Pianist Donald Vega’s origins were in
Sandinista-era Nicaragua, where he spent the first fourteen years of his
journey. His mother then brought him to Los Angeles, where he would eventually
meet drum icon Billy Higgins. Higgins nurtured Vega’s will to swing, to play
jazz without a ‘Latin accent,’ turning him on to Bud Powell and Charlie Parker.
In 2005 he began studies with pianist Kenny Barron at both the Manhattan School
of Music and Julliard. More recently, he was the late Mulgrew Miller’s
replacement in the Ron Carter Trio. For his third release for Resonance
Records, “With Respect to Monty,” Vega celebrates the Jamaican jazz icon Monty
Alexander with a hard-swinging compilation of Monty’s great, early
compositions. His all-star quartet includes guitarist Anthony Wilson, drummer
Lewis Nash and bassist Hassan Shakur.
Winner of
the 2012 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums competition, Jamison Ross is set to release his debut
disc, “Jamison,” which not only showcases his prowess as a jazz musician who
commands the drums, but also a gifted composer, arranger and, more pointedly, a
singer. “When I won the Monk competition, no one there knew I could sing,” he
says. “When I took the quest to record my first record, I was torn between my
heart as a drummer and my heart as a singer. Ultimately, I was compelled to
take a journey that incorporated my voice as part of my sound.” Infused with
jazz, blues and genuine soul, the disc filters music from multiple sources
through a contemporary approach, refreshing material by Muddy Waters, Eddie
Harris and Les McCann and Carmen Lundy, while mixing in some of his own
compositions.
Also this
week, legendary guitarists Larry Carlton
and David T. Walker share the stage for the first time “@ Billboard Live
Tokyo”; guitarist and composer Kenny
Carr, who spent ten years touring the world with Ray Charles, unveils his fourth
CD as a leader, “Idle Talk,” collaborating with longtime friends Donny McCaslin
on reeds, Kenny Wolleson on drums and Hans Glawischnig on bass; and the Jazz Professors, with special guest
Michael Philip Mossman, perform music inspired by the art of French
Impressionist Claude Monet with “En Plein Air.”
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