of the 4:30AM phone call. You know, the phone call telling you a family member had just died. The text message, from a friend

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-76422866736769752082013-08-06T09:20:00.000-07:002013-08-06T09:20:08.785-07:00

RIP Jazz and Funk Master George Duke  

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-34999548950183710852013-08-04T14:29:00.002-07:002013-08-04T14:29:53.317-07:00

Essential tracks highlights tracks that arguably should be found somewhere in any serious jazz collector's library. This segment is also meant to inspire readers to seek out foundational tracks from the various sub-genres of this great music. "Blue Spirits" title track from his 1966 Blue Note release This was Hubbard's the last of a series releases on Blue Note from the early 60's.

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-52272726452497618962013-08-01T22:52:00.000-07:002013-08-04T14:32:16.974-07:00

The afternoon "Conversation" segments of the Monterey Jazz Festival are a hidden gem in the festival's weekend program. The audience takes a rare, personal look at an artist as they reflect on various aspects and moments of their storied careers. This image was captured in one of those sessions with Nancy Wilson. Later that evening, Ms. Wilson would take the stage for the first time since

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-90091060937991113402013-07-30T23:20:00.001-07:002013-08-04T14:07:36.774-07:00

Essential tracks highlights tracks that arguably should be found somewhere in any serious jazz collector's library. This segment is also meant to inspire readers to seek out foundational tracks from the various sub-genres of this great music. "African Skies" from the Impulse Record release "Tales from the Hudson", 1996 You'd be hard pressed to find a track from Michael Brecker that

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5172141522534498360.post-72402062558351070022013-07-26T23:54:00.002-07:002013-07-30T22:56:21.652-07:00

Essential tracks highlights tracks that arguably should be found somewhere in any serious jazz collector's library. This segment is also meant to inspire readers to seek out foundational tracks from the various sub-genres of this great music. "Black Nile" from the 1964 Blue Note release - "Night Dreamer" Shorter had been on the jazz scene for quite a while before this debut album on Blue Note.

James Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795018609905557644noreply@blogger.com0