http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith en-gb Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:54:57 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/There-he-goes-there-he-goes--111679109.html He was always known as Moody, and his signature tune Moody’s Mood for Love was part of the jazz canon for six decades. Saxophonist James Moody died Thursday in San Diego of cancer at 85. Moody’s Mood for Love (which begins with the memorable lyric “There I go, there I go,... Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:04:16 CST http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/Evil-Gals-Blues-105696113.html It all leads back to the blues, doesn’t it. For Heiða Forsyth and Amber Epp, the blues, specifically a raucous Evil Gal Blues, capped a nearly three-hour shared concert Sunday, Oct. 24, in which each of the young jazz singers swung, scatted and sang their way through some of their Thu, 4 Nov 2010 12:25:06 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/Generational-jazz-99978714.html Jazz has long had a history of experienced musicians mentoring younger players, and in the days before formal music education it was an effective way to learn the craft, along with countless hours of playing whatever gig you could get, of course. Even today, with so many public school band Wed, 4 Aug 2010 16:54:12 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/A-flutist-by-any-other-name--97949734.html I know there are a lot of musicians in a jazz orchestra, but that shouldn't stop me from naming the right soloist. In my review of the June 30 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival performance by New Orleans trumpeter Terence Blanchard and the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, I wrongly named the Wed, 7 Jul 2010 12:00:07 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/Its-a-family-affair-97172864.html Ellis Marsalis and his four jazz playing sons will be awarded a National Endowment for the Arts 2011 Jazz Masters Award as a family. It’s the first time the U.S. arts organization has made a group award. The family band is lead by pianist Ellis and includes trumpeter Wynton, saxophonist Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:59:50 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/Keep-it-close-to-home-97013939.html It’s jazz festival time and there are always enticing big-name acts, like the June 23 performance by tenor saxophone legend Sonny Rollins, but let’s not forget the local big names who perform throughout the 10 days of the annual celebration of the best music there is. So when Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:32:20 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/The-three-Cs-of-jazz-93968994.html Sunday night’s Collaborate... Create... Compose! was a jazz show with a dual purpose. It was a concert of creative, collaborative music performed by a sextet playing a host of instruments, and a tutorial on the creative process of the four composers: Janice Finlay, Michelle Mon, 17 May 2010 16:24:15 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/Even-jazz-fans-get-the-blues-92687464.html Canadian jazz lost a real great with the death Sunday of Rob McConnell — a great musician, band leader, mentor and magnet for some of the country’s best jazz players. McConnell, a valve trombonist, is perhaps best known as the founder and longtime leader of the Boss Brass, originally Mon, 3 May 2010 12:55:42 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/Turning-bronze-into-gold-90125877.html Supporters of a life-sized bronze statute of jazz great Oscar Peterson have raised $80,000 of their $210,00 goal. And the statue of the legendary pianist, to be located beside the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, has been given the official stamp from the city’s transportation Wed, 7 Apr 2010 16:13:54 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/c_smith/Duet-with-Oscar--88566482.html Ever wish you'd had the chance to sit at a piano with the great OP? It will be possible soon. Oscar Peterson, the terrific pianist who gave Canada an international presence in the jazz world, will be immortalized with a life-size bronze sculpture outside the National Arts Centre in Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:46:06 CDT