‘Sonorous Present’ may be Alex E. Chavez’s solo debut, but the Chicago-based educator, singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has already had an acclaimed music career with the group Dos Santos. The album, recorded in Chicago and Las Angelos, is an immersive journey into Chavez’s life, with elements of tragedy, isolation, and discovery. Chavez, handling the guitars, electric bass, keyboards, […]
-Preston Frazier: I’ve enjoyed seeing the Chris Greene Quartet a few times when I lived in Chicago. Chris, ‘Conversance’ is your 11th album. I believe we talked back in 2017 about ‘Boundary Issues.’ It’s been a while since we talked. – Chris Greene Yes. I’m super excited. I’m doing good. The family’s doing well, and […]
I’ve made no secret that I prefer Walter Becker’s two solo albums to the solo albums released by his Steely Dan partner, Donald Fagen. It’s not that Fagen’s albums are bad. Two are outstanding and the others are a good listen. However, Fagen’s albums lack the lyrical wit, snark, and edge that Becker displays in […]
Parlor Greens’ ‘In Greens We Dream’ is a riveting and funky debut album. The trio, consisting of organist Adam Scone, guitarist Jimmy James, and drummer Tia Carman, brings the sum of their heady playing experiences together to create an organ trio that leans heavily on soul, funk, and jazz. The ten originals are varied and effective. […]
Preston Frazier: Michael Leonhart is a great honor to speak with you. Your career has spanned well over thirty years. At Seventeen, you were a Grammy winner, and there are so many projects I would want to dig into with you,
I’ve been listening to Sometimes, Late at Night repeatedly. There seems to be an arc about the album in terms of relationships. So, could you talk a little bit about the theme of the album?
his is one of the most unhinged and diverse albums I’ve ever put together. It’s definitely me, trying to definitely find out who I really am, hence the songs. But I’ve done a lot of different styles of music and I’ve done a lot of different things.
Hybrids can sometimes be a rough proposition. Luckily, the album Movable Objects by the band Hybrid shows an empathetic melding of talents and styles. Hybrid, which features Adam Larson on tenor sax, Clark Sommers on bass, and John Kizilarmut on drums,
opened for Steely Dan in 2013. I did my first tour with them in 2013 with the Deep Blue Organ Trio. We had been doing various opening dates for them for a few years, at least two years prior to that. Then we landed the entire tour.
Rachel Z career as a side musician is astonishing. Her work with Regina Carter, Terri Lynne Carrington, Wayne Shorter, Al Di Meola among others, hints at her acumen as a musician.
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