Happy Birthday Eric Kloss!

Cheers to saxophonist Eric Kloss on his 76th birthday – here's his blast through Randy Weston's "African Cookbook" and more.

LINKS

Jazztimes Eric Kloss: About Time (2019) by Mike Shanley

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood A Visit With Eric Kloss

Heartbreakers' Benmont Tench to play Toronto's Lula Lounge on May 13

Tickets for a rare Toronto appearance of keyboard ace Benmont Tench go on sale this Friday (April 4) at 10 am. Get 'em here. 

Here's the scoop on Benmont's new solo album, The Melancholy Season...

Legendary keyboard player and founding member of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Benmont Tench,  released his second solo album, The Melancholy Season, via Dark Horse Records on March 7th. Tench’s first solo effort in over a decade – following 2014’s You Should Be So Lucky – The Melancholy Season was produced by Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Margo Price) and includes performances by Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), singer/songwriter Jenny O and Sebastian Steinberg (Iron and Wine, Soul Coughing). You can get a copy of the record right here. Check out the video for "The Melancholy Season" directed by Chloe Badner along with a few of Benmont's interviews below. 
 

Keb Darge discusses a life of DJing and digging for the Ace Records podcast

Keb Darge talks about how he got into 60s garage punk and 50s rockabilly after decades of spinning northern soul and funk. 

Here's the scoop...

The Ace Records Podcast features interviews conducted by journalist, record collector and broadcaster Pete Paphides with guests from many branches of the extended Ace family, detailing their own careers, the artists that have influenced their lives and the records that they love, all enjoyably explored with your host, over two microphones and plenty of cups of tea.

Episode 32 – Keb Darge

The latest episode of the Ace podcast welcomes an in-house superstar, Keb Darge aka "Tarzan." With five decades on the Northern Soul scene, 18 years at Madame Jojos playing Deep Funk before latterly segueing into 60s garage punk and 50s rockabilly, his enthusiasm knows no bounds – although he does draw the line at New Romantics. This TaeKwonDo and disco dancing champion is a DJ who doesn't consider himself a collector. In fact, such a good DJ, he used to set records up for Paul Weller under the decks where no one could see him.

Keb has many and varied stories including his unique approach to cover-ups as a Northern Soul DJ in Wigan, how he deals with punters with requests, selling off his entire collection of rare Northern soul records after a divorce in 1987, getting paid surprisingly well for spinning rare groove in Tokyo, scrounging through record warehouses in the U.S. for three weeks with John Manship back in the 90s,  dancing in a Blow Monkeys video and helping the people of the Philippines after a tsunami and oddly finding rare 45s strewn all over a 50-mile stretch of coastline. Versatile is the word. Have a listen to Kebbo's freewheeling hour-long chat with Pete right here.

R.I.P. jazz guitar great George Freeman, 1927-2025

Sadly, trailblazing Chicago jazz guitar great George Freeman has passed away at the age of 97. He'll be greatly missed. 

LINKS
Chicago Tribune George Freeman, trailblazing jazz guitarist, dies at 97

Happy Birthday Prince Charles Alexander!

Raising a glass to producer/engineer and educator Prince Charles Alexander with a few 80s performances with his City Beat Band. 

Working For Billy Joe Shaver: Tales from the road and more

Billy Joe Shaver's guitarist  and road manager Jeremy Lynn Woodall says Billy Joe fired and rehired him many times.   

Teddy Hawkins tribute on JazzFM's Beyond The Fringe w/Danny Marks, April 1

Host Danny Marks plays a selection of Teddy Hawkins' fave recordings and shares some stories on Jazz FM.91 tonight at 11 pm. 

Writes Danny Marks...

Tonight! Our Radio Tribute to Ted. Presenting "When Country Met Soul," many of Teddy Hawkins radio favourites including Charlie Rich, Johnny Adams, Esther Phillips, George Jones and the man himself plus more in stories and song. Beyond the Fringe with Danny Marks 11pm on JAZZ FM91 https://jazz.fm/

Listen to Teddy Hawkins reprise the Charlie Rich classic "Feel Like Going Home" with Danny Marks right  here.  Watch Danny Marks perform "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" with Teddy Hawkins below.