Benji’s 2nd creative endeavor, a solo album of guitar music inspired by many great composers from Brazil and around the world. All titles are original compositions comprised of. choros, sambas, Baiaoes, Waltzes and other styles of his own making. 1. ...

Pianist and contemporary jazz icon Ramsey Lewis revisits his classic 1974 electric jazz-funk album Sun Goddess for 2011’s Ramsey, Taking Another Look. Featuring a newly minted lineup of his ’70s electric band, Taking Another Look features keybo ...

Ridin’ The Beat is Steve Lipman’s second release. Despite the fact that his first album,There’s a Song in my Heart, received numerous favorable critics’ reviews, and radio airplay across the globe, Steve will always consider it his proverbial “ ...

...  rock, funk, to jazz. After graduating high school with a 93% average, as well as many performance, composition, and academic awards. Now ...

...  already back on stage feeling “healthy, whole and 100% again.”  Her last release, Still Unforgettable, earned her two Grammy ...

Joe Zawinul75 Heads Up – 2009 Keyboardist and composer Joe Zawinul, who succumbed to cancer September 11, 2007 at age 75, left behind a half-century legacy of brilliant music that will last for generations. Born in Austria and originally traine ...

L’Tanya Mari’A Teardrop of Sun L’Tanya Mari’ Music – 2009Carmen Miller With a clear and vibrant tone that ranges from the lilting falsetto to the huskiness of a Sarah Vaughn, Philadelphia-bred L’Tanya Mari’ d ...

Arturo SandovalA Time for Love Concord – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz A Time for Love is certainly one of the more beautiful recordings released by Arturo Sandoval. The world-renowned GRAMMY winning trumpeter who is best known for his swinging A ...

Irene and Her Latin Jazz BandA Song of You Irene and Her Latin Jazz Band – 2009C.W.Ross – Indie Music Stop Simply known as Irene she’s a rising jazz artist who was already performing on stage by the age of three. Irene started forma ...

Marcus MillerA Night in Monte Carlo 2011 – Concord Jazz Bassist, producer, composer, and all-around musician Marcus Miller has been a student and a leader, a creator and an interpreter, a master and a mentor in the art form of music – from ...

Wayne Wallace�Bien Bien! Patois Records – 2009 �Bien Bien!, is Wallace’s fifth production on his label, Patois Records.  Sparkling with the same signature energy that infuses all his work, Wallace’s masterful compositions and ar ...

Coming Up for Air – starring Stan Strickland @ Central Square Theater, Cambridge, MAMatt Robinson Ringed by instruments from all over the world on an otherwise bare stage, award-winning singer/songwriter/sax man Stan Strickland tells the story ...

A Celebration of Jazz and Joyce Symphony Hall, Boston September 28, 2007 by Matthew Robinson Over the past few years, the Beantown Jazz Festival has grown from a solid grassroots effort to a major venue for student and professi ...

For Africans by Africans by Struan Douglas The music industry in South Africa is crazy. We are infused with this incredible inferiority complex, where local is not cool or clever, it is ‘lekker’. So what, so is ice-cream, bubble-g ...

...  Zambia there is some of the best copper but now we are 80% below the poverty line.” “It is the policy makers – in my country there ...

Orchestra BaobabSexier than the Buena Vista Social Club By Struan Douglas Senegal is a country of many baobab trees and an incredible music tradition. And when they merge – that is the longevity, the pride and strength of the baobab tree  ...

Africa Straight AheadA Collection of Africa’s Finest(Heads Up – 2003) by Sidney Bechet-Mandela Scheduled to coincide with the historic ten year anniversary of the end of apartheid, Africa Straight Ahead spotlights some of South Africa ...

Music walks the political and cultural tightrope. by Struan Douglas Iisiginci siyakha’ ilizwe – a guitar builds a nation. Brenda Fassie “1963, the peoples president was taken away by security men, all dressed in a un ...

Carlo Mombelli by Struan Douglas I applied for a teaching post at the Richard-Strauss conservatoire of music in Munich. The audition was very strange. You had to walk in play and teach this student for half an hour in front of a panel. The gu ...

The ‘Genuine” Mac McKenzie by Iain Harris Mac Mckenzie (above) at the Cape Town Festival 2002 and Hilton Schilder, also at the Cape Town Festival 2002 I wasn’t around during the time of the Genuines and I ...

