viernes, 11 de febrero de 2011
martes, 8 de febrero de 2011
Karriem Riggins
ABOUT KARRIEM
If jazz and hip-hop passionately and cleverly intertwined with one another, the hybrid result would be a musically gifted lovechild. Born August 25, 1975 in Detroit, MI, Karriem Riggins’ parents realized their son was gifted when he began digging through their records. He joined his father Emmanuel (who used to perform with jazz guitarist Grant Green) in the studio to play with instruments in the likeness of a musical great. Riggins continued his ongoing affair with music in his education and made hip-hop music in his spare time.
Riggins turned his love into a profession, moving to New York City in 1994 at the age of 19. He played drums in Betty Carter’s band “Jazz Ahead.” While Riggins strengthened and developed his forte, the jazz world became enraptured with such an exceptional performer. Riggins went on to perform with and appear on recordings with various jazz greats such as Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, Donald Byrd, Cedar Walton, Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Burrell, Benny Green, Mulgrew Miller, Ron Carter, Gary Bartz and Diana Krall.
Not one to abide musical boundaries, Karriem has made major accomplishments within the hip-hop world as a musician and producer. He has produced album tracks for Common, Slum Village, The Roots, and Erykah Badu. He’s toured with Common three times, and produced his “Play Your Cards Right” for Paramount Picture’s feature film “Smoking Aces.” He helped Kanye West demo some theme songs for “Mission Impossible III” featuring Twista and Keyshia Cole. One of Karriem’s most personal and esteemed projects was finishing and producing J Dilla’s last project, “The Shining.” Karriem released his first self-titled album, “Music Kaleidoscope,” showcasing his unique range as a hip hop producer and established jazz musician. More recently, Karriem has played drums and collaborated with Mad-Lib for his “High Jazz” album. Karriem Riggins continues to embark on a musical voyage, developing and creating music that will captivate audiences and entice the musical senses.
domingo, 6 de febrero de 2011
Diana Krall starts Broward Center’s 20-year anniversary with glorious performance
As part of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ 20-year anniversary, Diana Krall started the celebration with a spectacular live performance. Diana tickled the ivories with precision, gloriously sang and entertained the patrons at the sold-out venue. The music played this evening included samples of her award-winning career’s music. She played pieces from her 12 albums and touched briefly on her new album – one with a new Brazilian focus.
Prior to the show, Kelly Shanley, the Broward Center’s president/CEO, took the stage and spoke briefly to the sold-out audience. He first thanked everyone for being a part of the 20-year celebration festivities. He introduced Krall as “legendary”, saying “I cannot think of a more fitting performer to kick off the 20-year celebration than the beautiful and talented Diana Krall.”
While on stage, Diana shared that she grew up listening to old records. She explained that her father was a stride-style pianist and a serious record collector. Now, at 46 years of age, she continues to love both playing and listening to music and said that her motivations for new music comes from what she absorbed as a child. She mentioned tonight would be filled with “freestyle” music – and that Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald were some of her favorites.
During one of her pieces, she “modified” a Cole classic by adding a piece of “American fan fare”. When she was done playing it, she smiled and said – “I guess that is not how Nat would have played it… but it sure was fun.”
Krall has matured throughout her career and Saturday’s performance talked to the romantics in the audience. One elderly couple told me that her music “made them feel as if they were taking a stroll on the beach on a moon-lit evening holding hands.”
As promised, the show was filled with freestyle music. She played and sang with a style and grace. She touched on the greats and also played some of her original music from her latest CD Quiet Nights. When she played her hit “When I Look in Your Eyes”, folks in the audience sang with her. Krall appeared to thoroughly enjoy playing for the crowd.
jueves, 3 de febrero de 2011
Diana Krall Broward Center for the Performing Arts 2.5.2011
An Evening With Diana Krall
Saturday, February 5, 2011, 8pm
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
201 SW Fifth Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Tickets on sale Friday, December 17 @ 10am. For tickets call 954-462-0222 or visit www.browardcenter.org.
The Broward Center is located in the heart of the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District
Info courtesy of Jazz & Blues Florida www.JazzBluesFlorida.com.
