Blog
Jun 30, 2009
Kurt Elling’s latest: At his most restrained
Chicago jazz singer Kurt Elling has been nominated for Grammy Awards so frequently that it seems inevitable he'll pick up the prize sooner or later In truth, he deserved to win years ago, for visionary work such as his brilliant debut CD,...
Jun 29, 2009
Elling a relentless innovator
In an era where the landscape of what passes for jazz singers is often very predictable, it's tempting to say "thanks God, for sending us Kurt Elling" OK, before you drop this page in disbelief, consider a few facts Singing standards from the...
Jun 25, 2009
Elling and Watts rekindle the glow of Coltrane and Hartman
In 2006, Kurt Ellling, who has blossomed into the most striking male vocalist in jazz, created a concert tribute to the one album made by tenor sax legend John Coltrane, his landmark quartet of the early 1960s and the obscure, baritone singer...
Jun 25, 2009
A touch of class
The historic collaboration between the great John Coltrane and baritone jazz singer Johnny Hartman—is remembered and celebrated in this special tribute album with Kurt Elling voicing standards from the Great American Songbook with the...
Jun 22, 2009
Certain jazz singers write their own rules
Certain jazz singers write their own rules They don't have to color within the lines because their voices allow them to wander the universe fairly freely Think of Billie Holiday Jimmy Scott Dinah Washington Louis Armstrong And then there's...
Jun 22, 2009
Kurt Elling: A standout choice to honor Hartman
Dedicated To You is a tribute to one of the most beloved and beautiful recordings in jazz, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman On that six song album, John Coltrane introduces a relatively unknown singer named Johnny Hartman The two musicians had...
May 25, 2009
Kurt Elling: At the Core a Great Singer
YOU get a bunch of Kurt Ellings when the jazz singer takes the stage - multiple musicalities, if you will There's the straight ahead singer; the scatter; the master of vocalese; and the hipster, the man with the clothes, mannerisms and voice...
May 11, 2009
Kurt Elling a scatting cool cat worth catching
Expect Kurt Elling to swing back and forth when he hits the stage here later this month The critically and popularly acclaimed singer will swing back to 1963 with material from his upcoming release, based on the classic recording John Coltrane...
Apr 24, 2009
KE & LH Celebrate Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz 30th Anniversary
A radio show—a public radio show—celebrating its 30th Anniversary is always important news But this birthday happened in grand (piano) style at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, where the festivities honored Marian...
Apr 12, 2009
Kurt Elling: A Three-Dimensional Artist
Kurt Elling can't remember when he first heard "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman," the iconic 1963 album in which the exploratory saxophonist and bedroom balladeer created some of the sultriest jazz performances ever recorded The sound of...
Mar 26, 2009
Dazzling at the Denver Jazz Festival
Kurt Elling has been stealing songs from the hearts of jazz fans for decades His lustrous sound combined with witty banter is more than a winning combination, it's what keeps audiences coming to him from all over the world Elling definitely...
Mar 02, 2009
Elling concert displays music and great style
Kurt Elling is nearly as good a showman as he is a singer -- and that is saying plenty At his concerts at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild Friday, Elling rolled through music that displayed his great style, range and incredible ability at...