Sylvia Bennett, The Hopeless Romantic
When I was growing up, The Righteous Brothers sang “Rock And Roll Heaven,” and the opening stanza went like this, “If you believe in forever / Then life is just a one-night stand / If there’s a rock and roll heaven / Well you know they’ve got a hell of a band, band, band.” The song went on to remind us of Janis Joplin, Jim Croce, Bobby Darin and Otis Redding, great artists who forever left their imprint upon music. I have been privileged the past couple of months in getting to know singer Sylvia Bennett, who also performed and recorded with two individuals who have forever left their imprint upon music, and by doing so, have changed the world of music forever, the late Lionel Hampton and tenor saxophonist Boots Randolph. Sylvia Bennett took time to discuss with me her current CD Songs From The Heart, Featuring: The Three Tenors, the time that she spent with both Hampton and Randolph and the influence of producer Hal S. Batt.
Stanley Clarke--Exclusive Interview
Bassist and composer Stanley Clarke, like his good friend Chick Corea, with whom he has been touring this summer as part of the quartet Return Forever, has long been considered a musical genius and an innovator in the world of music. Prior to embarking on this summer’s tour, which also includes Lenny White and Al Di Meola, Clarke took time to speak to Riveting Riffs Magazine about his current album The Toys Of Men, the changing landscape of the music industry, the Stanley Clarke Scholarship Fund and projects that he is developing.
Cleo Laine and John Dankworth ~ A Shimmering Union
A few weeks ago, I had the good fortune of being in the audience at the beautiful Hammerson Hall in the Living Arts Centre, in Mississauga, Canada when two legends of the musical world, Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth, made a rare Canadian appearance. Surrounded and supported by the Toronto All Star Big Band, we were treated to an afternoon of music at its very best: a display of unparalleled skill, spontaneity and great joy.
The opening set featured several members of this very young band whose average age is approximately 18. From the first bars of the Band’s opening selection, it was clear that we were on a ride of youthful exuberance and passion, even though at times the word “exuberance” took on the meaning of “a bit too loud”.
Judy Wexler Has Another Hit Record
2008 has been a good year for jazz vocalist Judy Wexler as her new CD Dreams & 
Shadows debuted in the # 2 spot on the National JazzWeek Chart, and the redheaded Californian, has a busy summer schedule, with numerous gigs from north to south along the west coast. Wexler’s 2005 debut CD, Easy On The Heart, produced by Barbara Brighton, sent a clear message, that the actress turned singer possessed good musical sensibilities and was capable of delivering big time both in the studio and on stage. For Dreams & Shadows Wexler once again teamed up with Brighton to create an album that taps into some of America’s best songwriters, Harold Arlen (“If I Only Had A Brain”), Sonny Rollins (“Pent Up House”), and Blossom Dearie (“Bye Bye Country Boy”). Wexler also illuminates two fabulous songs from the 1960’s, the Burt Bacharach/Hal David tune, “One Less Bell To Answer,” and Dusty Springfield’s hit pop tune, “Spooky.”
Is The CD Really Dead?
It seems that many print publications, web publications and other forms of media which focus on music have articles concerning the imminent death of the CD. While I can’t honestly say I have read all of these, or any of these from start to finish I can say that I don’t think a) its totally accurate and b) I don’t think the writers have extended their research far enough to back up the big bold headlines that THE CD IS DEAD.
Cellar Live, the record label that I own, has a catalogue of forty plus records, and although we are not making millions, we are self-sustaining and having fun, while producing some great music.
Cindy Blackman: Rock Star & Jazz Virtuoso
Drummer Cindy Blackman compares the different approaches that she takes to music, dependent on the style that she is playing, “The goal for me is to be able to make the music change and grow, and to be able to converse with the other musicians. You want to bring the music alive with the textures and colors that you add (when playing jazz), whereas in a rock situation you have to keep that backbeat happening, keep it dancing, and feeling good the whole time. If I am playing jazz, I want to have that music feeling great, but now I can expand and add other ideas. A common goal for me with all music is that it should feel good. In jazz music, I expand on top of that feeling.”
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