Christmas
Back in May, Kurt Elling and his band - pianist Stu Mindeman, bassist Clark Sommers, guitarist John McLean, and drummer Kendrick Scott - put down the tracks for "The Beautiful Day," Elling's first Christmas album. I was there to get a behind-the-scenes look, and I managed to avoid tripping over the cables or ruin any takes. Finally, after several months, the album is due out on Friday!
Photos © copyright 2016 by Elliot Mandel. All rights reserved.
What a thrill to hang with the incomparable Kurt Elling and his band last week. One of the best voices in jazz, a top-rate entertainer, and overall good guy. He welcomed me into his dressing room at City Winery - fresh off his all-star performance at the White House for International Jazz Day - and let me fire away during two high-flying shows. I joined Elling and company in the studio a few days later to document some of the recording of their upcoming holiday album. Pictured: Kurt Elling, vocals; John McLean, guitar; Stu Mindeman, keys; Clark Sommers, bass; Kendrick Scott, drums.
Photos © copyright 2016 by Elliot Mandel. All rights reserved.
It's been a while since I had a good old-fashioned four-hour photowalk through the Loop. Dawn was up for the challenge of capturing crowds of people being festive, and after proper amounts of coffee, off we went.
