![]() And with this release, Bobby became the first artist to ever chart on both the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and the Straight Ahead Jazz Chart. ![]() Three decades into a prolific career as composer, arranger, bandleader, and recording artist of fusion as well as straight-ahead, Lyle released Straight and Smooth (Three Keys) in 2004 as an overt declaration of his dual keyboard personality. After making a few recordings for Capitol, Lyle joined forces with George Benson, later touring with and serving as Music Director for Al Jarreau, Bette Midler, and Anita Baker. After coming to the attention of Jimi Hendrix (with whom he worked a short time before Hendrix’ death), Bobby toured for a while with Sly and the Family Stone, then Ronnie Laws. ![]() Influenced primarily by Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans, Erroll Garner, and Art Tatum, Bobby was burning up pianos and Hammond B3s as early as age 13, soon gigging in Twin Cities clubs that couldn’t yet serve him. Born in Memphis, Bobby moved north to Minneapolis with his family as a youngster, and started piano lessons under his mother’s tutelage at age six. Keyboardist Bobby Lyle returns as one of the Twin Cities’ favorite sons. Bobby Lyle © Andrea CanterĦ pm, Bobby Lyle. This quartet focuses its energies on Merz’s original post bop compositions, and includes pianist Michael Conrad, bassist Drew Morten (who performed at the TC festival last year with Koplant No), and drummer Dave Tiede. Paul, we welcome University of Northern Iowa professor and saxophonist Chris Merz and his Christopher’s Very Happy Band. The annual Iowa-Minnesota Festival Exchange will send the Laura Caviani Trio to the Iowa City Jazz Festival next weekend, while in St. And the final day, June 24, is no exception–but it is exceptional, with favorite son Bobby Lyle on the Securian Main Stage followed by a mythical first (and perhaps only) meeting between living legend McCoy Tyner and legend-in-the-making Joshua Redman.ĥ pm, Christopher’s Very Happy Band. First-call artists play in senior residences, bars, restaurants and hotel lobbies, as well as on stages from Mears Park to TPT. Weather notwithstanding (and the forecast at this writing is iffy), 2017 will likely be remembered as one of the best of the Twin Cities Jazz Festivals given the quality of the line-up, from the “headliners” of national artists to the local heroes that filled the 20+ club spaces around St Paul and beyond. McCoy Tyner closes out the festival main stage on Saturday © Andrea Canter
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |