Listen up, music fans!!! If you’re in the Atlanta area and looking for a concert that will set off your weekend, you absolutely don’t want to miss The Robert Glasper Experiment live in concert!!! This show will introduce Jazz Future along with a few special guests. Now, a little birdie told me that singer/songwriter, Marsha Ambrosius would be blessing the mic. Other guests are scheduled but of course, our lips are sealed for this is strictly confidential information. So, if you’re interested in some incredible music and some surprise performances, you can catch The Robert Glasper Experiment Sunday, May 5th at Center Stage Theater. Be sure to get your tickets at CenterStage-Atlanta.com. Doors will open at 7pm, showtime will be 8pm. Hope to see you there.

Great news music lovers, the underrated and greatly missed sexy chanteuse Chanté Moore is back! Fresh off the heels of the announcement that she will be part of the upcoming cast of R&B Diva’s: LA, she has also signed with Shanachie Entertainment. With that, you can expect new music in April 2013. For more details, check out the press release below:

Singer and songwriter Chanté Moore’s voice, stunning beauty and unerring artistic vision have afforded the Gold-selling R&B singer to enjoy an illustrious two-decade career that is rare in this business. “I have been blessed and honored to do what I love for a living for as long as I have,” confides the dynamic songbird. “My fans who have continued with me on my journey have become a part of me and the music.” Moore’s genuine connection with her audience has been forged through her intimate and personal songwriting. Chanté’s effortless combination of R&B soaked in gospel roots, soul accents kissed with a touch of jazz and grace with fire, coalesce on her Shanachie Entertainment debut, Moore Is More (April 23, 2013). Chanté wrote or co-wrote most of the songs featured on the new CD. “My heart is overwhelmed with excitement and joy in life and in my music! I have more to give my fans, more then meets the eye, more of the same and more then what you expect.”

With seven albums, twenty charting singles and collaborations with everyone from Prince, R. Kelly, Boys II Men and El Debarge to The Isley Brothers, Babyface and Raphael Saadiq, singer Chanté Moore was destined to sing. In fact, in French, her name literally means “to sing.” The Grammy nominated, American Music Award and NAACP Award-winning singer’s distinctive vocals have been featured in films like Waiting To Exhale, Beverly Hills Cop III, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Romeo Must Die and Big Momma’s House. No stranger to the silver screen or stage, Ms. Moore has starred in theatrical productions alongside such lauded talent as Loretta Divine and Tisha Campbell-Martin, as well as fellow vocal powerhouses Vickie Winans and Dave Hollister. Moore will star in the highly anticipated TV One reality show spinoff, R&B Diva’s: L.A., slated to premiere June 9, 2013. The show will follow the lives and careers of Moore as well as Kelly Price, Lil’ Mo, Claudette Ortiz, Michel’le and Dawn Robinson. Like fellow songbirds Minnie Ripperton, Deniece Williams and Mariah Carey, chanteuse Chanté Moore shares the rare distinction of possessing a spectacularly soaring range. Shanachie Entertainment VP of A&R, Danny Weiss, “I’m super-enthusiastic about working with Chanté now, not only because she is such a brilliant vocalist, but also because she is entering into an exciting new phase in her life both personally and artistically. Moore Is More will manifest that growth and excitement.”
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On my last music voyage, I reported straight from the JAZZ ROOTS inaugural concert featuring Ramsey Lewis and Al Jarreau! If you’re a true music fan and you missed this event, your head should be shaking in shame for not attending this affair.  However, you still have a chance to redeem yourself from the magnitude of your transgression.

My friend, mark your calendar for a show filled with music clothed with a woman’s touch. On Friday, October 19^th the JAZZ ROOTS concert series, will celebrate the “Ladies of Jazz” at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Headlining the stage will be bassist, vocalist and Grammy Award winner, Esperanza Spalding along with fellow jazz drummer, composer, record producer and Grammy winner, Terri Lyne Carrington.

This will be an unforgettable night all in tribute of the ladies that have greatly contributed to the art of jazz! If you hadn’t purchased your tickets, be sure to check out Ticketmaster for this upcoming event! In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek video of what you can expect!

One of those great artists that you instantly know his sound within two notes. His music was as unapologetic as his persona. He never looked back, constantly pushed the music forward. This narrative is so succinctly summed up in two words: Miles Davis. (more…)

Echoes of Harlem, was recorded by Cootie Williams and featured in Duke Ellington’s Orchestra.  If you listen to this cut from Williams you may be able to recognize his signature “growl” with the plunger muted trumpet. In imagery, you can almost close your eyes and envision the sophisticated sway of a woman’s walk as her heels seductively call out the “echoes of Harlem” along the city streets.

Chaka Khan performing in Atlanta

If you missed the legendary Ms. Chaka Khan in concert with Najee at Cobb Energy Performing Arts center, then you missed a rare treat.

Najee opened the evening in a unique way by playing directly to the middle of the audience. His first selection was “The Night I Fell in Love”. “Sweet Summer Nights” included an amazing drum solo. The audience was also treated to an instrumental version of Anita Baker’s classic “Sweet Love”, which featured a sensational guitar battle, and Stevie Wonder’s “Knocks Me Off My Feet”. Other selections included “Sound for Sore Ears” and “We Gone Ride”, in which guitarist Chuck Johnson provided the vocals that Eric Benet normally provides for the track. Najee also played the selection “Noah’s Ark”, which was written for his son and was specifically dedicated to Trayvon Martin during the concert. Najee is multi-talented, and it was great to hear him also play the flute and the baritone saxophone.

Then Ms. Chaka Khan took the stage, and she immediately got rid of her jacket. Ms. Khan looked amazing! She has lost a significant amount of weight, and showed off her hard work by rocking a fitted black cat suit. The set opened with the opening vocals for “I Feel for You”, chanting “Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan…..”. The first full selection was “I’m a Woman (I’m a Backbone). Then she transitioned into the party starter “What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me?”. The tune “Your Smile” came next. The classic “Sweet Thing” lulled listeners into a groove that would automatically take you back to the first time you heard it. (more…)

As part of our focus on Jazz this month on GFM, I want to take as many opportunities as I can to post seminal recordings and artists, with a bit of context. This recording by Louis Armstrong showcases his incredibly virtuosity as a musician.

In 1928 “West End Blues” was popular music and the reason that I emphasize that is because often when we listen to older recordings it is without the realization that they gave off the same feeling to someone else as we feel when we hear our favorite jam in our contemporary space. Louis Armstrong is the tributary from which all modern recording artists flow from and “West End Blues” was a major part of creating that phenomenon.

So… somehow, somewhere, some way (thanks new Facebook timeline) we were supposed to have a special one day (ahem) AOM (check yesterday’s date for the explanation). April is Jazz Appreciation Month and we are looking to not just focus on one particular artist for the month (although an emphasis will be on the extensive catalog of Duke Ellington) but the art form as well as discuss some of the debate behind the term Jazz in and of itself. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused and now back to our regularly scheduled AOM