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JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater
12:10 pm
Thu March 7, 2013

Gregory Porter On JazzSet

Originally published on Wed March 13, 2013 6:25 pm

The Czech Republic capital of Prague is home to the annual Strings of Autumn International Music Festival where, in October 2012, soulful jazz singer Gregory Porter brought down the house. Applause between songs ran for a minute or longer.

Porter sang his anthem "1960 What?" to a "Compared to What" beat, and threw in Nat Adderley's "Work Song." Porter even put a little protest into his own song, "Real Good Hands," as he petitioned a future father-in-law for his daughter's hand.

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A Blog Supreme
2:59 pm
Wed March 6, 2013

Time Is On Their Side: Ageless Jazz Drumming

I've been listening to two very good new albums led by drummers. After learning that both men are in their early 70s, I can't help but wonder how I process that fact in what I hear.

"Killer" Ray Appleton (b. 1941) and Barry Altschul (b. 1943) practice different styles. But they both came of musical age in the hard-bop era, spent many years living in Europe and eventually returned to New York. In other words, they've each got a lot of experience.

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World Cafe
3:35 pm
Mon March 4, 2013

Next: Jesse Dee

Credit Michael D. Spencer / Courtesy of the artist
Jesse Dee.

Originally published on Mon March 4, 2013 10:46 pm

Boston-based R&B singer-songwriter Jesse Dee has opened for concerts by soul legends Etta James and Al Green, among others. Released last month, his debut album On My Mind, In My Heart is an energetic collection of funky, feel-good grooves.

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Favorite Sessions
8:03 am
Sat March 2, 2013

Juan De Marcos And The Afro-Cuban All Stars: Dig That 'Dundunbanza'

Credit Justin Steyer / Jazz24
Juan de Marcos González of the Afro-Cuban All Stars performs live for Jazz24.

Many music lovers know Juan de Marcos González as the man who teamed up with guitarist Ry Cooder to create Buena Vista Social Club. But González was busy celebrating the history of Cuban music long before Cooder arrived on the scene.

Concurrently with the Buena Vista project, González was recording an album with his own band, The Afro-Cuban All Stars. The orchestra now contains expatriate Cuban musicians, young and old alike, from around the world.

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Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz
2:48 pm
Fri March 1, 2013

Kevin Eubanks On Piano Jazz

Credit Raj Naik / Courtesy of the artist
Kevin Eubanks.

On this episode of Piano Jazz, guitarist and former Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks joins Marian McPartland for a set featuring music by Cole Porter, the Gershwins, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane.

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A Blog Supreme
4:44 pm
Thu February 28, 2013

A List Of 5 Songs About... Lists

Originally published on Fri March 1, 2013 11:42 am

Over the past few years, Take Five's theme-based jazz lists have covered a wide variety of subjects. We've covered the careers of legends, the cutting-edge work of up-and-coming artists, styles, periods, holidays, regional scenes and more. Today, Take Five goes "meta" and presents a list of songs about... lists.

The lyrical conceits of these five songs are simply to list things. And, of course, feel free to suggest your favorite songs about lists that weren't included here. ("What, no 'Route 66'? Really?")

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World Cafe
3:35 pm
Thu February 28, 2013

The Bryan Ferry Orchestra On World Cafe

Credit Adam Whitehead / Courtesy of the artist
Bryan Ferry.

Bryan Ferry says he only listens to 1920s jazz these days — and The Jazz Age, the new album from The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, backs up that claim. The Jazz Age finds Ferry doing a lot of listening, as he neither sings nor plays on the record.

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JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater
3:23 pm
Thu February 28, 2013

Christie Dashiell, Alfredo Rodriguez On JazzSet

Though originally from North Carolina, Christie Dashiell attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., and now studies with a teacher from New York Voices at Manhattan School of Music. No stranger to the Kennedy Center, she has participated in the Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead training program there, and sung with the a cappella choir Afro-Blue from Howard University.

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Favorite Sessions
7:35 am
Sat February 23, 2013

Esperanza Spalding: Song For A 'City Of Roses'

Credit opbmusic
Esperanza Spalding performs live for opbmusic.

Esperanza Spalding has often said that she hopes to use the fame from her 2011 Best New Artist Grammy to help give her friends and mentors in the jazz world the recognition they deserve. She got her chance earlier this month, when Spalding and her longtime teacher and mentor, trumpeter Thara Memory, accepted the Grammy for their arrangement of "City of Roses" from Spalding's 2012 album Radio Music Society.

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Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz
2:34 pm
Fri February 22, 2013

Dee Dee Bridgewater On Piano Jazz

Credit Courtesy of the artist
Dee Dee Bridgewater.

On this episode of Piano Jazz, host Marian McPartland welcomes vocalist and JazzSet host Dee Dee Bridgewater for a first-rate set of tunes by Duke Ellington, Kurt Weill, Antonion Carlos Jobim, the

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