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Kurt Elling
The best singer of his generation -- USA Today
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March 2011: THE GATE on tour, in the press, and on the charts
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THE GATE . . . is open wide! The Gate, featuring Kurt's long-time musical collaborator and pianist, Laurence Hobgood; Bob Mintzer on sax; John McLean on guitar; John Patitucci on bass; two drummers, Terreon Gulley and Kobie Watkins; and percussionist Lenny Castro, was released in the United States and Canada on February 8, 2011. The Gate is now available in 19 countries and comes to the UK and Italy on 7 March, to Germany on 18 March, and to France on 21 March. The later releases are to coincide with Kurt's European tour dates (see March Gigs below). Early response from fans and reviewers alike has been very positive! DownBeat declares,"The Gate is an achievement of the highest order, and alters the jazz landscape for those with ears to hear."USA Today states, "Elling's follow-up to 2009's Grammy jazz vocal album winner, Dedicated to You, is further proof that he is the best singer of his generation."The Gate is #1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart for the week ending February 28, 2011, up from #4 where it entered the chart after its release. It's also been #1 on Amazon's Hot New Releases in Jazz and in the top 10 jazz albums on iTunes! The Kurt Elling Quartet, featuring John McLean on guitar, kicked off The Gate tour with a bang, playing 16 shows in 7 US cities in February. This week they're at Birdland, "the jazz corner of the world" in the heart of New York City, for The Gate's CD release celebration, playing 10 big shows. Then they're off to Europe for the rest of March. On her jazz blog Bebopified, Pamela Espeland reviewed the gigs at the Dakota in Minneapolis, attending all four sets over two nights. She gives fans a "blow-by-blow" account with set lists and comments to capture some of the magic of a live Kurt performance. Compare her stories of the first and second nights. And then make your plans to catch Kurt and the band live -- wherever and whenever you can. This is jazz at its very best.
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Kurt with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
Since 1995 under the direction of acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and arranger Tommy Smith, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra has molded and remolded itself into the shape and character of the classic big bands of Ellington, Basie, Kenton and Herman and moved forward to interpret Monk, Mingus and Coltrane in the spirit of these idiosyncratic giants.
Kurt Elling will be the special guest of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra for three concerts in Scotland, March 11, 12, and 13 (see March Gigs below), playing Elling's superb original material and thrilling interpretations of the Great American Songbook. Kurt will also do pre-concert talks each night, free to all ticket holders.
Then on March 14, Kurt and the SNJO will be joined by world-renowned French accordion virtuoso Richard Galliano for a very special evening at Barbican Hall in London. In the first set Elling and his band share the stage with Galliano for their first European performance together. In the second set, Kurt will be joined by the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.
For a taste of what's in store, listen to Nicholas Urie's marvelous arrangements of Norwegian Wood and Matte Kudasai. Urie is a composer and arranger based in Brooklyn, NY, who wrote these charts for Kurt and the Kl�vers Big Band and now the SNJO.
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Kurt takes to the airwaves
Jamie Cullum says Kurt is one of his favorite jazz vocalists and a major influence on his music. Kurt was Cullum's special guest on his BBC2 radio programme March 1.
Kurt spoke about jazz singing and explained the art of vocalese. Then he and the band performed Nature Boy (at Jamie's request), Samurai Cowboy, and later in the show a breathtaking version of Moonlight Serenade.
Kurt's segments are from 0:19:50 to 0:32:12 and then Moonlight Serenade from 0:44:47 to 0:50:50. The podcast is available only until March 8, 2011. Don't miss it!
Kurt Elling: A Jazz Singer Stretches His Songbook was on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, with Liane Hansen on February 20.
Listen to this lively 11:37 conversation with Kurt, producer Don Was, and Liane Hansen, including sound bites from Norwegian Wood, Golden Lady, Come Running to Me, and Blue in Green. Afterwards, Hansen tweeted: "Kurt Elling and Don Was - so cool!!!" The full transcript is here.
