via Louisville Orchestra

The February and March “In Harmony” tour leg highlights the music Kentucky is famous for – bluegrass. The tension between tradition and innovation is at the core of bluegrass music, and so we have brought in the man who is widely known as the bluegrass fiddler of his generation, Michael Cleveland, whose musical style exemplifies this musical tug-of-war. Joining Michael on the stage with the LO will be his band, Flamekeeper. The band was formed by Cleveland in 2006 and has received the International Bluegrass Association’s “Instrumental Group of the Year” award seven times. Flamekeeper includes Josh Richards, Nathan Livers, Jasiah Shrode, and Chris Douglas.

Read More on Louisville Orchestra Website

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper on TKA

via WBUR Here & Now

The new musical group American Patchwork Quartet released a self-titled debut album on February 9, 2024. The group approaches folk classics with musicians that reflect the diversity of today’s United States.

Here & Now‘s Deepa Fernandes speaks with lead vocalist Falu and vocalist and guitarist Clay Ross.

This segment aired on February 9, 2024.

Listen to the Full Segment on WBUR

American Patchwork Quartet on TKA

via The Wall Street Journal

When jazz was in its infancy, people thought of it as music—if they regarded it as music at all—that was invariably loud, fast and rambunctious. From the beginning, “to jazz something up” meant to make it more exciting. Yet for nearly 100 years, the music has consistently also attracted more thoughtful and introspective players and composers, like Bix Beiderbecke (in his piano compositions especially), Billy Strayhorn and Bill Evans. It might seem ironic, then, that one of the most lyrical of contemporary jazzmen comes from the very continent often cited as the inspiration for the aggressive energy that jazz on the whole was originally known for.

The pianist, composer and bandleader Abdullah Ibrahim was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1934 and in the earlier part of his career worked under the name Dollar Brand. He has been a major presence on the international jazz scene since 1963, when he was discovered and subsequently recorded by Duke Ellington. On July 15 of last year, a few months before his 89th birthday, Mr. Ibrahim recorded two remarkable sets in London’s Barbican Hall. On both, he was joined by Cleave Guyton Jr., on flute and piccolo, and Noah Jackson, on bass and cello. Mr. Ibrahim’s new album, “3” (Gearbox, out Jan. 26), comprises both of these performances.

Read the Full Review on WSJ

Abdullah Ibrahim on TKA