Jim Brock Photography | Eye on the Music

Mar 22

by Jim Brock in Reviews 0 comments tags: Cameron Graves, Carlitos del Puerto, Eye on the Music, jazz photography, Jim Brock Photography, Kamasi Washington, Matt Haze, Miles Mosley, Planetary Prince, Ronald Bruner, Stanley Clarke, Tony Austin, Troubadour, West Coast Get Down

Cameron Graves, Planetary Prince Album Release, The Troubadour

March 16, 2017 The “world famous” Troubadour is not the first venue that comes to mind for boundary morphing contemporary piano driven ensemble jazz. But then, the L.A. based collective known as the West Coast Get Down, has yet to do anything by the books. It’s been a heady 2017 already for these dudes coming on the heels of bassist Miles Mosley’s headlining date at the El Rey in January, drummer Ronald Bruner Jr.’s album release party at the Teragram a few weekends back and saxophonist Kamasi Washington’s post-Epic musical and visual installation for the Whitney Biennial in NYC. Last week, it was pianist Cameron Graves turn to front this band of one/band of many, for the drop of his stellar CD, “Planetary Prince” on Mack Avenue Records (disclaimer, more astronomical adjectives could follow). Like Mosley before him, Graves got a well deserved shout out as one of 10 new artists you need to know this year by Rolling Stone, and for good reason IMHO. My ears have been pretty stuck on “Planetary Prince” the past few weeks. With eight tracks covering almost 80 minutes and the shortest clocking in at 7:28, there is an emotional arc to each built […]

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Feb 02

by Jim Brock in Reviews 0 comments tags: Cameron Graves, concert photography, El Rey Theatre, Eye on the Music, jazz photography, Kamasi Washington, Miles Mosley, Ryan Porter, Tony Austin, West Coast Get Down

West Coast Get Down, El Rey Theatre

January 28, 2017 The West Coast Get Down is better known as the L.A. collective of talent including saxophonist Kamasi Washington. Washington has commanded a lot of attention the past few years, and for good reason. That audacious 3-disc debut, “The Epic” on Brainfeeder, his collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, and 2016 dates at Bonnaroo and Coachella, to name a few. But for a change, this isn’t about Washington. This is about the band that brings those head spinning sonics to life in studio and performances. When I finally caught up with Washington for the first time at the 2016 Newport Jazz Festival, I was pretty knocked out, but when upright bassist Miles Mosley took center stage, uh, the dimension took on another dimension. Whether feverishly bowing with Hendrix like distortion and effects, or running the neck, Mosley, has mad presence and skills. The LA Weekly dubbed him “an assassin on the upright bass” for good reason and Rolling Stone called him out as one of 10 new artists you need to know, and he has a rather impressive resume of his own (Jeff Beck, Rihanna, Lamar, to drop a few names, not to mention extensive film and television credits). It’s […]

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Nov 14

by Jim Brock in Reviews 0 comments tags: Americana, Anders Osborne, concert photography, Eye on the Music, James McMurtry, Jim Brock Photography, New Orleans music, Troubadour

Anders Osborne, The Troubadour

November 11, 2016 A bill of New Orleans’ Anders Osborne with Texas drenched songwriter James McMurtry at the Troubadour was just the salve for this soul after a tumultuous and historic week. Both delivered on a night of well spun tales and songwriting excellence armed with nothing more than a few guitars and a stirring songbook. When Osborne announced his second date at the Troubadour this year (he performed with his current band in late March), it came as a bonus to any Southland fan. Osborne has been prolific of late, releasing two records just this year (Flower Box and Spacedust & Ocean Views). And, yes, as a guitar jam junkie I missed the full monty of his plugged in band, but the depth of his quieter tunes shown brilliantly in this solo setting, as it has when I’ve happened upon acoustic Osborne with frequent mates John Fohl and Johnny Sansone at Liuzza’s By The Track, or Chickie Wah Wah in New Orleans, or sharing the stage with the Southern Soul Assembly of Luther Dickinson, Osborne, JJ Grey and Marc Broussard here in Los Angeles in 2014. Friday at the Troub, his vocals were as strong and clear and poignant […]

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Oct 31

by Jim Brock in Latest News 0 comments tags: concert photography, Eye on the Music, Jim Brock Photography, music photography, Newport Jazz Festival

Newport Jazz Festival 2017

Jim Brock Photography is proud to contribute to the Newport Festival tradition with this splash image for next year’s Jazz Festival, the first under incoming Artistic Director Christian McBride.. Early flex tickets available now.

