Record Store Day is upon us once again, bringing a slew of special releases to independent record shops on Saturday, April 20. Here are some musical biscuits to whet your appetite.
Andrew Gilbert June 9, 2021
Jazz musicians Jana Herzen and Charnett Moffett stand near the waterfront of Jack London Square in Oakland. Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
Like many newlyweds, Jana Herzen and Charnett Moffett thought that San Francisco sounded like an ideal destination for their honeymoon.
A New York musical power couple with deep Bay Area ties, they flew out after their wedding in February 2020. Some 17 months and one global pandemic later they’re still here, and now they’re calling San Francisco home.
“I’ve always been somewhat bicoastal, bouncing back and forth between the Bay Area and New York, and we’d been thinking about moving out here anyhow,” Herzen said. “New York was such a hot spot that we decided to stay here, and Charnett and I have had this kind of extended COVID honeymoon.”
Ancient Ritual in 1994 and
American Jungle in 1997, which featured a stellar ensemble of pianist Travis Shook, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana. He also connected with saxophonist and composer Michael Marcus and formed the Cosmosamantics, which released nine albums from 2001-13.
YouTube I loved his connection to Bird, and his innovative new way to phrase lines with a strong blues base, similar to Ornette Coleman s approach to improvisation, said Marcus. Sonny s style is so true to the blues along with freedom, harmonic knowledge and an undeniable pure tone with beauty.
Sonny Simmons was born Aug. 4, 1933 in Sicily Island, La. His parents were forced at gunpoint to abandon their property when Sonny was six – in the documentary, he describes his father hiding him behind a tree to avoid possible gunfire. His family later moved to Oakland, California where Simmons took up music, first playing the English horn then turning to alto saxophone at 16, th