Oct 31, 2012
Elling Radiates Retro Vibe at Kennedy Center
A common reaction to singers like Kurt Elling is that they were born a few decades too late Some might say they missed out on the heyday of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Mel Tormé and thus are consigned to be a retro novelty But Elling...
Oct 31, 2012
Vocalist Kurt Elling savors chance to share jazz tradition
When I interviewed Kurt Elling, he was en route from New York to Boston on the Amtrak The phone reception was spotty and the train was noisy, but Elling's message was clear: he is an ambassador for jazz music The 44-year-old Chicago native...
Oct 29, 2012
Kurt Elling at the 33rd Annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday
Critically acclaimed vocalist Kurt Elling was in top form and quick to demonstrate why he is widely regarded as one of the best male Jazz vocalists around His incredibly unique take on the Frank Sinatra classic "Come Fly With Me," which appears...
Oct 28, 2012
Kurt Elling at Kennedy Center, jazzing up songs from the Brill Building era
A couple of years ago, the jazz singer Kurt Elling moved from his native Chicago to New York As he said during his Saturday concert at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater, he enjoyed exploring his new habitat, discovering the places where...
Oct 27, 2012
1619 Broadway: Giving familiar tunes fresh lives
Only Kurt Elling could succeed with a musical tribute to a building Of course, the building in question is the Brill Building, the home to songwriters from Sammy Cahn to Paul Simon, so he does have great material for "1619 Broadway: The Brill...
Oct 25, 2012
Kurt Elling — Up on the Roof
Question: what do 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Walk On By' and 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' have in common Answer: they're the tip of a vast iceberg of hits that emanated from midtown...
Oct 24, 2012
1619 Broadway: Less about breadth than depth
Manhattan's most famous music address remains best known for the brief period during the late 1950s and early '60s when young songwriters like Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Barry Mann and Burt Bacharach were...
Oct 23, 2012
Kurt Elling: Jazz Wunderkind
How do you become a jazz wunderkind at 44 when you didn't really even discover jazz until you were 22 Ask jazz vocal virtuoso and Grammy-Award winner, Kurt Elling How did he manage that He would probably say he has no idea He simply...
Oct 22, 2012
1619 Broadway: Kurt Elling does terrific album tribute
Kurt Elling is the closest jazz will ever get to having its own saint The singer's soothing, devotional timbre of his voice's lower register can rise to great heights of exaltation, which we hear in his version of Paul Simon's...
Oct 22, 2012
Kurt Elling: Nominee for International Jazz Artist in the first Jazz FM Awards (UK)
With three months to go until the first Jazz FM Awards Powered by Klipsch, the nominations were announced on October 22, 2012 The 34 nominations recognise and commend those who have made exceptional contributions to jazz this year The awards...
Oct 21, 2012
“Jazz Day” at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday: Kurt Elling
Top-shelf jazz was highlighted Saturday night at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, a festival that dates back 33 years As always seems the case, festivalgoers were treated to what felt like the first blast of fall: A sunny day at Coachman Park was...
Oct 20, 2012
Kurt Elling at City Winery Chicago, October 21-22
At this point in his stellar career, Kurt Elling probably doesn't need much of an introduction – especially not to jazz fans, who regularly pack his concerts and boost him to the top of readers' polls; and particularly not to...