Declared the standout male vocalist of our time by the new york times, elling has garnered unprecedented accolades, including a fourteenyear run atop the downbeat critics poll, a dozen grammy nominations, and eight jazz journalists association awards for male singer of the year. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. Declared the standout male vocalist of our time by the new york times, elling has garnered. Passion world updated april 25, 2019 by christopher loudon kurt ellings latest, his second with bassist clark sommers, drummer kendrick scott and guitarist john mclean, is also his first without pianist and arranger laurence hobgood. Our job is to heal and spread joy throughout the planet. If i can so much as meet my own satisfaction in my peformances as mr elling has, i will be doing well. In 2011, he performed 8 shows in 74 cities in 24 countries. Stretch music introducing elena pinderhughes, the sparkling new ropeadope album from trumpeter christian scott atunde adjuah, is plenty forwardlooking in itself. While saturday night eventually won out over sunday morning and he dropped out of the program just shy of earning a masters, elling was singularly qualified to record 2016s the. Free customizable online radio with unlimited skips. The preeminent male jazz singer of our time, he is internationally known, praised and applauded. Born in chicago, illinois, and raised in rockford, elling became interested in. The jazz singer chicagobased jazz singer kurt elling consistently gets the top spot in music magazine polls for best male vocalist.
Passion world was born out of ellings desire, when touring, to deliver a song that would give the audience a taste of their countrys own music what he refers to as charmers. One of the big names performing at the citys guinnesssponsored jazz festival in 2019 he will be. Sun ra and the birth of afrofuturism, which was released from our friends at the university of texas press in 2016. Declared the standout male vocalist of our time by the new york times, elling has garnered unprecedented accolades, including a fourteenyear run atop the downbeat critics poll, as well as a dozen grammy. In moments like those, kurt elling is not just the best jazz singer of the moment, he is simply one of the best singers of any kind, an artist who is taking this stuff, american music, and using.
Meet the man jazztimes calls the thinking mans vocalist. He was born in chicago and raised in rockford, ill. Escapism is crushed under the iron heel of activism. It stretches jazz with its twodrummer lineup including joe dysons novel panafrican kit and its willingness to incorporate other genres, but is nonetheless scotts most tightly focused album to date. Kurt elling is an american jazz vocalist, composer, lyricist and vocalese performer.
Every year he would be nominated for a grammy, and then every year he wouldnt win. The collection of songs then developed into a project for jazz at lincoln center and, now, an album. To me, this book was the sequel to another popular beginning blues and jazz piano book, the joy of boogie and blues. The beautiful day kurt elling sings christmas by kurt. Kurt elling dedicated to you sing the music of coltrane. Ellings influence, creativity, spirituality and infusion of poetry into jazz are also investigated. Vocalist kurt elling has earned extraordinary acclaim for his recordings and live performances. Enter your email address to sign up to the weekly london jazz newsletter. Join more than two dozen worldrenowned artists from across the globe for an extraordinary celebration of jazz music. A hot and funky selection of piano solos tracing the changing face of jazz through a wide range of styles and sounds, all suitable for the earlyintermediate.
The big blind with kurt elling and dee dee bridgewater queen elizabeth hall. The beautiful day contains a vinyl exclusive bonus track jesu joy of mans desiring. Book now more than 75% subscribed click here for details. Described by new york times as the standout male jazz vocalist of our times, kurt elling s. He remains as much a luminary of the art form this year as last when i saw him pick up the mic on the same stage. New books in jazz may 27, 2017 uc boulder english professor paul youngquist sits down with new books in african american studies host james stancil to chat about his recent book a pure solar world. Kurt elling nature boy jazz and orchestra duration. It has a wide range of skill from easy to intermediate.
Once again, kurt elling has charted new territory in his most worldly album to date. Kurt elling renowned for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, grammy winner kurt elling has secured his place among the worlds foremost jazz vocalists. Kurt elling with the keith ganz trio at jazz standard. Kurt elling s latest, his second with bassist clark sommers, drummer kendrick scott and guitarist john mclean, is also his first without pianist and arranger laurence hobgood. He won the downbeat critics poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named male singer of the year by the jazz journalists association on eight occasions. The standard bank joy of jazz festival, johannesburg, 8.
This comprehensive study of harmony is a must for any guitarist interested in jazz. Garner, an untaught musician who sat on a phone book to reach his piano keys. Jazz fans will be invited to take a trip back in time when elling 51visits cork on october 26. He has earned eight grammy nominations, the top spot placement in the down beat critics and jazz times. Born in chicago, illinois, and raised in rockford, elling became interested in music through his father, who was kapellmeister at a lutheran church.
For this bills blog post, id like to expresswith examples. Hes helped to maintain the spirit of straightahead jazz with a superb pianist by his side while moving enchantingly in and out of the mainstream. Far from an exhaustive list of the best jazz books of all time, these are 20 essential title for newcomers and longterm. Stream the gate by kurt elling on amazon music unlimited now.
