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L.A. Radio Vet LeRoy Downs Brings Jazz Back To Television

Jazz Radio Host LeRoy Downs Brings Contemporary Spin to Jazz on Television with “The Jazz Creative”
Story by A. Scott Galloway
February 25, 2016
 
Jazz on television has gone from cigarette sponsored quarter hour black-and-white segments – often put on late night – to a cable network scrambling to fill 24/7 with jazz content. Los Angeles Jazz radio host LeRoy Downs has long held a vision of presenting the music in a fresh context to keep lovers of the music up on the latest and, more importantly, coaxing others that hold the art form at arm’s length to step into the embrace. In the interview that follows, Downs discusses his new monthly television program “The Jazz Creative,” debuting Friday, February 26 at 10 P.M. PST/1 A.M. EST, on the Aspire Network (check internet listings for how to see it on TV where you live).
 
LeroyDownsKKJZ

Jody Watley Reloads Shalamar and Keeps on Steppin’ in Her Jerome C. Rousseau Shoes

Jody Watley: Fashionista…Flashinista…Shrewd Criminista
Interview and Concert Reflections by A. Scott Galloway
February 3, 2016
 
It’s Friday night on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood – the winding boulevard that was once the funky vanguard of Rock & Roll debauchery, California-style. Tonight at The Roxy – a landmark club of the `70s that would open its doors to everyone from Neil Young (opening week in `73) and Genesis to The Crusaders, Frank Zappa, George Benson and Bob Marley & The Wailers (who all recorded live albums there) to the `80s/`90s-era when I personally saw Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Average White Band, The Time, Phoebe Snow, Tracy Chapman, Lenny Kravitz, Israel Houghton, Wendy & Lisa and Ernie Isley, to all the local hopefuls that fill in the nights between starbursts – I was on a mission. This night marked my first trip there in years to check in on iconic and ever-evolving Jody Watley, the Soul-Pop-Dance superstar who spun out of the trio Shalamar to become an international superstar of music, video and fashion.
 
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Jody Watley – Dancer

Our Conversation with Jazz Great Joe Sample

Joe Sample
 
Joe Sample
 
A legend from day one for Jazz Music & a legacy unlike any other, T.U.M.S. is very excited about the interview between our guy, Terrill Hanna & Mr. Joe Sample! Mr. Sample is slated to appear in this upcoming weekends 5th Annual Jazz In The Garden – in Miami, Florida (3/20-21/10)! He stopped by the scene to speak on that performance to happen, News about The Jazz Crusaders projects down the line for 2010, some insightful dialogue & much more! Enjoy!
 
(Published on: Mar 15, 2010)

Our Conversation with Earl Klugh | 36th Annual Playboy Jazz Exclusive 2014

Earl Klugh with Dog
 
One of Contemporary Jazz’s legendary guitarists of our time comes center-stage to the Playboy Jazz Festival on June 15th for a special performance. Our publisher Terrill J. Hanna sat down with Mr. Klugh and discussed what’s going on behind the scenes, a thought or two about the late George Duke, recording new material, a look back at a few classic collaborations and much more. Pull up a chair and check out the conversation!!

Gregory Porter Goes Deep in Interview with A. Scott Galloway

Gregory Porter – Afro Perennial Waterfall
By A. Scott Galloway
 
In a 2006 interview with Ken Sharp for Record Collector magazine, Bill Withers was asked whether he views himself more as a songwriter or an artiste. He responded, “I never was able to separate the two since I never did it any other way. It’s like asking somebody who’s ambidextrous, ‘Are you right-handed or left-handed?’” As 2012 comes to a close, we can add Gregory Porter to the list of the profoundly musically ambidextrous.
 
GregoryPorter Smiling

“Drop Top Drive By” Interview w/The O’Jays’ Eddie Levert | “Long Beach Jazz Festival” Special Edition

Drop-Top Drive-By Interview with Eddie Levert –of The O’Jays
A T.U.M.S. “Long Beach Jazz Festival” Special!
by A. Scott Galloway
 
Ain’t nothin’ like a live performance from The O’Jays! I can tell you firsthand from MANY occasions I have enjoyed their shows including one just last year. This year Southern California will be treated to a show like no other from The O’Jays at the 26th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival which is taking place Friday August 9 thru Sunday August 11. The O’Jays (Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and Eric Nolan Grant) take the stage Prime Time on Saturday night on a bill with others that include Phil Perry with Kim Waters, Euge Groove and newcomer Elle Varner.
 
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Bob James Talks Reunion With David Sanborn | Playboy Jazz Special 2013

Playboy Jazz Festival Special –
Bob James: The A. Scott Galloway Interview
 
by A. Scott Galloway
 
Once upon a time called 1986, two pillars of contemporary jazz named Bob James & David Sanborn pooled their resources and recorded an album together titled Double Vision that became a million-selling Grammy winning classic on the strengths of a soulful vocal version of “Since I Fell For You” featuring Al Jarreau (penned by Buddy Johnson in 1945 who debuted it with his orchestra featuring his sister Ella Johnson singing yet was made a big hit in 1963 by Lenny Welch), and an instrumental inspired by the capital city of Mozambique, “Maputo” penned by Marcus Miller (born this day on June 14, 1959 – “Happy Birthday Marcus”). Unlike most successful ventures in the music business, no immediate sequel was ever mounted making it a one of a kind affair…until last month that is.
 
DAVID SANBORN BOB JAMES

“Drop Top Drive By” Chat w/ KG Omulo A “Playboy Jazz Festival” Special Edition

“Drop Top Drive By”
Chat w/ KG Omulo
A “Playboy Jazz Festival”
Special Edition    
 
Interview by A. Scott Galloway
 
KG Omulo came to America from Kenya at the age of 20 and has been steady on a mission to bring his steaming brew of multi-cultural music to the rest of the world. His self released debut CD Ayah Ye! Moving Train garnered such critical acclaim (“Best Debut CD of 2011” from the Jazz Journalist Society) that the good folks at the Playboy Jazz Festival went out of their way to have him perform at this year’s festivities.

 
KG Omulo

Kool & The Gang Leader Speaks About Touring With Rockers Van Halen

Kool & The Gang “Jump” On-Tour with Van Halen:
An Interview with Robert “Kool” Bell
 
by A. Scott Galloway
 
The minute I heard that `70s soul stalwart band Kool & The Gang was embarking on four months of North America touring with arena rock domineers Van Halen, I was struck with equal parts shock, intrigue and hope.  Shock because though we’ve recently witnessed super successful combo tours by the likes of Earth Wind & Fire with Chicago, both of those Black and White super groups were major pop acts with a not-so-surprising number of mutual fans.  But Kool &the Gang – with its trajectory of early jazz-funk roots followed by disco domination and finally all out pop crossover in the `80s – appeared to be the kind of band that Van Halen’s hard rockin’ legion of followers might sneer at with utter disdain.  Leave it to returning original Van Halen front man David Lee Roth – the Ringling Brother impresario of rock – to push past all that noise like just so many lions through rings of fire.
 
Kool & The Gang