Josef Woodard

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Josef Woodard's news entries:

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    “I love doing ballads,” Mike Stern says. “It’s just a part of me, some part of emotionally how I feel sometimes.”

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    A classic shot of Bob Karcy, left, with veteran saxophonist Benny Golson.

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    “We do have a lot of differences, but we are much more similar than different,” says Lee. “I really truly believe that my very personal story can reach out to and appeal to a lot of people.”

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    “Given a good support system, each artist has the potential to be more than just a performer, but an ambassador of hope,” says Louis Marks, left, ropeadope CEO, with Fabian Brown, president.

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    “I had wanted to create a project honoring my relationship with a number of bodies of water that have been very impactful in my life,” says Stephan Crump.

    Stephan Crump Explores Water

    Over the last three decades, bassist Stephan Crump has established himself as one of the significant voices in jazz…

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    “All the musicians I admire are the ones that sound like their own vocabulary after a certain time,” Terrasson said about finding his own voice.

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    ​Christopher Zuar with his wife/collaborator, Anne Beal.

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    Two ECM reissues of historic albums by saxophonist Jan Garbarek, shown here with pianist Keith Jarrett, celebrate his 50 years on the label.

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    Roscoe Mitchell’s performance will be a cornerstone of this year’s festival. “Seeing as it’s the 40th edition of the festival, it was important to me to invite a few artists who have long been associated with the event,” said Scott Thomson, the fest’s new director.

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    David Murray and his trio mates engage in a visceral yet sensitive blowout at this year’s Vossa Jazz Festival.

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    “I’m also at a point in my life where I don’t feel like I have anything to prove, like at all,” Akinmusire says about his art.

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    “I love the idea of articulating our dreams and wishes and in a way ‘shouting’ them in our mind — the same way the great Dizzy Gillespie talks about hearing the melodies loudly,” says guitarist Rotem Sivan.

    Rotem Sivan Dreams Out Loud

    Rotem Sivan, the Israeli-born guitarist who has established himself as a strong new voice after moving to New York in…

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    “I put my head down and make the art that I want to make and then see what happens,” says guitarist, singer and songwriter Jonah Tolchin.

    Jonah Tolchin’s Spiritual Blues

    To put a simplified spin on the musical saga of Jonah Tolchin, the singer-songwriter and nimble guitarist was going…

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    Billy Mohler’s Ultraviolet was inspired by Sonny Rollins’ A Night At The Village Vanguard and Ornette Coleman’s The Shape Of Jazz To Come.

    Billy Mohler’s Open Vision

    As part of the finale evening of this year’s Angel City Jazz Festival, bassist-bandleader Billy Mohler took the stage…

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    “The more sophisticated the lyric, the easier the melody should be,” Lins offered as a songwriting guideline.

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    “I made the decision pretty early on that jazz music was going to be a huge part of my identity when I was growing up in California. But New York City made a man out of me,” Meagher says.

    Ryan Meagher: Telling Stories

    Portland, Oregon-based guitarist Ryan Meagher abides by the power of certain “E” words: He practices eclecticism of…

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    Lucian Ban and Mat Maneri bring jazz exploration to Enescu’s opera Oedipe Rex.

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    “I love working with fully developed artists, getting into their world and learning from them,” says Ben Wendel.

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    Branford Marsalis’ crack quartet was among the stronger arena fare on the menu at Umbria.

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    “I’ve known these songs all my life, but I saw that there wasn’t enough attention on the older music,” Mahal says.

    The Jazz Side of Taj Mahal

    It may come as a surprise to find that the artist known as Taj Mahal — born Henry Fredericks Jr. — has officially…

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    “When I picked up the accordion, my musical world expanded instantly,” says Rosenblum.

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    Outgoing FIMAV founding director Michel Levasseur speaks during a press conference at this year’s festival.

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    At 65, Branker feels he is just coming into his own as a composer.

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    A beautiful night and delighted crowd at Arena San Giuliana in Perugia, Italy.

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    Lloyd performed an 85th birthday concert at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre on March 10.

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    “One of our main goals is to invite people into the music who may not have known they liked jazz,” says Cohen.

    Emmet Cohen’s Living Room Jazz

    A pressing question is routinely faced by musicians deprived of live music outlets during COVID times: “What did you…

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    “I enjoyed exploring different techniques with this music,” Yeager says.

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    ​Herbie Hancock’s Sept. 28 set at the Hollywood Bowl fell in line with his smartly crafted concert menus of recent years.

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    “I am an ambassador of Brazilian music,” guitarist Diego Figueiredo proudly proclaims.

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    Vocalist ​Stacey Kent performs at the Ystad Jazz Festival.

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    ​“The power of unison is super,” Turner said. “It’s 10,000 years old, or more.”

