Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes

Lionel Loueke, Mwaliko (Blue Note) Singer-guitarist Lionel Loueke’s newest project is an exotic and interesting blend of jazz and the native...

For those naysayers and/or moldy figs who say, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, that jazz is dead, don’t buy it. The music isn’t even on life suppor...

Sheryl Bailey, A New Promise (MCG Jazz) New York-based guitarist Sheryl Bailey teamed with the Three Rivers Jazz Orchestra in her native Pi...

Once in a while, jazz and popular culture conveniently cross paths. And how fitting that it was on the sporting world’s biggest stage last w...

Whitney James, The Nature of Love (Damselfly Productions) Singer Whitney James’s debut CD is a dandy. The singer, who divides her non-touri...

For those of you lacking the courage or patience to endure the glitz and non-music that dominate the Grammy Awards, here is a rundown of Sun...

No matter that there was another Arctic blast of winter in New England, singer Rebecca Parris packed in a full house at Chan's in Woonso...

Roberto Magris & The Europlane Orchestra, Current Views (Soul Note) Italian pianist Roberto Magris keeps rolling out great recordings t...

Amid all of the deserved, but lingering, attention that will be heaped upon the Michael Jackson legacy at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on J...

The three M’s headlined above are the prime ingredients in an exhibition that’s making its only North American appearance through March 14 i...

The David Leonhardt Trio, Bach to the Blues (Big Bang) If you love jazz and classical - and have ears that are open improvisation on some ...

One of the most poignant moments at the Rock & R0ll Hall of Fame's 25th anniversary concert (night one, October 29) when Art Garfunk...

Larry Blumenfeld’s “Cultural Conversation” with TV producer David Simon in today’s Wall Street Journal is a highly recommended read. Simon, ...

The reigning queen of jazz piano, honored through the years with numerous musical and broadcast-related awards, has another biggie – from he...

As promised, here's a link to the January 2010 issue of HotHouse, which includes my interview-profile of pianist Harold Mabern. All th...

As 2010 fast approaches, it is time for my annual review of jazz happenings over the p ast year. The 2009 edition of The Year in Jazz was p...

It certainly has been quite a year for jazz and the economy. I’ll have more details and perspectiv e shortly in the 2009 edition of my annua...

Here are this writer's choices for the top jazz recordings and reissues of 2009. Always keep in mind that top 10 listings of this sort r...

I had a fascinating conversation with Harold Mabern last weekend in conjunction with the pianist's appearance at the Jazz Standard in mi...

Norah Jones, The Fall (Blue Note) The Norah Jones evolution continues. The singer-pianist-guitarist w ho made such a big splash and became ...

The Recording Academy (formerly the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) is out with its nominations for the 52nd annual Grammy ...

Hal Weary, A Rendezvous with Déjà Vu (Musichal Entertainment) There’s more than a little influence of Horace Silver on this hard-bop projec...

After all of the angst and financial mess following the Festival Productions-Festival Network LLC transaction nearly three years ago, one p...

Remember the halcyon days when to be considered a university, you had to have six or seven accredited colleges as well as graduate and profe...

Various artists, Coming Together, (Inarhyme Records) This is a very special recording, both for the emotional performances - and their insp...

I got a chuckle today when reading a Web posting ( Kenny G Steps Back Into the Spotlight ) by AOL's PopEater entertainment news and cele...

Louis Armstrong is credited with saying: "All music is folk music; I ain't never heard no horse sing a song." Another variatio...

Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Detroit (Mack Avenue Records) At a time when it seems difficult to keep a big band afloat, composer and arranger G...

There are examples here and there of jazz clubs, jazz festivals and jazz musicians doing their part to increase the audience and give the ja...

In addition to their strong musical interests, John Medeski, Billy Martin and Chris Wood share interests in biology and science. The longtim...

Amanda Carr and the Kenny Hadley Big Band, Common Thread (Original Music) This disc is terrific on a number of levels. It captures swinging...