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June 2013

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” w/Poncho Sanchez | Special Playboy Jazz Edition

Playboy Jazz Festival Drop Top Drive By Interview:
Poncho Sanchez
 
by A. Scott Galloway
 
Los Angeles-based conga master Poncho Sanchez has been a regular and welcome presence at the “Playboy Jazz Festival” One of this writer’s most awesome PJF memories is when Poncho and his band dropped down into their Latin Soul version of James Brown’s “Cold Sweat” (based, of course, on the Latin classic version recorded by Mongo Santamaria with Bernard Purdie on drums) as the finale of their early evening set a decade or so back, sending the entire crowd into euphoria, up on their feet and groovin’ hard! This year, Poncho will be paying homage to another great musician at this year’s festival with his special “Ole’ Coltrane” set dedicated to the legendary saxophonist/composer John Coltrane that will feature special guest saxophonist James Carter.
 
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“Drop Top Drive By” w/Jeffrey Osborne | Special Playboy Jazz Edition

Playboy Jazz Festival Drop Top Drive By Interview:
Jeffrey Osborne
 
by A. Scott Galloway
 
Jeffrey Osborne came to prominence as the lead singer/drummer of the `70s soul band L.T.D. (Love Togetherness and Devotion). After singing such now classic hits as “Love Ballad,” “(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again,” “Holding On (When Love Is Gone)” [all #1 Billboard R&B charters] and “We Both Deserve Each Others’ Love,” he segued into a solo career in the `80s that rendered him among the biggest R&B heartthrobs in the business with hits like “She’s On The Left” (#1), “I Really Don’t Need No Light,” “On the Wings of Love,” “Stay With Me Tonight,” “Love Power” (w/ Dionne Warwick), “The Last Time I Made Love” (w/ Joyce Kennedy), “The Borderlines” (produced by the late, great Raymond Jones) and “Only Human” (an album just reissued on CD by SoulMusic Records).
 
Jeffrey Osborne - A Time For Love

Ndugu Chancler + Patrice Rushen: “1+One…4 Life”

Ndugu + Patrice Rushen: 1+One…4 Life
 
By A. Scott Galloway
 
Ndugu Chancler and Patrice Rushen are two of South Central Los Angeles’ most amazing poster artists for rising out of the L.A. Unified School District to achieve blinding heights of glory in multiple facets of the music industry then come and give back with generosity, passion and a master plan based on all they learned academically and in the field. Their collective resume essentially includes every major artist and professional situation an open-minded musician could dream of achieving – hit records, awards, band leading, composing, arranging, education, mentoring, coveted sideman/woman gigs, covers and samples – the list is long and fully deserved. It also includes them being in a band together called The Meeting with saxophonist Ernie Watts and bassist Alphonso Johnson.
 
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