It was 2000 and the cafe was located at the Saint- Jean » next to Place des Abbesses. Giovanni Mirabassi used it as his meeting spot, right next to Sacre-Coeur. This is a pale monument to the bloody victory by the reactionary forces over Paris Commune. He referred to himself at that time as a … Read more
Blue Mitchell was a member Horace Silver’s quintet. His lyrical playing, beautiful timbre, and simple, soulful style of bop made him a household name. Silver’s group was disbanded, but the members remained together under Mitchell’s direction. Brooks and Silver were replaced later by Chick Corea (and Al Foster), who were then taken over by Billy … Read more
Mirage Jazz Orchestra (MJO), was the first to take to the stage on January 4, 2004. MJO brings together the best Latvian jazz musicians from different musical backgrounds. The trombone player Lauris Amantovs and the sax player Deniss Paskevics are co-founders of the band. This is Lauris’ dream of a big band realized. He studied … Read more
Alberto Miranda was the son of a musical family. He was born in Havana. Miranda began playing the guitar at Adolfo Guzman Conservatory at age 10. He then switched to electric bass at age 15 and to musical composition at Superior Institute of Arts in Havana. He worked regularly with local musicians, gaining great experience … Read more
It’s been a strange and long journey. It was a long, strange journey for Faye Miravite, composer. But it’s all part of the course. Faye took unusual paths on her journey to producing and writing her 7-song jazz CD, One of These Days/TheM Project, with bluebloods of Philippine music like Sandra Lim Viray and Egay … Read more
Mingus Dynasty, an American jazz group, was formed shortly after Charles Mingus’ death in 1979. It featured many musicians Mingus played or recorded with. Mingus Dynasty’s 1959 album was the inspiration for the name of this group. The group grew to a big-band format in 1988. Since 1991, the Mingus Big Band has been residing … Read more
Charles Mingus, 22 April 1922 – 5 January 1979, was an American jazz musician, composer, leader, and occasional pianist. Mingus was also well-known for his activism against racial inequality. His legacy is remarkable: Mingus is considered one of the best jazz composers and musicians and has recorded many highly-regarded albums. Many musicians were part of … Read more
This recording is technically a collective effort. However, Gebhard Ullmann wrote and arranged the entire album and is prominently featured on flutes and reeds. The recording’s core features are Ullmann, Andreas Willers, and Nikolaus Schauble, who play guitars and percussion respectively. They are joined by Glen Moore, Trilok Gurtu, on bass, and samples from a … Read more
Marco began playing organ at age 6. He then switched to drums and guitar when he was 11. Marco is 19 years old when he becomes famous for his extraordinary talent as a drummer and composer. In 1992, the first “crossover” band Freaky Fkin’ Weirdoz offered him a job as drummer. This was in conjunction … Read more