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Oct 25

by Jim Brock in Reviews 0 comments tags: concert photography, Eye on the Music, George Porter, Jane's Addiction, Jim Brock Photography, Laith Al-Saadi, Lakland bass, New Orleans music, Stephen Perkins, Tal Wilkenfeld, Terrence Houston, The Meters, The Mint, The Voice

George Porter, Jr. & Friends, The Mint

October 21, 2016 Any chance to hear Meters bassist George Porter, Jr. in the southland is a treat, and he brought a little Maple Leaf with him for a generous two-setter at The Mint billed as a celebration of Porter, Jr. with special guests. GPJ was flanked by drummer Terrence Houston and Michael Lemmler on keys throughout the night. Tal Wilkenfeld, another absolutely remarkable four-stringer was the first to sit in, and the bass off that ensued was memorable, to say the least. Singer-guitarist Laith Al-Saadhi helped close the first set with a smoking “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley”. Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins joined Houston behind his kit to start the second set and took over for a few tunes digging in with all the physicality of his other band. The set featured a killer “Lovelight” and staples like “I Feel Like Funkin’ it Up”, “Hey Pocky Way”, ”Will it go Round in Circles” and a charging take of “Them Changes”. The show finished at a very Leafy 1:20 AM or so. Porter, Jr. was honored on Saturday with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Bass Player Live! and The Mint gig left no doubt of how deserving the funk […]

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Sep 29

by Jim Brock in Reviews 0 comments tags: 80s music, 90s, 90s music, Aerosmith, Americana, artWork, Avett Brothers, blog, blues, Blues Traveller, Bob Crawford, Cary Ann Hearst, Chris Isaak, Chris Vos, classic rock, Cold War Kids, Colvin & Earle, concert photography, Daryl Hall, Derry, Derry deBorja, Dumpstaphunk, Dustbowl Revival, ES-335, Eye on the Music, Hall & Oates, Humor Me, Ian Neville, indie rock, Ivan Neville, Jack Johnson, jam bands, Jason Isbell, Jim Brock Photography, Jimbo Hart, Jimmy Buffett, Joe Kwon, Joe Perry, John Oates, John Popper, KAABOO, Karl Denson, Karl Denson & His Tiny Universe, Lenny Kravitz, Macy Gray, Marc Cazoria, Margaritaville, Mark McGrath, Michael Trent, Mowglis, Nathan Willett, New Orleans music, parrotheads, Paul Janeway, roots music, Sarah Silverman, Scott Avett, Seth Avett, Shakey Graves, Shawn Colvin, Shovels and Rope, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Stephan Jenkins, Steve Earle, Steve Tyler, Sugar Ray, Tania Elizabeth, Telecaster, The Record Company, Third Eye Blind, Tony Hall, Zach Lupetin

KAABOO 2016

September 16-18, 2016 KAABOO is an art and food festival with a serious music problem – a weekend away with a killer soundtrack. With a year to percolate since last year’s inaugural, KAABOO again flashed musical diversity, tasty cuisine, artisanal liquids, five-story art, good humor and an abundance of creature comforts around the historic Del Mar Fairgrounds. It’s an event and region meant for each other.The brainchild of entrepreneur Bryan Gordon, KAABOO is also a refreshing break from the AEG, Goldenvoice and Live Nation events that dominate much of the festival landscape. Sophomore KAABOO was not without its hiccups, but its place in the California festival landscape is certainly secure. Aerosmith saw to that. The unlikely pairing of Macy Gray and Chris Isaak kicked off the event Thursday night for those with “Amplify” passes. Her set was frothy, funky, full of sexuality and maybe a little lost on the not so danceable crowd, while his was schmaltzy, entertaining and well rehearsed with his band of 30 years (and the guy can still hit all the high notes of “Wicked Game” without flinching and probably ages slower than the rest of us). Not to mention there was so much good food being […]

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Newport Jazz Festival 2016

July 29-31, 2016 Newport Jazz. Coltrane’s last performance. History that reaches back to 1954. And, yes, the oldest annual jazz festival in North America is still under the stewardship of founder George Wein for one last year. Newport, along with the Monterey Jazz Festival on the West Coast in September, stands taller than the rest and for good reason. The stunning Ft. Adams setting, the showcase for fresh directions and emerging acts, and the legacy of musical giants past and present all converge for an event that has long been on my jazz bucket list. Having the good fortune to drop in at Newport Folk the past few years, this was my first shot at Newport Jazz, which retains the stage layout from the previous week’s Folk Fest. The smallest tent is barely more than a dozen rows deep, while the largest stage is set against a backdrop of breathtaking bay and bridge views. Both events are incredibly relaxed and attendance is capped at 10K, creating one of the more intimate festival experiences of any year. Sure, the crowd and vibe skew differently between weekends, but damn if jazz isn’t alive and well in the Northeast, and a younger Millenial […]

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WORDS

Cameron Graves, Planetary Prince Album Release, The Troubadour

West Coast Get Down, El Rey Theatre

Anders Osborne, The Troubadour

Newport Jazz Festival 2017

George Porter, Jr. & Friends, The Mint

KAABOO 2016

Newport Jazz Festival 2016

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