Legendary Interviews
Kenny Garrett
For his third Mack Avenue Records release, Pushing the World Away, alto/soprano saxophonist,
composer/bandleader Kenny Garrett literally had to “push away” a steady flow of distractions to get to the
inner core of the album, shifting priorities in his schedule and diving deep into the essence of the music.
I’m always writing, so coming up with the music wasn’t a problem,” says Garrett, who is arguably the most
imitated alto saxophone player in jazz. “But I had been traveling a lot with my band, and I don’t rehearse new
material on tour. Yet to record an album requires a lot of preparation and to conceptualize the music I had to
push away to receive the blessings and gifts from these songs.”
On Pushing the World Away, Garrett continues to mature as a composer. As the late Mulgrew Miller, his
close friend for many years, noted in a DownBeat feature on the saxophonist last year: “Kenny has always
Najee
I am happy to announce my new CD "The Morning After" "A Musical Love Journey" being released on Tuesday October 22nd, 2013. The music is an experience that features Meli'sa Morgan on a song called "In The Mood To Take It Slow", my first single "Champs Élysées" and a collection of songs that will take you on a journey to "San Tropez", "Mafalala" (Mozambique) Shinjuku (Tokyo) as well as a "Trip To The Moon".. It features Demonte Posey(Keyboards)' Bill Sharpe (Bass), Daniel "dpondrums" Powell (Drums), and Ray "The Weeper" Fuller (Guitar). On a traditional song called "W72 and Broadway" I feature Brian Bromberg on acoustic bass, Nick Smith on piano, and Joel Taylor on drums. Also we will be launching a new website next week. I thank all of you for your support and I hope that you will continue to check this website for my concert schedule. Looking forward to seeing many of you this holiday season.
Your friend always,
Najee
Valerie Holiday
For over 40 years, Valerie Holiday has been delighting audiences worldwide singing lead with the award winning, record-breaking, number-one-selling group The Three Degrees (When Will I See You Again, Dirty Ol' Man, Year Of Decision, Take Good Care Of Yourself, to name but a few).
Now it's time to make the showbiz world a few degrees hotter as Valerie returns to her roots, bringing her undeniable talent and beauty to the stage as a solo performer, alongside her continued work
with The Three Degrees.
In her own words, "On the 2nd of December, I was born to Mary and John Holiday in Newark, New Jersey. My early years were spent in Jacksonville, Georgia. I'd often entertain myself singing my rendition of church songs. Sunday morning church services, those prayer meetings and singing songs that were always good for the soul and prayers of getting ready for the Resurrection Day echo in my mind. Most of those songs, I still remember the words to today, and they have helped to keep my spirits lifted and my life on a positive focus. Some years later, we moved to Dorchester, Massachusetts, where we had family nearby. We joined a new church with a children's choir. This is where, I guess, my formal vocal and performing training began. With my soul in the music and a better understanding of the words, I could express the songs that would have the congregation
standing in agreement."