Singer, songwriter and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello shares details about her writing process on such songs as ‘If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night)’, ‘I’m Diggin’ You – Like an Old Soul Record’, ‘Shopping for Jazz’ and ‘Conviction’. Meshell talks at length about her recent album Comet, Come to Me, her approach to the bass guitar, and her contributions to classic songs like Chaka Khan’s ‘Never Miss the Water’.

Read the full article at SODAJERKER.
Meshell Ndegeocello on TKA

Paul McCartney will forever be identified with The Beatles, but jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli has attempted on a new album to revive some of the legend’s lesser known solo tracks. Pizzarelli, a popular guitarist known both for his own songs and collaborations with other artists, said the ex-Beatle himself came up with the idea for the album, Midnight McCartney, which will come out on September 11.

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John Pizzarelli on TKA

If the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “classical music” is stuffy older folks politely clapping for elevator music, you may want to reconsider. Chargaux, a Brooklyn-based duo that play the violin and viola, are using classical string arrangements in bold, soulful ways, and incorporating stunning visuals to help you see their sounds.

Read the full interview on EBONY
Chargaux on TKA

In the mid-1980s, Gary Burton was just entering middle age, but he’d had experiences as a jazz player to fill several lifetimes. Duke Ellington had treated him with kindness, Milt Jackson with suspicion, Miles Davis with a death threat. Burton’s memoir, “Learning to Listen,” tells these stories and situates its author’s own major contributions in jazz’s history.

Burton’s memoir, “Learning to Listen,” tells these stories and situates its author’s own major contributions in jazz’s history. After leaving Getz in 1966, Burton — with guitarist Larry Coryell and others — pioneered jazz-rock fusion and played venues like the Fillmore in San Francisco. As a player, he brought his four-mallet technique and “Burton grip” to the vibraphone and marimba, expanding the potential for those instruments in both lead and support settings. As a bandleader, he spotted and mentored the likes of Pat Metheny.

Read the full article on THE BOSTON GLOBE
Gary Burton on TKA