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Toronto saxophonist and composer Harrison Argatoff has launched a new quartet, Valley Voice, whose debut album Stars, Engines arrives October 10 on Elastic Recordings. The group - featuring vibraphonist Michael Davidson, bassist Dan Fortin, and drummer Ian Wright - embodies more than just a meeting of accomplished Canadian jazz musicians. At its heart, Valley Voice nods to Argatoff’s Doukhobor heritage, a tradition that valued pacifism, communal music-making, and a reverence for life and nature.

My heart is heavy at the news of the passing of percussionist Steve Reid of The Rippingtons. Jeff Kashiwa posted it today on Facebook. He was my favorite percussionist. I’ve loved The Rippingtons for many years, and so much of that love came from Steve’s percussion and the soundscapes he created. His playing had this magic that was a huge part of what made those first Rippingtons recordings so special to me.

When Kirk Whalum released The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter 1 on October 13, 1998, he wasn’t simply launching a new album. He was coming full circle. Raised in Memphis in a family of ministers and musicians, Whalum grew up surrounded by the sound of hymns and harmony. His father and grandfather were pastors, and the church was the center of his earliest musical experiences.

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ContemporaryJazz.com is looking back at the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart from 35 years ago. Michael Franks’ 1990 release Blue Pacific  glows with his trademark lyrical cleverness - playful turns of phrase and gentle humor wrapped in breezy storytelling. The album’s uncommon trio of producers: Jeff Lorber, Tommy LiPuma, and Walter Becker (yes, the Steely Dan Becker) each bring a distinct touch.

Kombo - the long-running contemporary jazz duo of Hammond B3 player Ron Pedley and guitarist John Pondel - return with Pretty Solid, their second album for Shanachie. The project highlights the pair’s 40-year musical partnership, first sparked at a Barry Manilow rehearsal in 1984 and strengthened through their time together in the funk-jazz band Uncle Festive. Their longtime friend and collaborator Bud Harner — percussionist, co-writer, and manager — remains an essential part of the creative mix.

The Big Blast, the debut album by Kombo, is a rare but welcome musical happening: a “family” affair written, rehearsed, and recorded by two close friends. Propelled by Ron Pedley’s Hammond B3 organ along with vintage keyboards such as the Rhodes and Wurlitzer pianos, and Jon Pondel’s distinctive jazz-tinged guitar playing, The Big Blast recalls the solid rhythm and blues of the past while incorporating a more contemporary jazz feel.

Celebrating the birthday of George Whitty today, September 4! Whitty is a keyboardist, composer, record producer, audio engineer, and music educator. I know him best for his recordings with Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker, including two of my favorites: Return of the Brecker Brothers and Out of the Loop. Looks like he just wrapped a mini-tour with David Sanborn's band!

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ContemporaryJazz.com is looking back at the Billboard Jazz Chart from 40 years ago. This was published before the magazine split the chart into Top Contemporary Jazz Albums and Top Jazz Albums. There was quite a mix of artists on this chart: Sade to Maynard Ferguson to Yellowjackets to George Winston. Magic Touch, the debut recording from Stanley Jordan was spending its 11th week at the top of the chart on August 3, 1985 and would dominate the chart for a record 51 weeks.

Allan Harris’s The Poetry of Jazz: Live at Blue LLama is more than a live album—it’s a vibrant homage to the power of jazz as a storytelling art form. Recorded at Ann Arbor’s Blue LLama Jazz Club, the album blends Harris’s signature vocals and guitar with an inspired mix of jazz standards, original compositions, and poetry by literary giants. It showcases his unique ability to blur the lines between singing, scatting, and spoken word.

This page explains how to establish a presence at All About Jazz by claiming & updating a musician page or creating one from scratch.

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