    Mark Turner: Return to the West

    Mark Turner is sitting in a coffeehouse bakery in Westwood, California, talking in circles. Concentric, full circles,…

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    The guitar quartet Dither commanded attention with their tight-yet-flexible teamwork at this year’s FIMAV.

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    The big band cause was in-house at jazzahead! this year, including impressive work by the Dutch leader/composer/pianist Kathrine Windfeld.

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    Mats Gustafsson is scheduled to perform at the Festival du Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, which is set to resume operations May 18–22 in an almost back-to-normal fashion.

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    Charles Lloyd leads his quartet at the Lobero Theater. From left, Gerald Clayton, Lloyd, Reuben Rogers and Justin Brown.

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    Brian Bromberg

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    ​Multi-instrumentalist Anna Webber blurs the lines between jazz and new music.

    Anna Webber’s Border Crossings

    Little epiphanies and discoveries can await the eager jazz festival-goer, even in the midst of a richly stocked…

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    The time Steve Cardenas has spent performing alongside Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, Norah Jones and Madeleine Peyroux has come to bear on his approach to guitar.

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    Robert Cray recorded his latest album, That’s What I Heard, at the Capitol Records building in Hollywood.

    The Vintage Vibe of Robert Cray

    When it comes to the long, storied career of Robert Cray, time and musical fashion have been slippery slopes of the…

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    “People talk about music therapy, and I find myself thinking, ‘Wow, that’s what I’m doing, in a lot of ways,’” Porter said.

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    A stately, sagely status hums beneath the surface of a celebratory March 15, 2018, concert by saxophonist Charles Lloyd.

    Charles Lloyd’s Latest Lavish Set

    On the occasion of his 80th birthday, saxophonist Charles Lloyd staged a concert of homecoming proportions. The show on…

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    Koma Saxo performs a Dec. 5 set at G Livelab during the We Jazz Festival in Helsinki.

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    John Scofield performs with the Danish Radio Big Band on Oct. 24 during the Umeå Jazzfestival, which ran Oct. 23-27 in Umeå, Sweden.

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    Fifty years ago, Manfred Eicher co-founded Edition of Contemporary Music, better known as ECM, and has issued more than 1,600 titles spanning jazz and classical sounds.

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    Abacaxi, a guitar trio that includes Julien Desprez in its ranks, performs at the venue Nexus on Aug. 22 during Austria’s Jazzfestival Saalfelden.

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    Evan Parker (left) and Matthew Wright collaborate on Crepuscule In Nickelsdorf, one of two new albums Parker’s contributed to.

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    Elliott Sharp (left) and Lukas König perform at Saalfelden.

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    ​Pianist Bobo Stenson performs at the Church of the Gesù during the recent International Festival de Jazz de Montreal.

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    Frode Haltli performs at the 2018 Nattjazz festival in Bergen, Norway.

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    Craig Tabor (left) and Vijay Iyer pay tribute to artists and pianists who recently have passed on Transitory Poems.

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    Trumpeter Verneri Pohjola and drummer Mika Kallio perform during a screening of “Eläimen Kuva” at the We Jazz Festival, which ran Dec. 2-9 in Helsinki, Finland.

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    The Art Ensemble of Chicago performs at the Tampere Jazz Happening in Tampere, Finland.

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    Ethan Iverson performs at Umbria Jazz in Perugia, Italy, which ran July 13-22.

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    LYAMBIKO performs at Jazzfest Bonn.

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    Hardanger fiddler Nils Økland adds a special brand of minimalism to his indigenous Norwegian instrument while improvising as a member of the trio 1982.

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    Saxophonist Charles Lloyd celebrates his 80th birthday with a show at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, California, on March 15. His ensemble included pianist Gerald Clayton and a few other guests.

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    Antonio Sánchez accompanied the film Birdman at UCLA’s Royce Hall on Feb. 16 with a display of solo drumming that he composed as the movie’s score.

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    Tyshawn Sorey (left) leads a “conduction” performance at this year’s Berlin Jazz Festival.

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    Kaja Draksler performs as part of the trio Punk.Vrt.Plastik at the 2017 Berlin Jazz Festival on Nov. 4.

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    Walter Becker (1950–2017)

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    Joshua Redman (left), Scott Colley, Brian Blade and Ron Miles perform as Still Dreaming during the Ystad Jazz Festival in Sweden.

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    Jan Lundgren (left) leads a quartet featuring Dan Berglund, Jukka Pekka and Morton Lund at the Ystad Jazz Festival Aug. 5 in Ystad, Sweden.

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    Pat Metheny (left), Gard Nilssen and Arild Andersen perform at the Molde Festival in Norway.

