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Cassandra Wilson
The voice is more visual than audible; shaded, iridescent, tangible, substantial. It seems to flow effortlessly. Read any of the dozen or so biographies on Cassandra Wilson and you’ll discover some basics: born and reared in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s and 70s by musician and educator parents.Classically trained on piano from age 6 until the age of 13, she also received further musical instruction as a clarinetist for the concert and marching bands of secondary school. During the 70s, she could be found performing Joni Mitchell songs behind an acoustic guitar, or singing with a blues band in Little Rock, Arkansas, in front of a large funk band in Jackson, or in the company of long-time friends in an all-girls ensemble. In the eighties, Cassandra moved to New Orleans where she performed with local luminaries Earl Turbinton and Ellis Marsalis. After a year, she relocated to East Orange, New Jersey where she made a decision to take her chances on the New York jazz scene. After a stint as the main vocalist with Steve Coleman’s M-Base Collective, Cassandra began recording on her own.
Her development can be tracked through her discography. From the standards on Blue Skies to the Grammy-winning projects New Moon Daughter and Loverly, to the combination of originals and interpretations played by a collection of Mississippi and New York musicians on both the 2001 release, Belly of the Sun, and 2003’s Glamoured, Cassandra continues to evolve as a vocalist, songwriter, and producer. She is a world renowned vocalist, songwriter and producer, with an extraordinary following, but at heart she is still a Mississippi girl whose art reflects her deep musical and cultural roots, anchored in the fertile Mississippi soil.
In 2012 Cassandra released "Another Country" which she produced and recorded in Italy. This album is a whole new appraoch for her and displays her in an acoustic setting featuring guitarist Fabrizio Sotti.
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Vocal Jazz And Fusion From Melbourne Band Luoda, Mark Ledford And Cassandra Wilson
by Len Davis
Guitarist Dean Brown, Randy Brecker, new Melbourne band Luoda, the late Mark Ledford, and a tribute to Miles from Cassandra Wilson. Brazilian guitarist Lari Basilio from her latest Your Love. The Hypersonic Factor, Japanese band FAZJAZZ, Nicholas Llerandi and Hungarian guitarist Atila Laszlo. Playlist Dean Brown “Big Foot" from Here (ESC) 00:00 Randy Brecker “All 4 Love" from 34th N Lex (ESC) 06:04 Luoda “Self Help" from Running Out of Time (Self Produced) 12:00 Mark Ledford “Freedom Jazz ...
Continue ReadingNew Releases, Holiday Music, Grammy Nominations And More
by Mary Foster Conklin
This broadcast presents new releases from Los Asesinos, Eliane Elias, Gretchen Parlato, Ledisi, plus a single from Amy Engelhardt, with birthday shoutouts in the second hour to Melissa Aldana, Jazz Master Cassandra Wilson and more. As the Grammy nominations are out, the show's focus is where women placed this year in the Latin jazz, composition, contemporary instrumental, jazz vocal and traditional pop categories. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by purchasing their music during this time ...
Continue ReadingSaluting Harold Arlen
by Russell Perry
Born Hyman Arluck on February 15, 1905, Harold Arlen was one of the most important composers of the Great American songbook. Arlen's first collaboration with lyricist Ted Koehler, “Get Happy," became his first hit in 1930 and ever since his tunes have been covered by jazz artists. In 2000, his collaboration with Yip Harburg, “Over the Rainbow," from The Wizard of Oz, was deemed the Number One Song of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for ...
Continue ReadingHighlights of Jazz in the Early 1990s (1987 - 1994)
by Russell Perry
This is the 95th of 100 programs in the Jazz at 100 series. For 94 programs, we have moved on a roughly chronological path through 100 years of jazz recordings, following trends, introducing major players and stylistic evolutions. As we approach the present, we face the historian's dilemma: in more recent music, what performances will have lasting value? What players will be remembered for their contributions to advancing the music? What trends will turn into dominant themes? Playlist ...
Continue ReadingVarious Artists: Ella 100 Live at the Apollo
by Jim Worsley
To be taken back in time within the scope of a period piece movie has long been a staple. Some journeys feel much more real than others, but the concept is commonplace. Venturing into the past with only the audio of a CD or record is, as they might have said back in 1934, “a whole different kettle of fish." A live audience first laid eyes and ears on this 100th birthday celebration honoring the sensational Ella Fitzgerald (born on ...
Continue ReadingHell's Bells - That Special Time of Year
by Mary Foster Conklin
Includes more holiday songs penned by women as the season is in full swing, with Christmas albums from B3 Kings, Martina DaSilva, Dan Chmielinski, Noel & Maria and new releases from Rez Abbasi and Isabelle Olivier, Carmen Souza, Iro Haarla, plus birthday shout outs to Cassandra Wilson (pictured), Sylvia Syms, Dave Brubeck, Cory Weeds, Kerry Marsh, Amina Figarova, Melissa Aldana and Tom Waits, among others. Playlist Carla Bley “Hell's Bells" from Carla's Christmas Carols (Watt/ECM ) 00:00 Jim ...
Continue ReadingGerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio: Live In Studio
by Angelo Leonardi
È possibile che il nome di questa formazione e il suo stesso leader non vi dicano molto ma guardate chi sono gli altri protagonisti e gli ospiti coinvolti. Il pianista Kenny Barron e il bassista Ron Carter completano il trio mentre si aggiungono Roy Hargrove in quattro brani e Cassandra Wilson in tre. Senza esagerare è uno dei dischi più seducenti che ho ascoltato negli ultimi anni con un repertorio di gran classe che spazia da temi di Burt Bacharach ...
