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On the Corner
July 8, 2019
WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS AFROFUTURISM IN MUSIC
We take a deeper look at “Afrofuturism,” the aesthetic the late composer and keyboardist pioneered in music. Envisioning a positive African-American future through themes of science fiction and interplanetary travel with a basis in African history (often favoring Egyptian iconography), Afrofuturism offers a hopeful vision to a population whose existence has been systematically marginalized and largely ignored in mainstream depictions of a utopian future.
ReadJune 28, 2019
A CLOSER LOOK AT GREAT AMERICAS SONGBOOK
One of the major themes that mark each year’s SFJAZZ Summer Sessions is the multi-week curated series of performances called “Great Americas Songbook.” A riff on “Great American Songbook,” the oft-used description of the canon of American popular songs originating the early 20th century that have become intrinsic parts of the cultural fabric, “Great Americas Songbook” takes the concept of the American song tradition and applies it to the entirety of the geographical region called “the Americas,” encompassing North, Central, and South America as well as their associated islands and territories.
ReadJuly 8, 2019
WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS AFROFUTURISM IN MUSIC
We take a deeper look at “Afrofuturism,” the aesthetic the late composer and keyboardist pioneered in music. Envisioning a positive African-American future through themes of science fiction and interplanetary travel with a basis in African history (often favoring Egyptian iconography), Afrofuturism offers a hopeful vision to a population whose existence has been systematically marginalized and largely ignored in mainstream depictions of a utopian future.
ReadJune 28, 2019
A CLOSER LOOK AT GREAT AMERICAS SONGBOOK
One of the major themes that mark each year’s SFJAZZ Summer Sessions is the multi-week curated series of performances called “Great Americas Songbook.” A riff on “Great American Songbook,” the oft-used description of the canon of American popular songs originating the early 20th century that have become intrinsic parts of the cultural fabric, “Great Americas Songbook” takes the concept of the American song tradition and applies it to the entirety of the geographical region called “the Americas,” encompassing North, Central, and South America as well as their associated islands and territories.
ReadJuly 1, 2019
BURNING ITS WAY TOWARD A MUSICAL SWEET SPOT - INTERVIEW WITH BURNT SUGAR FOUNDER GREG TATE
It’s been 20 years since Greg Tate founded Burnt Sugar, the wild-ass mini-orchestra that blasted off from its chief inspirations -- Sun Ra, P-Funk, electric Miles Davis – and burned its way toward a sweet spot. It’s where jazz meets soul meets hip-hop meets Afro-punk; where Duke Ellington and Bad Brains manage to find some common ground. Over four nights at SFJAZZ, the 11-piece band – conducted by Tate, also a guitarist – will overhaul the music of Max Roach (July 11), Prince (July 12), Steely Dan (July 13) and David Bowie (July 14).
ReadJune 27. 2019
DOWNBEAT AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED: SFJAZZ 2019-20 SEASON ARTISTS HEAVILY REPRESENTED
DownBeat Magazine recently announced the winners of their 2019 Critics Poll. Many SFJAZZ 2019-20 artists won awards including Resident Artistic Director Joe Lovano, Jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Alto Saxophone Miguel Zenon. Read the full list of 2019-20 SFJAZZ artist winners.
ReadJuly 1, 2019
BURNING ITS WAY TOWARD A MUSICAL SWEET SPOT - INTERVIEW WITH BURNT SUGAR FOUNDER GREG TATE
It’s been 20 years since Greg Tate founded Burnt Sugar, the wild-ass mini-orchestra that blasted off from its chief inspirations -- Sun Ra, P-Funk, electric Miles Davis – and burned its way toward a sweet spot. It’s where jazz meets soul meets hip-hop meets Afro-punk; where Duke Ellington and Bad Brains manage to find some common ground. Over four nights at SFJAZZ, the 11-piece band – conducted by Tate, also a guitarist – will overhaul the music of Max Roach (July 11), Prince (July 12), Steely Dan (July 13) and David Bowie (July 14).
ReadJune 27. 2019
DOWNBEAT AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED: SFJAZZ 2019-20 SEASON ARTISTS HEAVILY REPRESENTED
DownBeat Magazine recently announced the winners of their 2019 Critics Poll. Many SFJAZZ 2019-20 artists won awards including Resident Artistic Director Joe Lovano, Jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Alto Saxophone Miguel Zenon. Read the full list of 2019-20 SFJAZZ artist winners.
ReadJune 24, 2019
No Cliches Allowed: Guitar Innovator Mary Halvorson Forges a New Way Ahead
Frisell recalled the first time he ever heard Halvorson play, about 10 years prior: “She had stripped away all the more typical mannerisms that people fall into. Her sound was so pure, it was so refreshing to hear just her fingers on the strings of the guitar… It was so free of cliché. It was almost like she stripped everything away and then started building her own sound from the ground up.” Richard Scheinin interviews Halvorson, a groundbreaking improviser and bandleader, ahead of her performance at SFJAZZ July 18-21.
ReadJune 18, 2019
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO
Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino has been bringing the uproarious music and dance of Southern Italy to new audiences for over four decades. Founded by journalist, author, and Salentine musical scholar Caterina “Rina” Durante in the mid-1970s, CGS spearheaded a revival of the ancient folk music form pizzica tarantata that was born in Puglia’s Salento region, infusing it with a contemporary sensibility and rambunctious energy. Here are five things to know about Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino.
ReadJune 24, 2019
No Cliches Allowed: Guitar Innovator Mary Halvorson Forges a New Way Ahead
Frisell recalled the first time he ever heard Halvorson play, about 10 years prior: “She had stripped away all the more typical mannerisms that people fall into. Her sound was so pure, it was so refreshing to hear just her fingers on the strings of the guitar… It was so free of cliché. It was almost like she stripped everything away and then started building her own sound from the ground up.” Richard Scheinin interviews Halvorson, a groundbreaking improviser and bandleader, ahead of her performance at SFJAZZ July 18-21.
ReadJune 18, 2019
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO
Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino has been bringing the uproarious music and dance of Southern Italy to new audiences for over four decades. Founded by journalist, author, and Salentine musical scholar Caterina “Rina” Durante in the mid-1970s, CGS spearheaded a revival of the ancient folk music form pizzica tarantata that was born in Puglia’s Salento region, infusing it with a contemporary sensibility and rambunctious energy. Here are five things to know about Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino.
Read