Jan 10, 2013

JazzTimes Readers’ Poll: Kurt is Best Male Vocalist & 1619 Broadway is Best New Release for 2012

Once again, Kurt Elling has been named Best Male Vocalist in the JazzTimes Readers' Poll, and 1619 Broadway - The Brill Building Project was voted Best New Release! Kurt was also a runner-up for Best Artist of the Year In addition, 1619...

Jan 10, 2013

JAZZIZ Q&A with Kurt Elling: Vintage Pop

Having lived in Chicago for most of his career, Kurt Elling moved to New York City four years ago On his latest release, 1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project (Concord Jazz), the veteran vocalist covers 11 tunes, all of them penned by...

Jan 10, 2013

Kurt Elling: 1619 Broadway

One thing you can definitely say about vocalist Kurt Elling: he keeps trying something new, which keeps his audience base both guessing and loyal for his devotion to the art form Last year's release The Gate raised a few eyebrows for its...

Jan 10, 2013

Grammy Contender Kurt Elling Taps The Brill Building Sound

It's a new year and with it comes a slew of awards shows Now is it just me or are they doling out more and more trophies and plaques these days This month alone brings four major awards, mostly for film and television Of course, the...

Jan 10, 2013

1619 Broadway: Soars Like a Multi-Colored Kite

The dapper, soul-patched, off-handed Kurt Elling has said in performance, "I was brought up on 4/4 time" That's hardly an unusual influence for a singer, but as he's put his gritty baritone to work over the last couple decades,...

Jan 09, 2013

Kurt Elling: The Great Interpreter

One of the enduring archetypes in Jazz has been the singer Billy Ecsktine, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Hartman all fit that template of the romantic, handsome crooner with silky, keening timbres that can melt candles and cool champagne bottles all...

Jan 09, 2013

Kurt Elling’s new CD up for a Grammy

On December 5, 2012 the nominations for the 55th annual Grammy nominations were announced Kurt Elling garnered his tenth Grammy nomination in the Best Jazz Vocal category for '1619 Broadway - The Brill Building Project' Every one of...

Dec 11, 2012

1619 Broadway: The highlights are transcendent

In sheer talent and bravado, there's not a more remarkable jazz singer out there than Kurt Elling His instrument, a baritone to tenor beast that is pliant, rich, and utterly athletic, has no peer in jazz And he has been making a series of...

Dec 10, 2012

Kurt Elling on Recent Vocal-Jazz Innovation

My goal here is to respond in writing to some of the highest quality recent recordings of singing artists—vocalists whose work grows out of the jazz tradition and is, at the same time, boundary-stretching, original, emotionally resonant...

Dec 05, 2012

2013 GRAMMY Nomination for 1619 Broadway – The Brill Building Project!

On December 5 when the 55th annual Grammy nominations were announced in Nashville and Los Angeles, renowned jazz vocalist Kurt Elling was honored with his tenth Grammy nomination for 1619 Broadway - The Brill Building Project in the Best Jazz...

Dec 04, 2012

Kurt Elling: Philosophy and Liberation

It is a bizarre symptom of the celebrity-culture which permeates Western society that artistry is becoming ever more marginalised Whilst the UK Top 40 is rammed consistently down the throats of a not-too-resistant listenership, it is at once...

Nov 18, 2012

Kurt Elling in London: One of the most exciting stage presences in jazz

Sheila Jordan is one of the most creative interpreters of a lyric in jazz She's now 83 but her performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall belied her years – she was totally on song, beginning and ending her set with a blues The opening...