There is an entire generation of amazing Jazz musicians out there today who are making fantastic new and inspired music not only in the vein of their influences but something entirely fresh and truly invigorating to the long-standing canon of Jazz. One of those artists is pianist and vocalist, Champian Fulton.
On the surface, or to the untrained ear, Deep Purple could get lost in the shuffle of other 70’s Rock music, but there is one key component to their sound that truly sets them apart- the Hammond organ. Originally, the keys were handled by one Jon Lord, but after his departure in 2002, the amazing Don Airey has been manning them ever since, and he hasn’t missed a single beat.
As I got a little bit older, I began to dive into the grittier side of the genre. I discovered bands such as Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, The Promise Ring, Knapsack, and The Get Up Kids. Of all of these bands, The Get Up Kids stood out to me most of all. Their songs for one reason or another resonated with me.
Carrying on the tradition of what his father had done, but by putting an entirely new and personal spin on it. I immediately dove into his catalog and fell in love with his music as well. To date, Nile Marr has established his own unique legacy by working with the likes of Hans Zimmer, Meredith Sheldon, with his band, Man Made, and now with his solo work under his own name. If you’re into Indie Rock with killer rhythm guitar and amazing chord changes, then you’ve come to the right place.
So, what are we to think about stealing music? Are the creators of Napster Robin Hood like anti-heroes, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor? Are they making the grave injustices of the Led Zeppelin’s and the Oasis’s of the world right?
I came to find out that a drummer named Anton Fig played on Dynasty, Unmasked as well as Ace Frehley‘s self-titled album, Ace Frehley. I also came to find that Anton had played on the bulk of Ace’s solo output. His style of drumming was entirely different than my previous idols. I know today that Anton’s love of Jazz was heavily incorporated into his Rock/Fusion style, but at the time, I had no real grasp of what I was hearing.
Jimmy is probably my favorite. He’s Rock. He’s Jazz. What’s not to like? Yeah, you could say his style speaks to me on a deep level. Jimmy isn’t just playing the drums. He grooves with the song and allows the listener to feel the emotional depth of the song within their gut. Not too many musicians can accomplish that, let alone on a consistent and prolonged basis.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since that fateful evening, in front of the now famous Dakota building, in New York City. Often times I think about John Lennon; while he was never alive during my lifetime (I was born in 1988), I’ve learned a lot over the years about the person he was beyond his music.
Today, I’ve got the incredibly talented and generally awesome Ulysses Owens Jr. “in the house.” If you’re a fan of Jazz, old-school or new-school, I think you’re going to dig what this guy is putting down.
I love Jazz. Over the last few years, I’ve really dug my heels into the genre. As I’ve dug in, I’ve climbed the proverbial “family tree” of the genre, and when I reached the Charles Mingus branch, I found Charles McPherson, one of the best Jazz sax players that you will ever have the pleasure of hearing.
