All about jazz festivals

Posts Tagged ‘Live Jazz’

Marrakech Nightlife – Live Jazz, Rhythm & Blues and Piano Bars

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Marrakech nightlife is vibrant and varied and offers countless opportunities to enjoy all kinds of live music in different settings and decors. One of the musical elements that contribute to the city’s cultural wealth and to its elegant and fashionable atmosphere is its live music in restaurants and piano bars. There are various venues that showcase jazz, rhythm n’ blues and other beats, where you can enjoy the music together with a meal and a drink. Here is a list of some of those sonic havens:

Le Lawrence Bar

Le Lawrence Bar is set on the terrace of the high-class Hotel Sofitel in Hivernage. Elegant, convivial, animated, original and thematic, this bar invites you to discover a variety of upscale alcoholic drinks and cocktails with a most pleasant musical background of international standards. On a weekly basis, the duo Pile ou Face will delight you with their nostalgic rendition of jazz and pop classics, on guitar and piano, in a cordial and exclusive atmosphere.

Lotus Club

Located at the heart of the Hivernage neighbourhood, the Lotus Club is a chic and cosy restaurant rooted in the 1930s Villa Eva. You will be warmly welcomed in its refined and comfortable decor and its elegant lounge atmosphere. The choice of inventive and colourful cocktails is very wide, and its cuisine is innovative and playful. Let yourself be charmed by the finger-food and sushi’s menu while listening to the jazzy and soul rhythms of the resident singer and his band, dancers and DJs.

Kosybar

This charming riad, located at the very heart of the medina, right next to the Badi Palace, is a bar and restaurant open day and night and offering, living up to its name, the cosiest of atmospheres. On the ground floor, you will be greeted around a piano and a wine cellar offering the best vintage local wines. The light Japanese-inspired menu, the elegant and intimate ambiance and the amazing views from the terrace will be animated with the classic melodies sung by lovely and amiable singers.

Le Montecristo

Le Montecristo’s motto is

Jazz Clubs Make the Night Come Alive

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Times may be hard and the credit crunch may be kicking in but there are still many people looking to have a great night out and enjoy themselves every once in a while. This means that venues that offer something out of the ordinary and allow people the chance to truly escape from their normal lives are extremely well regarded and what better way to unwind after a hard day or week at work by hearing the thrilling sound of live jazz instruments. Whether it is a jazz band in full flow or a solo jazz artist giving an audience great joy and pleasure, there are not many musical genres that can match the majesty of a live jazz performance.

Of course, as has already been said people have to consider ways to reduce their spending and make savings which means there is a great reason to learn how to play a jazz instrument. Not only will learning a new instrument give enjoyment and something to focus on, the opportunity to put on your very own live jazz performances at home in front of friends and family members will provide a fantastic alternative to a night out on the town. So you can have your own fun at home or who knows, you may end up playing in jazz clubs yourself one day.

Learn to play jazz music

So many different instruments and styles can be used to come together in a jazz performance that one of the hardest tasks can be to choose exactly what you are going to play. Always make sure you evaluate your options before making your mind up as there are great options available to choose between. There are so many great jazz instruments that no matter what you choose, there is likely to be a place in a jazz band waiting for you to add your personal style to the mix.

Joining a band is a fantastic way of meeting new friends and if you decide to join a band that plays jazz music, it’s likely you will have a lot in common with your fellow band mates. This means that joining a band can have a great social aspect to it which is another fantastic reason to learn a new instrument. With busy lives, some people find it difficult to make new friends so this opportunity to meet new people is a great addition to many people’s lives. Having fun can never happen too often so why not make the most of your free time and join a band?

How many jazz clubs do you go to?

It may not be the most obvious choice of evening’s entertainment for a great number of folk but being able to head out with friends and enjoy a few hours of great jazz music is a welcome treat for so many people and it is this that provides inspiration to many people. Once people hear the sound of jazz instruments live, it is as if there is a spark being set alight within them and they quickly develop a desire to make music with a jazz band.

By: James Hanna

Jazz Music: History of Jazz Music in Kansas City

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From its beginnings as nothing more than a simple trading post on the banks of the Missouri river, to its raucous heyday in the 1920’s and 30’s, Kansas City has retained the independent spirit of its frontier beginnings. Even though an assortment of colorful characters, cowboys, politicians, criminals, and even wagon trains populate the history of Kansas City, you can forget everything you’ve ever heard about it being a “cow town.” Today, the outgrowth of that colorful history and frontier spirit radiates energetically throughout the city
and its populace.

Widely regarded as the birthplace of Jazz. KC’s early reputation as a “wide-open, anything goes” city captivated and allured the musical performers of the day. It’s central location and ease of access via rail were the other components which induced this musical migration. Kansas City became a haven for musicians and fans alike.

The musicians, who interpreted their experiences in KC’s permissive environment through their music, were also creating the elastic techniques and musical license, which remain at the heart of Jazz today. The hub of this development was the
18th and Vine district. Many legendary musicians, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Turner and Charlie Parker to name a few, made their way to Kansas City. Their connection to one another and to the Kansas City “scene” brought about a unique musical expansion which enriched the city’s history and initiated the genesis of Jazz.

Kansas City’s affiliation with Jazz is celebrated daily at the American Jazz Museum
in the 18th and Vine District and nightly at clubs and restaurants throughout the city.
Live Jazz and Blues are still an important part of the Kansas City entertainment and nightlife scene.

Kansas City’s early sports history, specifically its affiliation with Negro League Baseball, is showcased in detail at the Negro League Baseball Museum.

Also located at the 18th and Vine District, the museum documents the history of Negro League Baseball from its beginnings in the mid 1800’s, to its demise in the 1960’s. If you are interested in this facet of the histoy of baseball, a visit to this museum is highly recommended.

By: Joseph Patrick