Jun 14, 2018 kurt elling summarizes the state of jazz singing almost every time he hits the recording studio, his latest, the questions, is no exception. After being nominated eight times, elling won a grammy for best jazz vocal album with 2009s live, dedicated to you. Nightmoves is a 2007 jazz album by vocalist kurt elling. More than two dozen worldrenowned artists assemble for an extraordinary international jazz day allstar global concert in melbourne, australia.
He encountered jazz while a student at gustavus adolphus college in minnesota. Many of the vocalists who were featured at the chicago voices concert took part in panel. Apr 19, 2011 this is my first introduction to kurt elling. Listen to your favorite songs from the gate by kurt elling now. One of the mosaic of characteristics that compose kurt elling is that he is an intellectual who, through the spontaneous combustion of jazz, can set himself on fire. He released multiple albums on blue note records and has been nominated for ten grammy awards, winning best vocal jazz album for dedicated to you in 2009. His new album nightmoves, is his first for the concord jazz. The joy of jazz by collection softcover sheet music for.
Since the mid1990s, no singer in jazz has been as daring, dynamic or interesting as kurt. The worldwide leader in jazz improvisation educational materials for over 50 years. Online and mail order jazz cd sales from independent british jazz artists and bands. Kurt elling s fouroctave vocal range and easyswinging style makes him a kind of sinatra with superpowers, ably supported by the retooled swingles john lewis tue 17. He then enrolled in the university of chicagos divinity school and remained a student there until january 1992, when he left school one credit short of graduation. The gate is a 2011 studio album by kurt elling, produced by don was. Grammy winner kurt elling has topped the downbeat critics poll 16 times, including 14 years in a row, and was named male singer of the year by.
Before he became what the toronto star has termed the closest jazz will ever get to having its own saint, a. The brill building project is a 2012 album by kurt elling, recorded as a tribute to the songwriters of the brill building in new york city. The beautiful day is a wonder, like opening into the ancient mystery of this time of year and finding a traveling companion. Jazz star kurt elling is still finding new ways of doing things. In this book, gena caponitabery chronicles these triumphs and shows how they shaped american music, sports, and dance of the 1930s and beyond. Keyboardist gary versace now completes the ace quintet. In fact i am getting another copy since mine is starting to fall apart. He has earned eight grammy nominations, the top spot placement in the down beat critics and jazz times readers polls, four jazz journalists association wins for best male vocalist and the prix billie holiday from the academe du jazz in paris. Mr elling has given me such inspiration for my forth coming performances. I have been fortunate to know, interview, and write about three extraordinary artists.
Norbert ruecker books and videos the jazz directory. Kurt elling sings christmas 2016 1 sing a christmas carol 2 wenceslaus image i 3 star of wonder 4 we three kings 5 christmas children 6 wenceslaus image ii 7 some children see him 8 little drummer boy 9 wenceslaus image iii 10 the michigan farm cradle song, op. One of the keys to kurts success is the quality of his band. Fortyfour classic jazz standards arranged for guitar by some of the best jazz guitarists in the business. The first is a jazzy recasting of that familiar childhood tune this old man with the eponymous geezer replaced by the great men of jazz. Kurt elling im a jazz musician, and i really wanted to. His voice is instantly recognizable, embracing listeners with his warm, rich baritone and navigating the full. In 2016, elling fronted the branford marsalis quartet on upward spiral. I dont think youre supposed to congregate in a church during a pandemic, but kurt elling s abouttobereleased album secrets are the best stories edition records is close enough, for jazz, to such an experience im transparently invoking an element of elling s bio. Over the years kurt has worked and performed with many musicians, and is proud to have been involved with so many outstanding people, making the world a groovier place through their spirit and their music.
Jazzwise, the uks biggest selling jazz monthly and the leading english language jazz magazine in europe, has changed the way jazz magazines look and think with a stunning editorial. All that colours this memorable meeting between marsalis quartet and kurt elling, one of the best jazz vocalists on the planet. That doesnt mean that all of elling s recordings are. Watch chicagos great jazz singer, kurt elling, as he works with the next generation of jazz vocalists. Kurt ellings baritone is capable of great power, and his approach to scat. The piano trio is one of the normative groups of jazz for a reason. Jan 11, 20 kurt elling on piano jazz elling s commanding, richly grained baritone voice is the perfect vehicle for jazz songs, whether reworked classics or original compositions.
Elling will perform at orchestra hall in minneapolis on saturday, feb. Jazz singer kurt elling plays not my job for years, elling was the susan lucci of jazz. Jazz vocalist kurt ellings craft goes way beyond singing. Bbc arts renowned for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, grammy winner kurt elling has secured his place among the worlds foremost jazz vocalists.
