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Straight Ahead

Out of Detroit's lively jazz scene, which has produced some of the best musicians in the world, comes the ground breaking all female jazz group, Straight Ahead. A group of strong, inventive instrumentalists and vocalists, they have shown themselves to be powerful and imaginative composers and arrangers.

Widely recognized for their eclectic and soulful approach to creating music, the Straight Ahead sound ranges comfortably from mainstream jazz R&B ballads, avant-garde to Brazilian funk. Their live performances are a dynamic celebration of power and joy. The ladies delight in changing textures, moods, and tempos and love to throw in the occasional musical joke!

Introduced in 1989 as a product of their hometown's lively jazz scene, Straight Ahead was named the finalist in that year's "Sony Innovators" competition. The new decade saw the ladies receive their first international exposure when they were invited to open for the legendary Nina Somone at the Montreaux-Switzerland Jazz Festival.

In 1990,the group recorded the first album for Atlantic Jazz, "Look Straight Ahead", with made the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart "Top 20". They followed that up with "Body and Soul" and in 1995 with their third album "Dance Of the Forest Rain", which received rave reviews that include Branford Marsalis, who called the group "a monster outfit that truly swings!"

These Grammy-nominated Atlantic Jazz recording artists have traveled extensively in the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe, garnering rave reviews. Recent appearances include a concert at the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., where Ms. Sorab Modi, a reviewer for "JazzIz" Magazine wrote that the band was"particularly impressive." (JazzIz, August, 1997); and the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival, where "This tight, dynamic, outfit stole the show with it's high-energy tour-de-force of musical styles." (Kansas City Star, July 21, 1997). Recent awards include The Motor City Music Awards HALL OF FAME and Talent Deserving Wider Recognition (Downbeat Magazine, April, 1997) Joy, Power, Love, Wisdom...Magic! This is the sound of what is to come. This is Straight Ahead !!

Each individual member of Straight Ahead is an accomplished musician in her own right. Toghether they bring a unique musical personality to the group. Straight Ahead's founding members, the "Rhythm Sister" - Marion Hayden on bass, Eileen Orr on piano and Gayelynn McKinney on drums are joined by an exciting line-up, which features they dynamic Kymberli Wright on vocals and the electrifying Althea Rene on the flute.


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Album Review

The Straight Ahead Big Band: The Third Time

Read "The Third Time" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The third album by the Northern California-based Straight Ahead Big Band features more well-played swing/dance music with some jazz thrown in and eight earnest vocals by Nancy Fischer.

The eleven instrumentals are wide-ranging, from Dixie ("South Rampart Street Parade") to a cha-cha ("Cherry Pink") and waltz ("Jean"), ballad ("Trumpet Nocturne") to Basie ("Two O'Clock Jump") and even a sprinkling of Woody Herman ("Things Ain't What They Used to Be") and Stan Kenton ("Reuben's Blues"). Nancy Fischer is heard on familiar ...

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Recording

Joe Diorio & Steve Bagby's "Straight Ahead To The Light" Reissued On CD, WAV, FLAC & MP3 From Art Of Life Records

Joe Diorio & Steve Bagby's "Straight Ahead To The Light" Reissued On CD, WAV, FLAC & MP3 From Art Of Life Records

Source: Art of Life Records

This is the third in a series of five CD reissues from guitar legend Joe Diorio's classic Spitball Records recordings from the mid-70s. Originally released in 1976 on Spitball Records, Straight Ahead to the Light was recorded on May 23, 1976 at The First Unitarian Church in Miami, Florida and features Joe Diorio on guitar and Steve Bagby on percussion. Now available for the first time on CD including the original album cover artwork from the LP release. The album ...

4

Recording

West Coast Jazz Recording Artist George Kahn Releases New Album "Straight Ahead" Featuring Alex Acuña And Lyman Medieros

West Coast Jazz Recording Artist George Kahn Releases New Album "Straight Ahead" Featuring Alex Acuña And Lyman Medieros

Source: Imaginary Friends

West Coast Jazz pianist George Kahn’s ninth album is a groove party from start to finish. The twelve tracks (all featuring George on piano, Alex Acuña on drums, and Lyman Medeiros on bass) were recorded live in studio over three days. The songs build on Kahn’s love affair with West Coast Jazz, presenting seven new originals dedicated to jazz greats like Dave Brubeck, Wynton Kelly and Joe Sample. Five cover tunes (Adele, The Weekend, Ed Sheeran and more) round out ...

