Mar 18, 2025 3:00 PM
A Love Supreme at 60: Thoughts on Coltrane’s Masterwork
In his original liner notes to A Love Supreme, John Coltrane wrote: “Yes, it is true — ‘seek and ye shall…
Telar has expanded its artist roster with the recent additions of John Lee Hooker Jr. and Liquid Soul.
John Lee Hooker Jr., the son of one of the most prestigious names in blues, will release his debut album on the label, Cold As Ice, on June 27. The son of the man who brought the world “I’m In The Mood” takes elements from this old school and mixes them with something newer and younger that appeals to the 21st century audience. That mix earned Hooker a Grammy nomination and caught the attention on Telarc, a label that the musician is exited about joining. “We wanted a label with a family feel to it, a place that dealt with artists from a standpoint of honesty and integrity,” Says Hooker. “We found all those things in Telarc, and we feel fortunate and blessed to be with them.
Liquid Soul, the Chicago-bred combo that is known for mixing jazz, hip-hop, funk and hard-bop, will release their Telarc debut, One-Two Punch, on March 23.
The pioneers of the acid-jazz movement during the mid-1990s in Chicago, Liquid Soul expanded their musical style — a style that starts with jazz and embraces R&B, spoken word and more — that is now a compilation of sound that has evolved over the years. Led by saxophonist/composer Mars Williams, the eight-piece collective is looking forward to expanding their audience into to Europe with the help of their new label.
“Telarc is the kind of label that we wanted to build a relationship with,” says Williams. “They are pioneers of an awesome digital sound, and they have a worldwide distribution system that could enhance our exposure beyond North America.”
Not only are the artists happy to be at a new music home, but Telarc is more than happy to welcome them into the jazz family. President of Telarc, Robert Woods, said he is “excited about having Liquid Soul on board,” and “very proud to have John Lee Hooker Jr. on the Telarc Roster.”
“This is one of the great gifts that Coltrane gave us — he gave us a key to the cosmos in this recording,” says John McLaughlin.
Mar 18, 2025 3:00 PM
In his original liner notes to A Love Supreme, John Coltrane wrote: “Yes, it is true — ‘seek and ye shall…
The Blue Note Jazz Festival New York kicks off May 27 with a James Moody 100th Birthday Celebration at Sony Hall.
Apr 8, 2025 1:23 PM
Blue Note Entertainment Group has unveiled the lineup for the 14th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival New York, featuring…
“I’m certainly influenced by Geri Allen,” said Iverson, during a live Blindfold Test at the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival.
Apr 15, 2025 11:44 AM
Between last Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Ethan Iverson performed as part of the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival in…
“At the end of the day, once you’ve run out of differences, we’re left with similarities,” Collier says. “Cultural differences are mitigated through 12 notes.”
Apr 15, 2025 11:55 AM
DownBeat has a long association with the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, the premiere…
“It kind of slows down, but it’s still kind of productive in a way, because you have something that you can be inspired by,” Andy Bey said on a 2019 episode of NPR Jazz Night in America, when he was 80. “The music is always inspiring.”
Apr 29, 2025 11:53 AM
Singer Andy Bey, who illuminated the jazz scene for five decades with a four-octave range that encompassed a bellowing…