Kurt elling brings his a century of heroes show to guinness cork jazz festival 2019, seeing him pay tribute to jazz legends louis armstrong, nat king cole, jon hendricks, shirley horn and nancy wilson. Elling graduated from gustavus adolphus college in st. Jazz star kurt elling is still finding new ways of doing. Kurt elling feel the blues with all that jazz and more. Jazz, basketball, and black culture in 1930s america. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Kurt elling listen to free radio stations accuradio. Into the flow, her second album as the leader of the new yorkbased sextet mae. Yet when the american jazz singer kurt elling addresses todays turmoil he. These artists have recorded their arrangements on the companion cds. Kurt elling is the preeminent male jazz singer today. Every one of elling s ten albums has been nominated for a grammy.
Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Jamey aebersold jazz does not accept liability for incorrect spelling, printing errors including prices, incorrect manufacturers specifications, or grammatical inaccuracies in any product included in the jamey aebersold jazz catalog or website. Kurt elling is an american jazz singer and songwriter. Grammy winner kurt elling is among the worlds foremost jazz vocalists. To this end the authors transcription of ellings vocalese based on downtown by russel ferrante is included. Armstrong scats, bojangles taps, and mingus is among us. Who is it carry my joy on the left, carry my pain on the right. And so, in that very spirit, we had this performance. The greatest joy youll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. Kurt elling on piano jazz elling s commanding, richly grained baritone voice is the perfect vehicle for jazz songs, whether reworked classics or original compositions. Words are by elling and are inspired by the communicative.
Kurt elling born november 2, 1967 is an american jazz vocalist. As one of the busiest touring jazz artists, elling has encountered the varied musical expressions of love, romance, and heartbreak around the world. Kurt s latest is indeed his most worldly album to date, as elling casts his net far and wide, from brazil to ireland, germany to france, scotland to cuba to iceland. Kurt elling sings the music of coltrane and hartman. Kurt elling has pushed forward the art of jazz singing more than any other male performer of his generation.
The healing has begun sometime last yearjust a week after completing vol. Elling has an oldschool vibe to everything from his stage banter to his declamatory, fullchested delivery. In advance of his visit to cork for the jazz festival, us star kurt elling tells ed power. Jazzwise, the uks biggest selling jazz monthly and the leading english. Learn about chord scales, abbreviated voicings, extended harmonies, altered chords, substitutions and analyzing chord. Melody, language and style of expression are intimately connected and thats why he. As one of the busiest touring jazz artists, elling has encountered the varied musical expressions of love, romance, and heartbreak around the. Enjoy soul, funk, gospel, and charttopping hits that include shining star, in the stone, after the love has gone, and more during a mustsee concert on the shore of lake tahoe. Arguably, he is one of the top jazz singers in the world today.
He has won the downbeat critics poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named male singer of the year by the jazz journalists association on eight occasions. This is the perfect book for any child, jazz lover or not. The american baritone with a fouroctave range is one of the most innovative jazz singers to come. The standard bank joy of jazz is produced by tmusicman and presented by standard bank. Apr 20, 2008 thursday april 17th 2008, opera house, sydney, australia nature boy with the sydney symphony orchestra. May 30, 2017 watch chicagos great jazz singer, kurt elling, as he works with the next generation of jazz vocalists. Going to church with kurt elling san francisco classical.
This book explains the essentials of jazz harmony in a friendly, easytounderstand manner. He has won every downbeat critics poll for the last fourteen years and has been named male singer of the year by the jazz journalists association eight times in that same span. Kurt elling was born on november 2, 1967 in chicago, illinois, usa. I heard kurt elling s christmas children on a compilation christmas album. Although he has remained uncompromising in his artistic exploration of both music and language, he has been riding atop the jazz. This is the cradle of civilization, elling said at the press.
As one of the busiest touring jazz artists, elling has encountered these passions around the world. A deep thinker inspired by the prose and the preaching of great poets and philosophers, past and present, he has carved out his own rightful place among them with his heartfelt lyricspoetry that often searches for answers to important universal questionsabout life and death, love and hate, and right and wrong. For artists such as kurt elling and maysa, this was their first time in south africa. Quite the original voice in jazz for more than a decade, hes introduced us to adventure and thrills. Jazz and the vinyl renaissance page 2 of 3 jazztimes. An international jazz award winner, the new york times declared, elling is the standout male vocalist of our time. Aug 02, 2016 kurt elling with the keith ganz trio jazz standard new york, ny july 31, 2016 if theres any genre of music thats truly built on the idea of spur of themoment change, its jazz. Kurt elling quotes from im a jazz musician, and i really wanted to not miss an opportunity to have the full connection to jazz. Kurt elling born november 2, 1967 is an american jazz singer and songwriter. Long before kurt elling became the most celebrated male jazz singer of his generation, he started singing jazz in chicago joints while studying for a graduate degree at the university of chicago divinity school.
Kurt ellings baritone is capable of great power, and his approach to scat singing often. I have been a singer for over 25 yrs in england and in the usa and i still have a lot to learn. It was the first elling album to be released by concord records track listing nightmoves michael franks, michael small 4. The 2020 international jazz day allstar global concert was held at hamer hall. At the 55th annual grammy awards, elling was nominated for the grammy award for best jazz vocal album for his performance on this album, losing to radio music society by esperanza spalding.