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3 Brave Souls comes to Los Angeles

9:05 PM |

3 Brave Souls
  Los Angeles-- Three Miles Davis alumni will play together at the Jazz Bakery club in Los Angeles on Feb. 8.
The band, 3 Brave Souls, is made up of keyboardist John Beasley, drummer Ndugu Chancler and bassist Darryl Jones. Beasley has composed music in many different jazz styles.  Chancler is a funk drummer that has taught drum classes at USC. Jones was the bassist for the Rolling Stones. Each musician is well known in the jazz community and now they are coming together to make new music.
Their sound has been described by critics as “classic jazz flavorings with contagious penetrating funk grooves with honey-dew sounds of south soul.”
They released their first album last year but were unable to tour because Beasley was working on the James Bond Skyfall movie score in Sardinia, Italy.
Their new take on the music has received good reviews from the jazz media.
“It’s the kind of broadly sourced music that could gain favor among fans of R&B, neo-soul, smooth jazz and even jam bands.  That’s a compliment,” said Jazz Times Music Critic, Phillip Booth. “They play an eclectic brand of funk-danceable songs with hypnotic grooves, a soulful stew or a silky ballad. There’s seldom a dull moment.”
The concert starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are about $20. For more information, check http://jazzbakery.org

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Wanna Get Away? ft. Sly Smith


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Posted by Jarrod Phipps

Helen Borgers Loves Jazz and People

9:46 AM |


Long Beach— The hum of technology looms in the vaulted radio room as KKJZ Afternoon drive host Helen Borgers fires off a staccato list of names, “George Benson with Al Jarreau, God Bless the Child, the album Givin’ It Up, David Sanborn with “Bang Bang” from the album Upfront, and Lou Pollo with that new tribute to Les Pail—I’m confessing that I Love You, Here at K-jazz 88.1, Next up is drummer, Stix Hooper…”
The first experience Borgers had with came through the walls of her brother Ken’s bedroom. The irresistible Shoo-doo-shoo-bee-ooo-bee-bwas of John Coltrane, Gerald Wilson, and Charlie Byrd serenaded her until she was hooked.
Borgers has been in the jazz radio business for 33 years, which is why she has been called the “Queen of Jazz.” Her reign has taken her all over the world, and her influence has brought musicians from all over the world to her. For many years, she recorded a program called The Artist’s Corner. The show consisted of some of the most famous interviews in jazz. Borgers witty and smooth interview style reminds the listener of the jazz she loves so much.
Radio and jazz are in Borgers blood as she followed in the footsteps of her parents. Her Dad loved jazz and taught radio at University of Southern California, while her mom was on radio with up-and-coming jazz critics. Her brother Ken made KKJZ what it is today. Borgers has taken her love of radio and jazz to the next level.
“I love jazz music, and I love the affect it has had on people,” Borgers said. “It has been ahead of culture when it comes to the issues of the day, Jazz musicians are the trailblazers.”
As a former 49er, Borgers loves Long Beach. She uses her love of Jazz, Long Beach and theatre to make a significant impact in her community.  Borgers favorite pursuit is speaking to the youth of Los Angeles, encouraging them to take part in four sponsorship programs for jazz studies in K-12 schools.*Currently, Borgers is the KKJZ weekday drive host from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., sharing what she loves most with those she loves most.
“Jazz education is big for me, the history of jazz is so rich and so important to our identity as humans, it’s is the voice of humanity,” Borgers said. “When I speak to a class, I get blank stares, but there are usually one or two students who want it, their eyes sparkle, and I know I’ve got them hooked for life.”
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Posted by Jarrod Phipps

KKJZ encourages local community to play their part

3:26 PM |

    Los Angeles—   In the next two months, KKJZ is encouraging locals to take part in two events that are requesting community involvement.
            The first event is the eight-week Muffican Sunday Night Jazz Jam at The Mint music venue in Los Angeles. The Mint’s Sunday night house band is led by saxophonist, Jeremy Lappitt and trumpeter, Mike Rocha have invited locals to bring their guitars and join the band on stage.
            “What Michael has is a very finely developed technique and fluency of musicianship coupled with very mature ideas about phrasing,” said music critic and composer Peter Jaffe.
            The entry fee is $5 and all musicians are welcome. 
            The second event is the 2nd Big Band Swing Night at Moorpark High School on Jan. 18. The night will include live music, dinner and dancing. Members of the jazz band will play the part of Bob Hope, the Andrew sisters, and Frank Sinatra. The event is produced by the Moorpark High School jazz band.
            Swing dancing lessons will be provided during the event. A ticket costs $15 at the door, including a spaghetti dinner, or $10 at the door for dancing and music. 
            Proceeds will go toward the Moorpark High School music program.
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Posted by Jarrod Phipps