A Galaxy cooking session with by Struan Douglas Struan Douglas and Iain Harris exchange tones with Hugh Masekela, and discover that apart from people, life, the world and women, music is in fact all about sushi. “I love sushi,” ...

Oliver Mtukudzi20 years of best-sellers A strong driving rhythm, big vocals, conscious lyrics and a delicate rhythm – Zimbabwean Oliver Mtukudzi is one of Southern Africa’s greatest stars. Oliver Mtukudzi’s  ...

Winston Mankunku Winston Mankunku Jazz has worn many hats: big-band – swing enjoyed straw-hats, be-bop went for afro-berets and cool-jazz for stetsons. The style, the music all comes from the same core, the expression. ...

  May 2000 JazzUSA has teamed up with Afribeat to bring you a new monthly feature called Africa Beats. Each month the folks at Afribeat will be providing our readers with new, interesting information on the thriving jazz scene across the waters. We  ...

Angelique KidjoBlack Ivory Soul and More This is an exciting new release from Angelique Kidjo, exploring Brazilian connections and allowing her voice to find a new, more sensitive space. There is a selection of thoughtless cheese on the album, like ...

Cape Town Revisited Abdullah Ibrahim by John Barrett When Abdullah Ibrahim returned home to South Africa, his music became reflective, and a bit more emotional. On this 1977 live date from Cape Town, the music is a river, with almost no paus ...

Dolly Rathebe Bebop and beyond the blues South African jazz history By Iain Harris and Struan Douglas “Jazz is a music which has its roots in a life of insecurity, in ...

Live in South Africa Andy Narell by John Barrett Andy Narell was amazed he had a huge following in South Africa, a country where he had never set foot. (In Soweto, there’s even a jazz club named in his honor.) When he had the chance t ...

With Jesus singing and God on the drums, How Can You Go Wrong? by Struan Douglas ‘With Jesus singing and God on the drums, how can you go wrong?’ asked a friend of latin music geniuses Cubanismo. As good as Jesus Alemany (lead t ...

Check out Bonga’s latest release Mulemba Xangola… Bonga Kwenda A national icon, an international star, and a performer whose energy, warmth and respect for both audience and fellow musicians is entirely compelling. Watching Bonga ...

The New Voice of SenegalCheikh Lô by Struan Douglas “Me, I want to play every music. I want to travel, I want to discover every type of music… All this rhythm is Africa – it is the change of the name. I c ...

A city fit for kittens Euro-Crash by Struan Douglas ‘Why does the chicken cross the road?’ we used to joke as irritating children. But, why indeed does the Copenhagen cross the road I thought as a bevy of patently exact people hudd ...

Louis MoholoAvant-garde drum pioneer By Struan Douglas A pioneer of avant-garde, a soldier of expression and still a fighter for freedom. Great South African drummer – Louis Moholo – returned to Langa for a brief holiday break. St ...

So What Is Jazz? by Struan Douglas In a few years as a jazz journalist I have heard many different definitions of what exactly jazz is, and throughout I have always found the colloquial definitions the most interesting as music is best hear ...

GigiEthiopia’s Soaring Voiceof Musical Regeneration Heruy Arefe-Aine writes from Addis Ababa on the voice that Ethiopians have called “Gift of God”, a voice that is inspiring Ethiopian musicians to new musical possibilities, and  ...

A journey to West Africa Dancing with the Diaspora by Struan Douglas Introduction to the concept and series: As Baaba Maal says, “I want people to see Africa in new eyes, to have a very positive interest of Africa, to know that it i ...

Damian MarleyRighteousness Overcome By Derek Beres There is no irony, perhaps, that doctrine is defined as a “principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group ...

Afribeat – The Attack of Beauty There was this ancient fellow wearing slightly faded yet dashing robes and giant sunglasses. He was playing the harp like instrument of the ancient tradition of the griot, the kora, simultaneously explaining in a ...

Pittsburgh Bretheren To Play In Ghana by Paula Edelstein It’s not everyday that something like this happens in Ghana. Saturday, December 16th, 2000, a great jazz concert will happen in Ghana, and it’s causing quite a wave of excitemen ...

Fela Anikulapo KutiFrom the Foot of the Shrine By Struan Douglas Photos: Bailey’s African Archives Amongst the infectious, feverish heat of the Nigerian coastal capital – Lagos, a funky, vigorous beat plays with hypnotic effect ...