Also on NPR, listen to this recording of Kurt Elling's World Cafe Live appearance earlier this year and his interview with David Dye about five of his favorite jazz vocalists currently on his iPod: Nancy King, Becca Stevens, Theo Bleckmann, Gregory Porter, and Kate McGarry.
And in January, Kurt and the band were Rita Houston's guests on WFUV's Words & Music from Studio A. They played selections from The Gate for a live audience and Houston talked with Kurt. You can hear it all here.
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Win cool prizes! KE t-shirts, books, and charts!
Last month Kurt announced a special drawing in the Forum on his website for those who submit comments about The Gate: We are so proud to announce the release of THE GATE! We've been getting a very encouraging response from everyone who has heard it so far. Now we'd love to know what you think. (We made it for you, after all!) Give us a shout over at the Forum on my website. We'll be doing a drawing of names from those who submit comments about THE GATE to win free t-shirts, books and other K-Ephemera.
Now we're happy to announce our first weekly winner: GeoffC from Australia! (Geoff, please check in the Forum to find out how to claim your prize.) The first weekly drawing happened just a few days ago and they'll continue through April 4 so there's plenty of time to enter. Just drop by the Forum to read the details and then submit your comments about The Gate or about any gig during The Gate tour. Or write a customer review of The Gate on Amazon. You, too, can be a winner!
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In the spotlight: Harish Raghavan Bassist Harish Raghavan is making a name for himself among the rising stars of his generation. At eight he began studying Western and Indian percussion, and at seventeen switched to the double bass. He studied bass with John Clayton at the University of Southern California and also studied with Robert Hurst. During his years in Los Angeles he recorded and played with many legendary West Coast musicians. He's currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Harish has played/toured with Kurt Elling, Taylor Eigsti, Ambrose Akinmusire, Eric Harland, Becca Stevens, Aaron Parks, Vijay Iyer, Greg Osby, Billy Childs, Logan Richardson, Dayna Stephens, Gerald Clayton, Walter Smith III, and Mark Turner, among others. In 2009 he was a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition. Kurt notes, "Harish is a bass player whose reputation for musicality, musicianship, and professionalism is taking firm hold on the New York scene. Cat is solid, man. And he knows a good timepiece when he sees one."Harish says, "I play differently with everyone that I perform with. I can't even really say that I play the same way with Kurt and Laurence every night. My approach with anyone is to be honest and be myself. Sometimes that may be shown in playing supportively or leading, but hopefully it's always musical."Harish teaches privately, is a regular faculty member at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, and has taught at the Jazz at Centrum summer program in Port Townsend, Washington. He really loves teaching. Harish is featured on pianist Taylor Eigsti's 2010 Concord release, Daylight at Midnight, and on Ambrose Akinmusire's new album for Blue Note, When The Heart Emerges Glistening (release date April 5, 2011). Watch Harish in action: Playing with the Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet at the Jazz Standard (2009) Soloing on Samurai Hee Haw with the Kurt Elling Quartet (2009)
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Kurt Elling with Laurence Hobgood, and featuring John Patitucci, John McLean, Bob Mintzer, Terreon Gully, Kobie Watkins, and Lenny Castro. Produced by Don Was.
Watch the behind-the-scenes
video and listen to Don Was
talk about The Gate, Kurt, and the band.
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Short TakesComing soon . . .
Kurt is featured on the cover of Jazzwise Magazine (UK) in March, along with Peter Quinn's comprehensive interview and very cool comments from Don Was.
Kurt also graces JazzTimes' cover in April, with a feature article by Nate Chinen.
Jazz Inside Monthly also has a fine cover story and interview by Gary Heimbauer in its March issue.
And Ken Micallef wrote "Kurt Elling: Invitation to Epiphany" for the April issue of DownBeat.