Continue ReadingNewport Festivals Foundation Gala: Cassandra Wilson, Michel Camilo, Jon Batiste
Source:
Carolyn McClair Public Relations
Newport Festivals Foundation 5th Annual Gala Celebrates George Wein’s 90th Birthday with Cassandra Wilson, Michel Camilo and Jon Batiste & Stay Human NEWPORT, RI: Don’t miss one of Newport’s favorite social events when the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. returns to The Breakers on Saturday, August 1, at 7:30 pm for its Gala Benefit featuring performances by Cassandra Wilson, Michel Camilo, Jon Batiste and Stay Human, to celebrate the 90th birthday of festival impresario George Wein. Although his birthday is October ...
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Cassandra Wilson "Coming Forth By Day" to be released April 7
Source:
Michael Ricci
PRODUCED BY NICK LAUNAY (NICK CAVE) + FEATURING MEMBERS OF THE BAD SEEDS, T BONE BURNETT, STRING ARRANGEMENTS BY VAN DYKE PARKS Cassandra Wilson will release an otherworldly homage to Billie Holiday, Coming Forth by Day (Legacy Recordings) April 7, 2015, on what would have been Holiday’s 100th birthday. Wilson, who has drawn inspiration from Billie Holiday for her entire life, chose the title as a way to honor the iconic singer: Coming Forth by Day is an English translation ...
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Preview: The Triangle North Carolina 2014-2015 Jazz Season
Source:
Larry Reni Thomas
By Larry Reni Thomas The busy, expanding, thoroughly-satisfying jazz scene in what is called the “Triangle” area of the Piedmont section of North Carolina just keeps getting better and better. Who needs the New York or the D.C. jazz scene when everybody seems to be coming this way? The area can boast of several venues that present jazz like, C. Grace’s, Irregardless Café, Brasa’s, Sullivan’s and Bia in Raleigh; The Beyu, The Carolina Theatre, Motorco Music Hall, Blue Note Grill, ...
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12th Funchal Jazz Festival Contest
Source:
Diana Lourenço
BuyMyPlaylist and Mundo da Canção don't want you to miss this year's Funchal Jazz Festival with Cassandra Wilson, John Scofield, Branford Marsalis, Danilo Perez, Todd Sharpville and Rui Veloso. So we've prepared a contest for YOU with great prizes: First Prize: A double invitation for the entire Festival (3 days) Free 5 Star Hotel Accommodation (double room) 2nd and 3rd Prize: A double one-day invitation (the date is of your choice) Now ...
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Cassandra Wilson Gives All the Band Members Some at Her Blue Note Gig
Source:
All About Jazz @ Spinner
Cassandra Wilson made her appearance Wednesday night, Nov. 17, at Manhattan's Blue Note jazz club as she usually does, coming onstage after her band warms the crowd up for a few minutes. This was the second night of a brief two-night stand at the club to celebrate the release of her new album, 'Silver Pony.' After joining the group for a loose version of the Ellington standard 'Caravan,' she introduced the musicians and stated that this new album was “a ...
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Cassandra Wilson - Silver Pony (2010)
Source:
Something Else!
By Nick Deriso Cassandra Wilson, who consistently defies convention as this restless chanteuse, doesn't disappoint with Silver Pony—issued today on Blue Note as the long-awaited part-in studio, part-live followup to her celebrated Loverly. She has the vocal phrasing, the dusky intellect, of Charlie Parker and the elastic intuition of Betty Carter. Yet, Wilson is no throwback. She writes her own music, and surrounds herself with top-shelf improvisers. Even when including songs from the canon—here, that includes “Lover Come Back to ...
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New Cassandra Wilson Album, "Silver Pony," Set For Release November 9 On Blue Note Records
Source:
Muse Media
NEW CASSANDRA WILSON ALBUM, “SILVER PONY," SET FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 9 ON BLUE NOTE RECORDS; FEATURING SPECIAL GUESTS RAVI COLTRANE & JOHN LEGEND Silver Pony, the stunning new album from multiple Grammy Award-winning jazz-pop chanteuse Cassandra Wilson, will be released by EMI's Blue Note Records on November 9. Wilson, whose remarkable, husky-tinged vibrato has created a trademark sound for her as an artist, will be touring worldwide in support of the release which features special guests, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane ("Silver ...
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New Cassandra Wilson CD set for release September 28th
Source:
Muse Media
NEW CASSANDRA WILSON ALBUM, “SILVER PONY," SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 28TH ON BLUE NOTE RECORDS; ALBUM FEATURES SPECIAL GUESTS TERENCE BLANCHARD, COMMON AND JOHN LEGEND Los Angeles, California. Silver Pony, the stunning new album from multiple Grammy Award-winning jazz-pop chanteuse Cassandra Wilson, will be released by EMI's Blue Note Records on September 28th. Wilson, whose remarkable, husky-tinged vibrato has created a trademark sound for her as an artist, will be touring worldwide in support of the release which features special ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Cassandra Wilson
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Cassandra Wilson's birthday today!
JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Cassandra Wilson
Grammy-award winning jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson will release Closer To You: The Pop Side on April 7th via Blue Note / EMI. With her unmistakable honeyed husky voice, she has made intimate and personal statements with jazz, blues, R&B... more
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From: Silver PonyBy Cassandra Wilson
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