Chris McGregorThe Blue Notes & the Brotherhood of Breath by Tony McGregor Chris McGregor was born on December 24, 1936, in Somerset West, Western Cape, where his father, Murray McGregor was teaching at Hottentots’ Holland High School.  ...

Chris Graham TrioAfter-Birth of Cool Chris Graham Trio – 2010 After-Birth of Cool is bursting with texturally rich compositions and technically evocative playing. The Chris Graham Trio has a telekinetic communication underpinning each adventurou ...

Jeremy ManasiaAfter Dark Posi-Tone 2009 Talented newcomer Jeremy Manasia shines brightly on his debut release “After Dark”.  Joining efforts with Manasia on this piano trio date are bassist Barak Mori and drummer Charles Ruggiero. Saxop ...

Rick BraunAll It Takes Artistry Music – 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz Rick Braun’s latest CD is an inspired masterwork of contemporary jazz that celebrates the unique relationships he has with band members,  his wonderful wife, and collabo ...

Doug MunroAlone But Not Alone Gotmusic – 2009 Doug Munro’s new solo project Alone But Not Alone is a recording of spiritual songs that was all performed live in the studio with no over dubs. Using a loop station to create the multiple part ...

Jazz History Speaks – Allen Toussaint New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – May 2, 2009Matt Robinson After a brief introduction by local Jazz writer Bern Sandmel that paled in comparison to its object, multi-hyphened entertainer an ...

The Jazz Journalists Association – Announces 2009 Jazz Award Winners DLMedia – June, 2009 The Jazz Journalists Association announced winners of 2009 Jazz Awards at the Jazz Standard in New York City Tuesday, June 16, honoring 90 year-old  ...

Lenny WhiteAnomaly Abstract Logix – 2010 Following his triumphant worldwide reunion tour with Return To Forever in 2008 and separate trio tours in 2009 with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke and pianist Hiromi with Clarke, drummer Lenny White was  ...

Anything GoesHerb Alpert and Lani Hall Concord – 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz Anything Goes is a rare offering by two of music’s most revered masters – trumpeter Herb Alpert and vocalist Lani Hall. The recording  is a collection of  ...

kenny and leahapril in paris k&l – 2010 a new release from jazz musical artists kenny & leah presents refreshing new treatments of a collection of timeless classics along with multi-lingual delights. opening with strong performances on & ...

Ann Hampton CallowayAt Last Telarc – 2009 Most people would agree that life is a journey. Finding love along the way – an experience that can be joyous, painful and confusing all at the same time – only makes the journey more inter ...

Ivo Perelman To PerformAt the Second Annual Clean Feed Festival Cornelia Street Caf� – May 7, 2010 Saxophonist/Composer Ivo Perelman will perform at the Cornelia Street Caf� as a part of Second Annual Clean Feed Festival on May 7. Perelman a ...

Philippe SaisseAt Worlds Edge Koch – 2009 At World’s Edge sets to music a personal odyssey that started when Saisse began recording the project in his basement studio in Scarsdale, NY. A flood that resulted in the near-total destruction ...

Frank DiBussoloAverage White Cats Lost World Music – 2010 On Average White Cats, Eight-time Grammy nomine =e and master guitarist Frank DiBussolo leads a dynamic quintet through a program of his own compositions. Frank uses both acoustic and ele ...

The David Leonhardt TrioBach to the Blues Big Bang – 2009 In a creative improvisational approach to classical themes The David Leonhardt Trio interprets the Great Composers like you’ve never heard them before. From Beethoven to Aaron Copel ...

Armik – Barcelona Bolero – 2008Sounds of Timeless Jazz As a creative musician, Armik never stops exploring, listening, testing the waters and pushing the envelope as he expands the Nuevo Flamenco language. Such eclecticism has to come fro ...

Wayman TisdaleBasketball Star and Jazz Musician Dies at Age 44 CNN – May 15, 2009 Wayman Tisdale, who became a successful jazz musician after retiring from pro basketball, died Friday May 15, 2009 after a two-year battle with cancer. Tisdale,  ...

Stevie HollandBefore Love has Gone 150 Music – 2008Sounds of Timeless Jazz Vocalist Stevie Holland does a tremendous job with a well-selected repertoire of songs from the theatre, Tin Pan Alley and rare movies. BEFORE LOVE HAS GONE encompasses  ...

