By

Kevin O'Connor
“Iconic” is an overwrought word. As are “legendary,” “genius,” and probably a few others. One problem is that they tend to overemphasize mediocrity. In the case of Pete Escovedo, the terms fall short. How about dynasty? That’s a start and far more apt.   The Afro-Caribbean roots of Pete Escovedo’s ancestors run deep. But for...
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BADBADNOTGOOD, besides being the only band I know of to employ the caps-lock strategy, is unique in countless other ways. Ones that matter, I daresay.  Chiefly in their approach to music, which sets them apart from more than a few up and comers in this generation of jazz.            They employ...
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  Nate Smith knows his way around a drum set. That is possibly the least of his skills and definitely not the highest on his resume ranking. Nevertheless, it warrants a mention. All too many drummers that become band leaders can forget that they are timekeepers, or need to be sometimes. This should not preempt...
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    You may have noticed I’ve been on and off the air more than usual lately. I’m mainly resting myself for the upcoming pledge drive. That kicks off Friday with The Morning Show. We’ll need lots of energy and good vibes to make and surpass our goals. I can’t wait to read your name...
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The bigger the legend, the more prolific the tributes. When piano giant Chick Corea passed away last spring it took the music world by complete surprise. His close friends and family knew he’d been ill. Anytime that happens, fittingly, posthumous tributes from colleagues, cronies and fans tend to roll in. More than most musicians of...
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Q: Where does a massive rhino sleep? A: Anywhere it wants to. Please forgive the “Dad joke” intro. But trust me, it fits. Joey De Francesco is arguably the greatest living Hammond B-3 organ player. Many would remove the “arguably” qualifier. The son of B-3 great “Papa” John DeFancesco, Joey is a gifted player and...
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  There’s a minor threat to all of us in the jazz niche: That we may all someday lose the glorious talent that is trumpeter Terence Blanchard. Though it is unlikely. Through his activity as a film composer alone, he has achieved exposure and a visible profile unlikely to be celebrated by many other jazz...
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  As hard as it may be to believe, vibraphone players in jazz are few and far between. If that seems incredible, it’s probably because the ones we all tend to know have really made their mark. Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson and Terry Gibbs are all household names of mallet percussion and can be ranked...
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    Jillian Rae and Adam Kiesling of Corpse Reviver stopped by our studios to chat about an upcoming gig, (Saturday 1-4 pm) at Palmer’s Patio. Hear the whole interview with music below.  
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  In very discreet settings, admittedly in some of my surlier moments, I’ve been known to say: “Just because you can make a record doesn’t mean you should.”  This in no way means I would ever deign to hamper the creative output of any artist. It’s just that the digital age has thickened the herd,...
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