Believe it or not, I found a Smooth Jazz artist whose name fits both the letter of the day (Z) for the A to Z Chalenge as well as my theme (words containing an X).
Zachary Breaux was a jazz guitarist who was influenced by George Benson and Wes Montgomery. As a sideman, he worked with jazz greats such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff and others. As a solo artist, he recorded three albums before his untimely death at 36 in 1997.
Zachary recorded “Comin’ Home Baby,” a jazz standard by Ben Tucker, live for his 1992 album Groovin’, recorded live at Ronnie Scott’s club in New York.
“Café Reggio” is a song written by Isaac Hayes’s soundtrack for the 1971 film Shaft. Zachary recorded this for his last album, 1997’s Uptown Groove.
Zachary was in Miami Beach on vacation with his family in February 1997 when he tried to save a woman caught in the riptide. He himself was caught in the riptide and suffered a fatal heart attack. The woman he tried to save also died.
Zachary Breaux, your Two for Tuesday, April 30, 2019.
Thank you for such nice breakfast music!
Great find for Z and X.
Congratulations on completing the A-Z!
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Thanks! Congratulations to you as well.
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Never heard of this artist, but he plays a nice groove. At least he had a heroic death instead of drugs or something.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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He really didn’t get much of a chance to show what he could do, but made the most of it.
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Pretty sound. Sad ending.
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That it was. That he died trying to save someone else’s life speaks volumes about the kind of person he was.
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How perfect to end the challenge with an introduction. Zachary Breaux is definitely going on my play list.
Congrats on a fun challenge series. And thanks for all the work and support you’ve put into the challenge as part of the team – it’s been another great year!
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Great music, thank you for sharing your Z and X letters all in one 😉
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That is so sad! I find X really tricky, and also I, as there are no children’s poets over here beginning with that letter! We’ve reached the end! It’s quite sad.
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I’m a fan of Nina Simone, myself. Excellent post!
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Thanks!
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Congrats on completing The A-Z Challenge!
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Thanks!
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Of course, not my favourite kind of music but he was a stellar human being and what a shame he died so young along with the woman.
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It wasn’t the first time he went into the water to save someone, either. Says a lot about him.
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Congrats on getting through the A2Z. It’s been fun. Thanks for your help along the way 🙂
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Sure!
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This guy is good!
I always liked jazz, but never really thought about “smooth” jazz until I watched Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. This kind of music is always in the background when they’re not talking. Now I sometimes play it as I get ready in the morning. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
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A lot of smooth jazz artists have some serious jazz chops, and a few jazz artists have crossed over and are doing more funk and pop. Many of them were early smooth jazz artists (e.g. Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis etc.). Way I see it, it’s all good.
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Cool sounds! Too bad, he died so young. Congrats on making it through the A2Z challenge.
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Thanks!
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