All tagged Billy Branch

Chicago Jazzfest--Day 2

The Art Ensemble of Chicago closed Day 2 of the 2019 Chicago Jazz Festival with an exuberant performance that features somewhere around 20 musicians. Preceding them on the main stage, were George Freeman and Billy Branch, vibist Joel Ross, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. Earlier in the day, Chicago vocalist Dee Alexander performed with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, and Rob Mazurek played a set of relatively free jazz.

Butterfield Blues Reunion

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Mark Naftalin, who added high octane playing to one of the original incarnations of the Butterfield Blues Band, offered a dazzling two-hour solo piano recital.  Why this guy has not issued albums of his great blues piano playing is totally beyond me, particularly because runs an independent record label.