Thursday, December 17, 2009

RONNIE LAWS



RONNIE LAWS

Ronald Wayne “Ronnie” Laws born October 3, 1950 in Houston Texas. I was listening to Ronnie Laws in the 70s, he was one of my parents favorite musicians. Ronnie was the fifth on eight children, he followed in his older brother Hubert Laws flautist footsteps and played the saxophone & flute. Ronnie joined Earth Wind & Fire in 1972, he played on their album Last Days and Time. Ronnie left Earth Wind & Fire soon afterwards, long before they became famous. In 1976 Pressure Sensitive album was the start of Ronnie’s solo career, on this album was his most famous instrumental song “Always There” this song became a instant jazz-funk classic and is covered by many artists. Ronnie released his second album Flame, he released a 12” single called “All for you”. this album had a strong vocal presence. From previous albums two additional singles were released “Let’s Keep it Together” and “Nothing’ ‘bout nothing”. Ronnie’s 12” single was first issued in the UK and the US, this format paved the way for other artist to promote themselves without putting out a full album. Ronnie Laws is not only a terrific saxophone player he is also a vocalist. Some of his notable vocal songs are “Every Generation” my all time favorite, also “Stay Awake” and “Mr. Nice Guy”. Ronnie Laws recorded with many artist such as Arthur Adams, Howard Hewitt, Ramsey Lewis, Jeff Lobber, Hugh Masekela, Alfonse Mouton, David Sea and Sister Sledge. In 1999 at the MontrĂ©al Jazz festival a group of musicians which included Boney James, Rick Braun, Kirk Whilom and Larry Carlton did a tribute to Ronnie Laws’ “Always There”. Ronnie Laws one of my favorite saxophone players, I grew up listening to his music. No matter if he’s playing solo or with other artist his music is enjoyed by everyone.


LM


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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Herbie Hancock

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: (L-R) Recording ...Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Born Herbert Jeffrey “Herbie” Hancock April 12, 1940 is an American jazz
pianist and composer. Herbie is regarded as one of the greatest living
jazz musicians and one of the most influential in the 20th century.
Herbie’s music is a taste of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz. Herbie was a part of Miles Davis’s “second great quintet”. Herbie helped redefine the role jazz rhythm section and is one of the first jazz musicians to embrace the synthesizers and funk.“Cantaloupe Island”. “Watermelon Man”, Maiden Voyage”, “Chameleon”, “I
Thought It Was You” and “Rockit” were his best known solos; he won a Grammy for Rockit in 1988. Herbie’s 2007 tribute album “River: The Joni Letters” won the 2008 Grammy Award For Album of the Year, only the second album to win the award, the first in 1965 Getz/Gilberto. Head Hunters
album was released in 1973 this album was a major hit and crossed over to the pop audiences even though jazz fans called him a “sell out” the “Head Hunters album is still fresh and vital after three decades. I was introduced to Herbie Hancock in 1973 by my Aunt Bliss, she was watching us
kids while my parents were gone on a weekend trip. She just bought The Head Hunters album, and played it all weekend, that’s when I started liking jazz. The following year Head Hunters second album “Thrust” was released.
Herbie’s other jazz funk album were Man-Child in 1975 and Secrets in1976. The Headhunters original band Herbie put together consist of Bennie Maupin multireedist, Paul Jackson bassist. Bill Summers percussionist and Harvey Mason drummer. Head Hunters album had a influence on jazz, as well as funk, soul, and hip hop. Herbie composed sound tracks for films. In 1973 The Spook Who Sat By The Door, in 1974 Death Wish. Herbie’s three albums Future Shock(1983), Sound System(1984) and Perfect Machine(1988) were criticized by critics they said it should have been labeled “Bill Laswell featuring Herbie Hancock.“ In 2005 half of Herbie’s Columbia recordings have been remastered, Sextant, Headhunters and Thrust as well
as Future Shock, Sound System, the sound track Round Midnight and Perfect Machine. Herbie performed and acted in the film Round Midnight. Herbie wrote the score and soundtrack for Round Midnight and won an Academy Award
for Original Music Score. Herbie. Herbie Hancock has truly changed jazz music and will always be one of my favorites.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_Hancock

LM


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