3

Education

Jazz Masters Barry Harris And Rufus Reid Featured At 2017 Straight Ahead Jazz Camp

Jazz Masters Barry Harris And Rufus Reid Featured At 2017 Straight Ahead Jazz Camp

Source: Adriana Prieto

From July 17-21 2017 The Jazz Institute of Chicago in collaboration with Columbia College Chicago will offer five days of interactive explorations of jazz via lectures, demonstrations, hands-on clinics and jam sessions during its 9th annual Straight Ahead Jazz Camp. Designed for adults age 18 and up and open to the general public, the camp provides an opportunity for jazz educators, music students, jazz enthusiasts and musicians to immerse themselves in the scholarship and performance of jazz. The camp is ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Matt Wilson and Arts and Crafts, Straight Ahead, Grand Marquis, and More

Jazz This Week: Matt Wilson and Arts and Crafts, Straight Ahead, Grand Marquis, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

While there would seem to be no great thematic or conceptual ideas, either intentional or serendipitous, unifying this week's offerings, some fairly nice spring weather and a variety of jazz on local stages should make this a good weekend in St. Louis to get out and hear some music. So let's go to the highlights... Tonight, drummer Matt Wilson and his band Arts and Crafts will present a free performance and clinic at Saxquest. Wilson, trumpeter Terell Stafford, bassist Martin ...

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Video / DVD

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Spotlight on Straight Ahead

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Spotlight on Straight Ahead

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, we turn our video spotlight on the group Straight Ahead, who will be in St. Louis to perform next Saturday, March 25 at the Sheldon Concert Hall. The group was formed in 1989 in Detroit by bassist Marion Hayden, drummer Gayelynn McKinney, and pianist Alina Morr to back singer Miche Braden on a weekly local gig. They quickly attracted the attention of former Motown executive Sylvia Moy, who helped them get ...

84

Video / DVD

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Straight Ahead with John Scofield

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Straight Ahead with John Scofield

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

As observed here a few weeks ago, it's been a pretty good fall in St. Louis for fans of jazz guitar, with George Benson, Stanley Jordan and Ralph Towner all playing here during the month of October. Next up, and in our video spotlight today, is guitarist John Scofield, who will return to St. Louis next week with a quartet to play Wednesday, November 2 through Saturday, November 5 at Jazz at the ...

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Festival

The Jazz Cruise Unveils Perhaps Its Finest Lineup of Straight Ahead Jazz Stars for 2012

The Jazz Cruise Unveils Perhaps Its Finest Lineup of Straight Ahead Jazz Stars for 2012

Source: Great Scott P.R.oductions

The eleventh edition is already sixty-percent booked St. Louis, MO: After celebrating its tenth anniversary earlier this year with another sold-out sailing, The Jazz Cruise, the first and only full ship charter dedicated to straight ahead jazz, has assembled a stellar lineup of musicians for the eleventh edition taking place January 29-February 5, 2012. With already sixty-percent of the ship sold, returning and new guests are booking cabins at a record pace for the Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida ...

55

Recording

Mac Gollehon's "Straight Ahead" Virtual Big Band

Mac Gollehon's "Straight Ahead" Virtual Big Band

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards

Trumpeter-trombonist-arranger Mac Gollehon has done something that is far from easy to pull off. He's created big band charts and then realized all the trumpet and trombone parts by overdubbing (except for the bass trombone, which is in the capable hands of Sam Burtis). He's then fleshed out the rest of the group with some notably great players—Victor Lewis, Warren Smith, Ronny Cuber, Ron McClure (where has he been?) and others. The result is a swinging old-school big band date ...

115

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Max Weinberg Big Band, Russell Malone, Straight Ahead, and More

Jazz This Week: Max Weinberg Big Band, Russell Malone, Straight Ahead, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

It looks to be another nice fall weekend in St. Louis, with a number of opportunities to get out and hear some jazz and creative music. Here's what's going on over the next few days: Tonight, the versatile guitarist Russell Malone (pictured) opens a four night stand at Jazz at the Bistro in support of his upcoming CD Triple Play, which will be released November 2 by the St. Louis-based label MAXJAZZ. Malone, who has played with Diana Krall, Ron ...

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Radio

Continuum, A Journey Through Jazz - "New Jazz, Straight Ahead (part 2)"

Continuum, A Journey Through Jazz - "New Jazz, Straight Ahead (part 2)"

Source: J. Scott Fugate

Soulandjazz.com Presents: Continuum—A Journey Through Jazz Episode 24: “New Jazz, Straight Ahead (Part 2)" Hosted & Produced by J. Scott Fugate, “The Jazz Evangelist" As it has been with the past 23 episode (which are still available on the soulandjazz.com website, by the way) the show is absolutely free, completely legal, fun for the whole family, and available to listen to anytime, anywhere, ad infinitum. The week before last, I did an episode featuring some of ...

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