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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

Our Conversation with Teddy Riley & BS2! | 2013

Teddy Riley - Full Pic
 
Ladies & Gentlemen…
The Urban Music Scene.com welcomes one of the most prolific producers, songwriters and arrangers in the history of all music:
 
TEDDY RILEY
 
Our Publisher Terrill Hanna sat down with Mr. Riley recently to discuss many of his upcoming endeavors, including the re-emergence of hit R&B group BS2, his new tour sweeping across the U.S. and much more. You are going to want to pull up a chair and check out this conversation Ladies and Gents!

Chante Moore | Moore Precious Than Ever

Chanté Moore: More Precious Than Ever…and Still Blossoming
by A. Scott Galloway
 
There’s a lot awaiting so I’ll make this quick. I had the pleasure of documenting the evolution of singer/songwriter Chanté Moore since before her debut album Precious made her an immediate darling of the R&B-Pop world…especially on what was left of the Quiet Storm circa 1992. She has always been very open in her writing, very classy yet always willing to take a dare or two. Her latest “dare” is her raised public profile as one of six cast members of TV-One’s runaway hit reality show “R&B Divas: L.A.” on which she co-stars with Michel’le, Lil’ Mo, Claudette Ortiz (formerly of City High), Dawn Robinson (formerly of En Vogue) and Kelly Price (who has turned out to be her arch nemesis).
 
Chante Moore #1

“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” 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.
 
RushenChanclerBHCPFlyer

Huggy Bear Jumps on The Blues Bandwagon!

Actor Antonio Fargas Leaps Into Song With The New Jump Blues Band
 
by A. Scott Galloway
 
The New Jump Blues Band is one of the most exciting, foot-stomping musical acts to leap onto the national stage in years. Based in Los Angeles, this tight combo of 4+3+4 (rhythm quartet, 3-piece horns and 4 singers/dancers) brings new energy to a style that has its roots in the swing era, blending up-tempo elements of blues and jazz and adding touches of calypso. It showcases dynamic front man/MC Antonio “Huggy Bear” Fargas, the singer and actor who gained fame and a nickname as the iconic street character from mid-’70s TV’s “Starsky & Hutch.” And they’re going to electrify audiences on Sunday May 5 at 3:30pm for a FREE Cinco de Mayo special show in conjunction with the “Playboy Jazz Festival” pre-concerts at the Beverly Hills Civic Center.
 
The New Jump Blues Band featuring Antonio Fargas

A. Scott Galloway Interviews Lee Ritenour & Mike Stern for Special West Coast Concert Team-Up

Guitar Greats Lee Ritenour & Mike Stern Team for Special L.A. Shows
 
Dual Interviews Conducted by A. Scott Galloway
Music Editor: The Urban Music Scene
 
A few months back when I was perusing the schedule for the upcoming months at Catalina Bar & Grill jazz club on Sunset in Hollywood, my jaw just about hit the floor when I saw that local hero Lee Ritenour was going to pair up with New York City guitar slinger Mike Stern for four nights in December. It is truly one of my most anticipated shows of the year. Seeing as I had seen both of these gentlemen MANY times as solo artists but had never interviewed either of them after all these years (hard to believe), I decided to seize this golden opportunity to speak to them both in separate conversations.
 
Lee Ritenour
 
Mike stern Playing