During the nights before Berklee’s Annual Commencement Concert at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, the huge group of student performers attended lengthy rehearsals. The band, backup vocalists, and featured vocalists had more than enough rehearsal time to perfect the performance of their tribute songs to this year’s honorary doctorate recipients. After walking into Agannis for the [...]
Blogs
The Lester Young Tree: The Life and Music of “Pres”
March 6, 2013 | By
One of the most heartfelt stories in all of jazz is that of Lester Young (known by many as “Pres”). A calm, mild-mannered, shy and emotional person, Young secured a permanent place in jazz history and completely changed the sound of the tenor saxophone. The Lester Young tree starts with Young’s work with the Count [...]
Jazz and Eastern Practices: Part 2 – Yoga
October 27, 2012 | By
ut two years ago I discovered Gretchen Parlato and I absolutely fell in love with her voice. She quickly became my favorite vocalist and a huge influence on my music, and I was so taken by her intense connection to the music and the intimacy of her sound. I discovered that she was an avid [...]
Going To Concerts Solo: Why It’s No Big Deal and Totally Worth It
October 20, 2012 | By
I’m an only child, so independence comes pretty naturally to me. That, paired with the fact that my hometown isn’t exactly a jazz-loving place, meant I ended up going to a lot of shows alone growing up. Our one and only jazz club had shows every weekend, and of course none of my teenaged friends [...]
Five Vocalists Every Jazz Musician Should Know
September 14, 2012 | By
A lot of times in jazz, vocalists can get stuck listening exclusively to vocal jazz, and instrumentalists get stuck listening exclusively to instrumental jazz. I believe that the best instrumentalists are the ones that listen to vocal jazz and understand singers and what it takes to accompany them. On the other hand, I believe that [...]
Top Five Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Recordings
June 13, 2012 | By
Art Blakey’s various groups under the name The Jazz Messengers had some of the most profound influences on modern jazz of any artists of the post-bop era.
The Jazz Vocalist’s Survival Guide
June 5, 2012 | By
It seems like no matter where we go, whether it’s a casual jam session or a professional gig, we vocalists are just not taken seriously! There is a stigma attached to vocalists: that we don’t know how to communicate with instrumentalists, that we don’t know the music, and that we aren’t as much a part [...]
Maximize Your Rehearsal Technique and Your Reputation
January 4, 2012 | By
We’ve all run into it: a disrespectful band leader, a drummer who just won’t stop being loud, or a saxophone player who can’t give up his Coltrane Chops for a smooth jazz gig. Whether you are the third trumpet player or the bandleader, there are certain ways to be most productive in a rehearsal setting. [...]
Chamber Jazz
October 31, 2011 | By
Trombonist/bandleader/educator Alan Ferber is one of the most prolific performers and composers on the modern music scene today. A special blend of sideman and leader, Ferber splits his time and creative energies between multiple musical endeavors.
Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project
October 31, 2011 | By
Vibraphonist Dave Samuels has led the Caribbean Jazz Project (CJP) for over fifteen years, and at the Beantown Jazz festival, he showed the results of many years of mastering the group’s unique style.
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