The Montreal International Jazz Festival kicks off its 40th edition this week, starting June 26th, with a line-up sure to delight the most diverse of musical tastes. Often jazz festivals can be criticized for not showcasing enough jazz per se, but this year’s Montreal edition is particularly fruitful and ripe with a great selection of actual jazz artists. We’ve highlighted a few … [Read more...]
Gregory Porter – “L-O-V-E” feat. Terence Blanchard
Gregory Porter has released the second single off his upcoming Nat King Cole tribute Nat King Cole & Me due out October 27 on Blue Note Records. Check out “L-O-V-E” featuring Terence Blanchard on trumpet and Porter acolytes pianist Christian Sands, bassist Reuben Rogers, and drummer Ulysses Owens in the rhythm section. … [Read more...]
Gregory Porter Drops New Single “Smile”
The details of Gregory Porter’s latest album have just been announced. The GRAMMY-winning vocalist will be tackling the Nat King Cole songbook on Nat King Cole & Me, set to drop October 27th on Blue Note Records. With the help of 6-time GRAMMY-winning arranger Vince Mendoza, the London Studio Orchestra, a core band featuring pianist Christian Sands, bassist Reuben Rogers, and d … [Read more...]
Charles Lloyd and the Marvels – “Masters of War” feat. Lucinda Williams (Stream)
Last year, the always vibrant, visionary saxophonist Charles Lloyd and his group The Marvels released their album, I Long to See You, on Blue Note. It's an amazing album and the group of guitarist Bill Frisell, pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland completely kill live. For a most fitting example, Lloyd released this live recording of … [Read more...]
Gilad Hekselman – “March of the Sad Ones” Live at the 2014 Django Reinhardt Festival (Video)
Gilad Hekselman's 2013 album, This Just In, still kills. It's one of those kinds of albums with sharp compositions and even sharper playing. Though we at Nextbop are constantly in search of the new, something about this release keeps find its way back into our rotations. So seeing a performance of Hekselman alongside bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Ferenc Nemeth play "March … [Read more...]