You can read these and other press clippings in Articles & Reviews on Kurt's website. Be sure to check the archives for February and March, too. Lots of terrific press for Kurt and The Gate! v Kurt's second book of Lyrics is coming to Kurt's Store. Published by Circumstantial Productions/CJK Design, it includes all of Kurt's new lyrics since the first book was published. A must for serious collectors, for those doing research and for anyone who wants a keepsake. v Kurt loves to teach and will offer more in-person master classes in New York City as his very busy touring schedule allows. He also gives private lessons via Skype video conferencing so singers all over the planet can learn from him without traveling to New York. If you're interested in master classes or lessons via Skype, please e-mail [email protected] for details & to be put on that mailing list. v Kurt's newsletter archive is now available for your browsing pleasure, beginning with the the 2009 special edition, Kurt Elling Live at the White House.
Revisit highlights from the past, including great audio and video links, photos, and other gems. Enjoy!
v
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MARCH Gigs |
March 1-5, 2011
The Gate CD release celebration!
Ten shows - two each night
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Birdland
315 W 44th Street
New York, NY
March 11, 2011
Kurt Elling with Tommy Smith & the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
Queen's Hall
Clerk Street
Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
March 12, 2011
Kurt Elling with Tommy Smith & the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD)
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow, SCOTLAND
March 13, 2011
Kurt Elling with Tommy Smith & the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
macrobert
University of Stirling
Stirling, SCOTLAND
March 14, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with special guests Richard Galliano
and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
Barbican Hall
Silk Street
London, ENGLAND
March 15, 2011
Masterclass with the Laurence Hobgood Quartet
(This event does not include Kurt Elling)
Royal Academy of Music
London, ENGLAND
March 16, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
CCB - Centro Cultural de Bel�m
Pra�a do Imp�rio
Lisbon, PORTUGAL
March 17, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Cine-Teatro Avenida
Avenida General Humberto Delgado
Castelo Branco, PORTUGAL
March 18, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Conservatoire de musique de la ville de Luxembourg
33, rue Charles Martel
LUXEMBOURG
March 19, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Rotterdam International Jazz Festival
Lantaren Venster
Otto Reuchlinweg 996
Rotterdam, THE NETHERLANDS
March 20, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Bimhuis
Piet Heinkade 3
Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS
March 22, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Jazzclub Unterfahrt
Einsteinstrasse 42
Munich, GERMANY
March 23, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Porgy & Bess
Riemergasse 11
Vienna, AUSTRIA
March 24, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Sala Petrassi
viale Pietro de Coubertin 30
Rome, ITALY
March 25, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Nova Jazz Cova
Passatge de Tete Montoliu
Terrassa, SPAIN
March 26, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Wackerhalle
Burghausen Jazz Festival
Burghausen, GERMANY
March 27, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Hans Huber-Saal
Stadtcasino
Basel, SWITZERLAND
March 29, 2011
Kurt Elling Quartet with John McLean
Theater Gorzow Wielkopolski
Gorzow Wikp Ul Teatraina 9
Gorzow, POLAND
Coming up
Kurt returns to the US in April for more dates. Then in May it's Istanbul, Tel Aviv, and back to Europe.
Kurt's upcoming gigs in 2011 are on the Touring page on his website. That's where you'll always find the most current information. Check there often, as new dates are always being added.
To bring the KEQ to a stage near you
Kurt and Laurence are on the road about 200 nights a year. They only perform where they've been invited and they don't get to set their own itinerary. To hear Kurt and the band play in your city, region, or country, please ask your favorite jazz clubs or festivals to book them through Ted Kurland Associates. Thank you!
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Your Moment of Elling . . .
Jazz is music that relies largely on improvisation and a spirit of creativity in this moment. It's music that's collaborative -- everyone who's on the stage who's performing has some amount of say in what the final outcome is. And it brings a beautiful swinging history to bear on ideas that are contemporary and necessary for this moment of time.
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