    Metheny Goes Nordic at Moldejazz

    Up at the lovely and artistically rewarding Molde Jazz Festival in Norway (boasting status as one of Europe’s oldest…

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    Alexander von Schlippenbach (left), Rudi Mahall, Uli Jennessen and Axel Dörner perform at the Molde Jazz Festival in Norway. (Obscured: bassist Jan Roder)

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    Vijay Iyer (center) performs with the Brentano String Quartet on June 10.

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    Tom Rainey (left), Scot Colley, Julian Lage and Nels Cline perform as the Nels Cline Four at the FIMAV Festival.

    Sax Sonics, Guitar Phonics at FIMAV

    Among other new developments at the unique cultural phenomenon that is FIMAV (Festival International Musique Actuelle…

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    Iiro Rantala (center) performs with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen as part of a Finnish showcase during jazzahead! 2017, which ran from April 27–30.

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    Ingebrigt Håkaer Flaten (left), Mette Rasmussen and Torbjörn Zetterberg perform at the Vossa Jazz Festival in Voss, Norway.

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    Matthew Greif (left), Scott Tennant, William Kanengiser and John Dearman are the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

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    Lucinda Williams (left) with Charles Lloyd at the Lobero Theater in Los Angeles on Nov. 28.

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    Jason Moran gives a lecture to Jazztopad attendees prior to his show at the festival on Nov. 18.

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    Wayne Shorter (left) and John Patitucci perform at the Jazztopad Festival in Worclaw, Poland.

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    Dave Holland (left) and Chris Potter perform at the Tampere Jazz Happening in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 6.

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    Pascal (left) and Remy Le Boeuf released the album Imaginist on Oct. 14.

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    Mantana Roberts (clockwise, from left), Ingrid Laubrock, Eve Risser, Myra Melford, Mary Halvorson and Mette Henriette will appear at the Berlin Jazz Festival.

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    Jacob Collier performs at the Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California, on Sept. 18.

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    Pat Metheny plays his Pikasso guitar during a performance at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, California, on Sept. 14.

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    Top: Wayne Shorter (left) and Herbie Hancock. Bottom: Carlos Santana (left), Marcus Miller and Cindy Blackman Santana.

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    Ola Kvernberg (left) and Joshua Redman perform at the Molde Jazz Festival in Molde, Norway, on July 20.

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    Joss Stone performs at the Molde Jazz Festival in Molde, Norway, on July 23.

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    Brian Blade performs at the Aarhus Jazz Festival in Aarhus, Denmark, on July 12.

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    Palle Mikkelborg (left), Joey Baron, Thomas Morgan and Jakob Bro perform in Copenhagen on July 8.

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    Vocalist Simin Tander brought disarming depth and entrancing spirit to the Vossa Jazz Festival in Voss, Norway, on March 20.

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    Lionel Loueke (left), Marcus Strickland and Ambrose Akinmusire perform at the 2014 Monterey Jazz Festival in this still from a Blue Note Records publicity video. The band played in Montreal on July 1.

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    Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah onstage at Gesu during the Montreal Jazz Festival on June 30.

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    Gregory Porter (left) and Emanuel Harrold perform on June 29, the opening night of the 2016 Montreal Jazz Festival.

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    Ola Kvernberg will serve as artist-in-residence of the 2016 Molde Jazz Festival, which takes place from July 18–23 in Molde, Norway.

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    Thurman Barker (left), Eli Fountain, George Lewis, Aiyun Huang and Tyshawn Sorey perform at the 2016 FIMAV in Victoriaville, Canada.

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    John Medeski (left), Julian Lage, G. Calvin Weston, Craig Taborn, Gyan Riley and David Fiuczynski onstage at the FIMAV Festival in Victoriaville, Canada, on May 21.

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    Saxophonist Christoph Irniger (center) leads his namesake quintet, Christoph Irniger Pilgrim, at the Jazzahead! conference in Bremen, Germany, on April 23.

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    Keith Jarrett, seen here in a publicity photo, performed at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on April 29.

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    Dave Gisler (left), Florian Egli and Martina Berther of Weird Beard perform at this year’s Jazzahead! conference in Bremen, Germany.

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    Christian McBride performs as part of the Mack Avenue SuperBand at the 2015 Detroit Jazz Festival

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    David Holland will headline the Vossa Jazz Festival which takes place in Voss, Norway, from March 18–20


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Josef Woodard's archives entries:

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    “Doing shows and festivals under your own name, it’s a surprisingly big difference compared to playing with someone else,” saxophonist Kamasi Washington said, discussing the attention he’s received since the release of The Epic (Brainfeeder). “There is a lot of responsibility.”

    Kamasi Washington: L.A. Luminary

    Considering Kamasi Washington’s bold, dramatic ascendancy on the international jazz scene during the past year, it…


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