Another great episode in the Efficacy series brought to you by Fiona Bloom from thebloomeffect.com In this episode we hear from newcomer Melanie Charles who recently wrapped up touring several Cities around the world with Laura Izibor as well as graduating last Spring from the New School in Jazz Studies(yay!). Her debut album is available now called ‘Introducing Melanie Charles and The Journey’.

Also, GFM fam in the NYC are we wanted to make you aware of a great event that is being hosted by Melanie Charles and The Journey this Monday August 2nd, from 8pm-12am @Nublu. Check out the flyer below for more info.

Last week we brought you some incredible music from UK based artist Nefer Davis. This week I wanted spread the word about Nefer’s ongoing Kickstarter Campaign. (more…)

Incredible is what I’m calling this, this is as real as it gets. UK artist Nefer Davis who takes on this classic Billie Holiday tune on his first recording project(did I say first?) firmly puts his vocal in the approach of a deftly talented musician. (more…)

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…)

Without overstating the obvious, we have to acknowledge that it was a very different world that Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was born into on June 30, 1917. Yet, with all those obstacles she forged a career that spanned well-over seven decades. Of equal importance is the way she forged her career: through the use of talent, intelligence, style and grace. It may be hard for some of us to grasp the importance of her groundbreaking achievements, being that we are so far removed from the context, but suffice to say she broke ground in many instances where there was no ground before.

From Lena’s joining Charlie Barnet’s band in 1940 as the featured vocalist, to her work for the major motion picture studios to headlining on Broadway, Lena Horne graciously paved the way for countless generations to follow. As an activist she tirelessly and unselfishly campaigned for full citizenship rights for African-Americans during a time when putting her name on the line could have easily affected her entire professional well-being.

Ms. Horne we honor you for your artistry, tenacity, graciousness and humanity. GFM would like to extend a very humble thank you to one of our friends on FB Cheryl Sorrels for providing us with this clip from an interview that Lena Horne gave in 1997.

There are many reasons that Kind Of Blue is the best selling Jazz album of all time. Here’s one of those reasons. Take 9:07 out of your life today hit play, close your eyes and try to get inside of the music. This will be time well spent and if you are so inspired hit play again it will do you no harm.

By Matt Schudel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Wayman Tisdale, who scaled the heights in two high-profile careers as a professional basketball player and a chart-topping recording star, died May 15 of cancer at a hospital in Tulsa. He was 44.

Mr. Tisdale first gained renown in the 1980s as a three-time All-American basketball player at the University of Oklahoma. As a 6-foot-9 power forward with a soft left-handed shot, he was practically unstoppable during his college career, averaging 25.6 points a game.

In 1984, he was a member of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic basketball team, which included Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing. Mr. Tisdale was a first-team All-American and the Big Eight Conference player of the year in each of his first three years at Oklahoma before leaving the university in 1985 to enter the NBA draft. The Indiana Pacers selected him as the second player in the draft, after Georgetown University’s Ewing. He and Ewing remain the last college basketball players to be three-time All-Americans.

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Source: www.vervemusicgroup.com

Blossom Dearie, 82, a jazz and cabaret singer, pianist and songwriter whose career began in the 1940s and continued until she stopped performing in 2006, died Feb. 7 of natural causes at her home in Greenwich Village.

Born Marguerite Blossom Dearie in East Durham, N.Y., on April 29, 1924, she studied classical piano as a child but became interested in jazz while in high school. Dearie moved to New York City in the ’40s, singing with a vocal group called the Blue Flames and with Alvino Rey’s band. In 1952 she formed a Paris-based vocal group called the Blue Stars, which scored with a French version of “Lullaby of Birdland.” While in Paris she married flutist Bobby Jaspar. In 1956, having launched a solo career, she signed to Verve Records, for which she recorded six albums considered classics of vocal jazz.

Continue reading and view some of her performances after the break.
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