Just A Quick Note

Just a quick note to say that I love all kinds of music.  My tenure as Music Director at KPFA gave me the opportunity to expand my love of different genres of music.  I have always had open ears and an open mind since I was 10 years old.  And thankfully that hasn’t stopped although my forte in radio is in Salsa, Latin jazz, Musica Cubana and Afro-Caribbean music.  Recently, I caught two great shows.  Vocalist Lianne La Havas from London who sold out The Independent in SF for two nights!  Not bad for someone you haven’t heard about yet.   She was magnetic on stage blessed with a sensational voice.  She was offering her musical mix of urban rnb and folk/pop with jazzy world influences.  Her recording on Nonesuch “Blood” is absolutely intoxicating.  There is no justice in the world if this woman doesn’t blow up to be a major star.

A Jazz icon like Wayne Shorter doesn’t need any introduction.  I was lucky to catch the 80 year old saxophonist at the SF Jazz Center with his all star quartet consisting of pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade. Shorter now sits down while he plays but that doesn’t diminish any of the power, grace and taste of his playing.  It was a sublime, unforgettable evening of world class jazz.  The ensemble was totally locked in communication with one another.  Their performance was inventive, adventurous and energetic.  The music took me away to far away, interesting places.  I had to pinch myself and consider the luck of catching Wayne Shorter and company in this special time and place.  Life is good.