Blue Isle Jazz - Music Blog

The Derek Trucks Band recently confirms that a new studio album is in “full swing.” The band carved time out of their spring tour schedule to write and record at Trucks’ new home studio, which was completed in January his brother David, tech extraordinaire Bobby Tis and with the help of engineers Bobby and Marty Wall - the recording process has reportedly been going great on this forthcoming “homegrown” release.

The Soul Stew Revival has officially grown to an eleven-piece ensemble for the summer including a three-piece horn section. Scrapomatic, the wonderful new side project for DTB lead vocalist Mike Mattison, will open all dates except July 5 on the summer Soul Stew tour.[Jambase] Read More →

It’s the third annual Summer Jazz Festival Saturday, July 12 from 5-10 pm, presented by the Smithtown Township Arts Council. The concert will take place in the festival tent on the grounds of the Mills Pond House. Admission $15 ($10 by Advance Reservation) and $5 for students with ID. For more information, call 631-862-6575, or visit stacarts.org.

At the age of 72 Jazz pianist Ronnie Mathews has passed away, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Matthews had been the subject of an all-star benefit and tribute just last week at Sweet Rhythm in New York City.

If you’ve spent any time listening to 1960s, 70s and 80s hardbop, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard Ronnie Matthews on the keyboards at some point–Dexter Gordon’s live 1976 opus Homecoming, for example, or Freddie Hubbard’s mid-1960s Blue Note classic Breaking Point.

Condolences goes out to Mr. Mathews’ friends and family, and thanks for all of the listening pleasure that he provided to me and many other jazz fans around the world. Rest in peace!

Here is a video of Johnny Griffin at the Village Vanguard together with Ronnie Mathews in 1981.

[Photo of Ronnie Mathews by Giancarlo Belfiore from Jazzhouse.org] Read More →

The 18 city tour this summer includes appearances at many of the nations premiere festivals. The outing comes on the heels of the Shout! Factory releases of The Mickey Hart Collection out this spring and the recent Rhythm Devils DVD release from Star City Recordings in early June. The Mickey Hart Band will feature Steve Kimock on guitar, George Porter Jr. on bass, Jen Durkin on vocals, Kyle Hollingsworth on keys, Walfredo Reyes Jr. on drums, and talking drum master Sikiru Adepoju.

The tour begins beginning July 2 at the Southgate House in Newport, KY and then jumps to the Rothbury Festival the following day. The band will also make stops at festivals such as Summer-fest in Milwaukee on July 5 and wraps up July 24 at 10K Lakes Festival in Minnesota.

Mickey Hart is enjoying one of his busiest years ever with multiple new releases, and collaborations, will be touring behind the Mickey Hart Band this summer with a lineup that is a dream team of some of the best musicians in the live music scene. [JAMBASE] Read More →

It’s not secret that colossal bands were born and bred in New Orleans, California. After hurricane Katrina, one band that stayed through the pre, post and in the face of more potential hurricanes is Rebirth Brass Band. What New Orleans was and what she is now in essence represents rebirth, and the Rebirth Brass Band deserve credit when you hear big horns – makes you think of New Orleans.
Rebirth is a Classic brass band, at the root they are a group consisting of all brass instruments and usually a percussion section.

Rebirth is comprised of Phil Frazier (tuba), Keith Frazier (bass drum), Derrick Shezbie (trumpet), Glen Andrews (trumpet), Stafford Agee (trombone), Corey Henry (trombone), Derrick Tabb (snare drum), Vincent Broussard (saxophone) and Byron “FLEE” Bernard (saxophone).

In the late 19th century, Classic brass bands emerged in New Orleans – did you know that the Rebirth Brass Band started while still in high school and were too young to play in bars, so instead they played on street corners and sidewalks of New Orleans for tips…[Jambase] Read More →

Bob Florence admirers and friends, including his Limited Edition band, on June 15 gathered at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood to pay tribute to the arranger, composer, leader, and pianist.

Florence, at age of seventy-five died exactly a month earlier. In Florence’s honor, the piano remained silent. Mike Kaiser, a jazz fan and videographer, captured the Limited Edition playing Billy Strayhorn’s “Chelsea Bridge in Florence’s arrangement and posted it on the Daily Motion web site.

[Rifftides][photo via aaj] Read More →

It would appeared that Miami would have a new jazz venue in Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts until the proposed clubs namesake, but earlier this month Arturo Sandoval pulled out his plans to open a jazz club in Miami.

Arturo Sandoval, a Miami-based Cuban trumpeter was also to serve as curator of the club, told the Miami Herald that its not the best time to take this risk because of basic goods-specifically food and fuel-rising cost. Read More →