Author, music historian and Grammy Award-nominated banjoist and guitarist Stephen Wade’s brand-new book is called Our Common Life (University of Illinois Press, 2026), but it’s the unifying book’s subtitle that perhaps captures its intent equally. “Folksong From the Front Porch to the Concert Hall” not only illustrates the arc of modern acoustic music via Wade’s … [Read more...]
J.P. Soars: Almost famous, and loving living la vida Boca
Success for performing artists in the music business comes in many forms, most of which fly decidedly under the familiar radar of current superstars like Taylor Swift or Bad Bunny, Beyoncé or Harry Styles. Case in point: South Florida-based blues singer, guitarist and songwriter J.P. Soars (jpsoars.com), leader of the Red Hots trio. He likewise has multiple album releases, … [Read more...]
Boca’s Funky Biscuit celebrates 15 years of music
When the Funky Biscuit opened in Boca Raton in mid-July of 2011, there were certainly no guarantees that the live music establishment and restaurant would still exist 15 years later. Creative music in general, and full-band live music in particular, were just starting to slide in what’s become their slow declines in tourist-heavy South Florida. And the club, situated in a … [Read more...]
For July and August, Glazer Hall brings on the jazz
Summer is usually a dormant season for South Florida musicians. Especially jazz musicians, who frequently perform in establishments that sometimes eliminate live entertainment during summers because most tourists have left for cooler climates. Which means that area fans of one of America’s greatest audio art forms are also figuratively left out in the cold while bearing … [Read more...]
A long partnership: Pop’s Joe Jackson counts on bassist Maby
British singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Jackson (joejackson.com) has proven to be a musical amoeba since his masterful post-punk 1979 New Wave debut Look Sharp! (A&M). There have since been stylistic detours through reggae, cabaret, blues, pop and classical music as well as swing and traditional jazz, all as the 71-year-old Jackson refused to be … [Read more...]
If it’s a Florida summer, it must be Dave Matthews time
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the South Florida summer-adjacent tour dates for the Dave Matthews Band (davematthewsband.com). Of course, summer unofficially starts early here in the Sunshine State. So let’s just say that singing guitarist Matthews’ touring ensemble has included the iThink Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach between the months of May and … [Read more...]
Jazz titan Herbie Hancock keeping his music young and vital at 86
If you were looking to crown the current greatest living jazz artist, the short list of contenders would include alumni from the ensembles led by trumpeter and band leader Miles Davis (1926-1991) from the 1960s and 1970s. Which would still only narrow it down to an impressive list of luminaries including Keith Jarrett, John McLaughlin, Ron Carter, and Billy Cobham. Yet … [Read more...]
Guitar heroes of the 1980s set for South Florida show
Music in the 1980s largely involved hearing with one’s eyes as much as ears, all due to a waterfall of on-screen pop stars like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Culture Club, Milli Vanilli, Lionel Richie, Duran Duran, and Cyndi Lauper. The decade’s MTV and VH1 music videos also featured the sounds of synthesizers, electronic drums, programming, overproduction, and … [Read more...]
Jazz bass titan McBride brings Ursa Major band to Arts Garage
One of my first experiences as a journalist with bassist Christian McBride (www.christianmcbride.com) wasn’t an interview with him, but rather one that partially turned out to be about him for Jazziz magazine in 2002. Keyboardist/vocalist George Duke (1946-2013) had recently released his 26th studio album, Face the Music (Big Piano Music). Duke’s lengthy solo career had … [Read more...]
Jazz pianist Miwa spreads the musical wealth at sold-out Arts Garage show
For the past five years, Japanese jazz pianist Yoko Miwa (www.yokomiwa.com) has led her trio on annual trips to South Florida to perform at the Arts Garage in Delray Beach, gaining a growing following there in the process. Feb. 21 was Miwa’s latest installment, as the 55-year-old, classically trained pianist entertained a sold-out crowd during a two-hour show with … [Read more...]