KKJZ co-promotes Newport Beach Jazz Party

8:34 PM |

Promotional flier
            Newport Beach— The 13th annual Newport Beach Jazz Party will be held Feb. 14-17, 2013 at the Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa.
The festival will include performances by about 50 jazz musicians, including Jeff Hamilton, Terry Gibbs, Alan Bergman, Bill Mays, and Graham Dechter.
“These guys throw the best jazz party on the planet,” said KKJZ host Helen Borgers. “It’s just an incredible array of musicians, and they come from all over the world.”
The highlights of the weekend consist of Helen Borgers interview with Pete Barbutti, a salute to Count Basie, a tribute to Benny Carter, a Saturday night dance, and a tribute to Terry Gibbs.
Critics have described the annual event as "...an appetizing banquet if musical dishes."
2008 performance
On Thursday the concerts begin around 5 p.m. and end at 11 p.m. From Friday to Sunday, the music will go from about 9 a.m. to midnight.
Tickets are now available for the complete four night, three-day package including one brunch. Individual reserved seats are priced for evening performances, opening Sessions, and each for “By the Pool” concert.  Specific pricing is available on the website.
            The event will include daily concerts and two jazz brunches. For more information, call 949-759-5003 or check http://www.newportbeachjazzparty.com.
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Sons of Anarchy singer comes to Los Angeles

8:00 PM |

Sons of Anarchy theme song
               Los Angeles-- Curtis Stigers, the singer of the theme song for the FX show Sons of Anarchy, is performing at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City on Jan. 13.
A ticket for the concert is $30. 
Stigers, 47, is a saxophonist, guitarist, songwriter and jazz vocalist. His career in music began in 1991 with the release of his first album “Curtis Stigers,” which included the US top 10 song “I Wonder Why.”  Since then Stigers has released 10 more albums.
Stigers, 2012 (Courtesy of Stigers)

Music critics have say that Stigers is unique because he blurs the line between jazz and pop.
“He is an early-90s pop star from Idaho who devoted himself to jazz when middle-age and the millennium arrived, ought to be the kind of comfort-zone artist that annoys the jazz hardcore – but he isn’t.” said The Guardian music critic John Fordham.
            Despite his pop sensibilities, Stigers music is played on KKJZ. Many KKJZ employees praised the multi-generational music that Stigers makes.
           “I grew up playing jazz, I went to jazz college, I love jazz, but I always liked pop, soul, and rock music,” said Stigers. “It never occurred to me to listen to one kind of music. It’s about songs, it’s about emotions.”
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1991 single "I Wonder Why"



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Posted by Jarrod Phipps

KKJZ promotes three part jazz concert

6:00 PM |




Los Angeles-- KKJZ is working with pianist John Beasley for a four-week jazz residency at the Blue Whale club in January— with three different bands.
John Beasley (Courtesy of John Beasley)
John Beasley, 52, has been playing jazz music since childhood. He has played with many famous musicians including, Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis, Steely Dan and James Brown. In addition, he wrote music for “Star Trek,” “WALL-E.,” “The Godfather 3,” and “Austin Powers.” Beasley said the jazz residency is his newest project.
The first concert, which the Blue Whale has named Duality, is on Jan. 9. The concert is a duo with vocal improviser Dwight Trible.
"Dwight Trible...sings like no one else. He can stretch a word that tugs at an emotion he's feeling and makes you go on that same train," Beasley said. "Or he invites silence to make you reflect." Tap dancer, Sarah Reich, will provide percussion.
On Jan. 16, drummer Gary Novak and bassist Carlitos del Puerto will join Beasley for a night of Brazilian songs with jazz arrangements.
"We're going to play ‘pretty’ and ‘soft’ and make you feel the beauty of the people and culture of Brazil," Beasley said.
During the last two weeks, Beasley will be joined by Monk’estra, a 17-piece orchestra that is comprised of Los Angeles jazz session players.
The orchestra’s performance will include both classic and original songs with a modern twist, involving Afro-Cuban rhythms, contemporary jazz playing, hip-hop and 1920s big band instrumentation.
The concerts run from 9-10:30 p.m. and cost $15- to $20-per ticket.
For more information about the residency, check http://bluewhalemusic.com/ and http://www.johnbeasleymusic.com/

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A sample:  Herbie Hancock's "Bedtime Voyage" performed by John Beasley (piano) with Trevor Ware (bass) and Bill Wysaske (drums). Recorded Sunday April 27, 2008 at the Rising Jazz Stars studio in Beverly Hills, California. http://www.ResonanceRecords.org

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Posted by Jarrod Phipps

Hello!

5:00 PM |


Primarily, this blog will contain advances for upcoming events that KKJZ is hosting. Thus, the blog will inform students about the upcoming events they can attend, providing them with opportunities to actually listen to jazz music.
The intended audience of the blog are students that love jazz music. It will also appeal to anyone that wants to get involved in the Los Angeles jazz scene, and needs information to get them started.

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