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Houston Person
Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. Mr. Person's working relationship with Ms. Jones began in 1973 and lasted for thirty years, until her recent passing in 2001. Early gigs happened while serving in the Army overseas in Germany, where he played with Eddie Harris, Cedar Walton and others. On Mr. Person's philosophy of jazz, he says, "Well, it's uplifting and important. And a release and a relief. That's what it is, jazz, so called jazz, to me. It's important that it's relaxing. Something that when the end of the day comes, after a hard and frustrating day out in the world, that relieves you. Relaxes you and makes you feel good." Mr Person adds that all he wants is to give people "good solid melodies with some improvisation and plenty of blues feel." He smiles, "You always want that dance feeling there, that happy, happy feeling."
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Diane Marino: Romance In The Dark
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Romance in the Dark, from highly-versatile vocalist-pianist-arranger Diane Marino and a team of Nashville's top studio players, offers 10 entertaining selections. Comprised of covers of well-known standards and classic soul material (with a handful-plus being remixed and remastered from the vocalist's previously released recordings), it is a thoroughly enjoyable and, yes, romantic effort. Out of This World" opens the session in a lush exotic atmosphere. Originally recorded by Jo Stafford and nearly a jazz standard, Marino dives ...
Continue ReadingSean Hong Wei & Jeremy Monteiro: The New Jersey Sessions
by Pierre Giroux
The New Jersey Sessions is a testament to the vitality of jazz brought to life by pianist Jeremy Monteiro and tenor saxophonist Sean Hong Wei, with the iconic Houston Person adding his legendary sound to a couple of notable tracks. The album serves up a rich tapestry of eight jazz standards (and one original from Monteiro) which provide a road map to blending traditional jazz elements with a modern sensibility by an ensemble which includes trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, bassist Jay ...
Continue ReadingSynia Carroll: Water is My Song
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Water is My Song, from Sarasota-based vocalist Synia Carroll, sends up ten terrific vocals, tasteful solos and surprises. Water-related selections and themes span across the date wherein Carroll and her team of fine players hit on the classics, hand-picked gems and uniquely presented traditional fare. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" starts things swinging with Carroll's Great Divas of Jazz"-inspired pipes swaying and over a laid-back rhythm bed. Guest artist Houston Person offers a tasty ...
Continue ReadingSynia Carroll: Water is My Song
by Pierre Giroux
Vocalist Synia Carroll's Water is My Song is a journey through musical fluidity. She gracefully navigates the currents of jazz with a collection of offbeat compositions inspired by the ebb and flow of water. The album is enriched by an ensemble of stellar musicians including pianist John Di Martino, bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Jerome Jennings with guests including the impeccable tenor saxophonist Houston Person on two tracks. The ten-track set opens with the Harold Arlen/Eric ...
Continue ReadingPeter Hand: Blue Topaz
by Jack Bowers
Peter Hand has a hand in almost everything on Blue Topaz, playing masterful guitar, writing seven of the album's ten engaging numbers and arranging all of them. He also spliced together a pair of blue-chip ensembles for his first small-group recording after three well-received big-band albums, and invited his longtime friend--and legendary tenor saxophonist--Houston Person to sit in on two tracks. Person had also guested on one of the guitarist's big-band recordings, Out of Hand (2014). Hand's ...
Continue ReadingEmmet Cohen: Master Legacy Series Volume 5 Featuring Houston Person
by Mike Jurkovic
From its languid beginning, saxophonist Houston Person's own warmly engaging Why Not?," to its closing, Etta James' slinky seduction Sunday Kind of Love," Emmet Cohen's Master Legacy Series Vol. 5 Featuring Houston Person is a decidedly laid-back affair, unlike much of its predecessors which featured Jimmy Cobb, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Benny Golson and Albert “Tootie" Heath. Maybe that is just the eighty-eight year old Person's influence. His big tone and big presence fill the studio with a ...
Continue ReadingHouston Person: Reminiscing at Rudy's
by Jack Bowers
The Rudy's" in the title of tenor saxophonist Houston Person's album, Reminiscing at Rudy's, is not a nightclub or other such venue but the New Jersey studio of celebrated recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder who died in 2016. As befits reminiscing, the bulk of the album's numbers are tender ballads, every one of which lands squarely in Person's amorous wheelhouse. That is not to say the veteran tenor saxophone maestrowho has recorded almost seventy albums as leader ...
Continue ReadingJazz Musician of the Day: Houston Person
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Houston Person's birthday today!
Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. Mr. Person's working relationship with Ms. ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Houston Person
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Houston Person's birthday today!
Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. Mr. Person's working relationship with Ms. ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Houston Person
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Houston Person's birthday today!
Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. Mr. Person's working relationship with Ms. ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Houston Person
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Houston Person's birthday today!
Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. Mr. Person\'s working relationship with Ms... ...
read more
An all-star night in Sarasota
Source:
Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
The 39th annual Sarasota Jazz Festival wrapped up Saturday night, March 9, with honors for a festival frequent flier, rarely heard combinations of all-star performers – and a healthy dose of Duke Ellington. Tenor saxophonist Houston Person, a distinctive balladeer whose playing is steeped in soul jazz, received the Jazz Club of Sarasota’s Satchmo Award. The organization has been awarding it since 1987 to honorees who have made a “unique and enduring contribution to the living history of jazz.” The ...
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Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights In Jazz New York’s Longest Running Jazz Concert Series Announces Highlights in Jazz’s 46th Anniversary Gala, February 28, 2019
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
Long-time Highlights In Jazz favorites Houston Person, Daryl Sherman, Warren Vaché, Norman Simmons, and many more will be on hand for the celebration. Plus, surprise special guest. Each year, savvy jazz fans look forward to the annual Highlights In Jazz series. For almost a half century, the Jack Kleinsinger-produced events have brought together a multitude of beloved jazz musicians spanning an eclectic mix of generations and styles. The 2019 season is no exception, with four stellar concerts featuring some of ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Houston Person
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Houston Person's birthday today!
Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. Mr. Person\'s working relationship with Ms... ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Houston Person
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Houston Person's birthday today!
Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. Mr. Person\'s working relationship with Ms... ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Houston Person
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Houston Person's birthday today!
Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. Mr. Person\'s working relationship with Ms... ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Houston Person
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Houston Person's birthday today! Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. Mr. Person\'s working relationship with Ms... ...
read more
Photos
Music
Out Of This World
From: Romance In The DarkBy Houston Person
Hand-Me-Down Blues
From: Blue TopazBy Houston Person
Voss Is Boss
From: Two Cigarettes In the DarkBy Houston Person