Antoinette MontagueBehind the Smile In The Groove – 2010 For Behind the Smile, Montague assembled the same jazz masters she worked with on her debut album, Pretty Blues. She credits the band with having “immense artistry and a wealth of cr ...

“Everybody Is A Star…” – Sly Stone If you’ve got a Jazz tune that you think is good enough for the big time, nows the time! JazzUSA is accepting material submissions for our End Of ’99 CD project. Once all the submiss ...

Lin RounteeSumthin’ Good BDK – 2008 In this crazy age, everyone needs a little Sumthin’ Good and Lin Rountree is just what the doctor ordered! Brimming over with hot grooves and fluid lines, trumpeter/flugelhomist Linn Rountree offer ...

Lisa HiltonSunny Day Theory Ruby Slippers – 1008Sounds of Timeless Jazz The power of creativity comes from many sources however, Lisa Hilton has tapped the depths of her soul to create an impressive recording titled SUNNY DAY THEORY. The lovely ...

...  #numberformat(votes/gettotalvotes.svotes*100,’_0.00′)#% 0.00%  ...

Mark Weinstein and Omar SosaTales From The Earth OTA – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz Witnessing the creation of new music as it happens is one of the best experiences one can have whether you’re a musician or a spectator/listener. On TALES ...

Mark Weinstein / Omar Sosa Tales from the Earth Ota Records – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz Witnessing the creation of new music as it happens is one of the best experiences one can have whether you’re a musician or a spectator/listener. On ...

VayoTango Pantale�n – 2009 Vayo Raimondo is one of only a handful of artists in the history of tango who both writes and sings new music. He also works on other genres, Latin, classical, and world songs. While he sings primarily in Spanish he  ...

Angie WhitneyThat’s What Love is All About Little Dizzy – 2008 The new record by former spinners backup singer Angie Whitney takes you on a beautiful journey about love. Every song has a story. “Don’t Tease Me” shows off  ...

Return to ForeverThe Anthology Concord Records – 2008Ray Redmond This IS the definitive Return to Forever music collection. What more can I cay? Either you need it or you should take a listen because you just don’t know. To commemorate  ...

Ken GrevesThe Face of my Love Jazz Cat Productions – 2009 In this new release Ken takes us through all the stages implicit in the process: of being alone, falling in and then out of love, and, at the end, being alone again -waiting for the cycle ...

...  Queen Latifah, Darlene Zschech, and Jonathan Butler. 100% of the proceeds of this album go towards funding clean water projects around ...

Glen AckermanThe Glenious Inner Planet 2010 – Blue Bamboo Music Glen Ackerman has always been a composer. As a young child he blew up his parent’s stereo gear with wild tape loop experiments. When his mother (whose eclectic tastes fueled h ...

Coleman HawkinsThe Hawk Flies High [Keepnews Collection]Concord Jazz – 2008 Orrin’s commentary (from his new liner notes): “Before [Coleman] Hawkins, the tenor saxophone-which has come to be one of the basic instruments of jazz-simp ...

David MarqThe Hit It Project Red Distribution – 2008Sounds of Timeless Jazz How does one pay tribute to such an iconic songwriter as the late Mr. Skip Scarborough? That sounds like an enormous undertaking since Scarborough’s songbook incl ...

John L. HolmesThe Holmes Stretch 2010 – 7/19/2011 John L. Holmes was born in Walla Walla, WA in 1950. He began classical guitar instruction at the age of nine and played his first recital at twelve. Since then he has taught himself to play many  ...

Conrad HerwigThe Latin Side of Wayne Shorter HalfNote – 2008 After refitting Coltrane and Miles, Conrad Herwig’s latest Latinization effort has been aimed directly at Wayne Shorter.  Recorded live at the Blue Note in New York, Herwig is j ...

Buddy RichThe Lost Tapes – DVD WEA – 2005S. H. Watkins, Sr. Arguably the greatest jazz drummer of all time, Buddy Rich’s last concert before he passed away (in 1987) has been captured here as a restored and rejuvinated video perf ...

Giacomo GatesThe Luminosity Story United – 2008 Accompanied by a top-notch ensemble of John diMartino (p), Ray Drummond (b), Greg Bandy (d), Bob Kindred (ts) and Tony Lombardozzi (g), Gates digs into a wide palette of material ranging from lesse ...

Jamie CullemThe Pursuit Universal – 2009 Acclaimed by critics as Jamie Cullum’s strongest album to date, ‘The Pursuit’ finds the Essex-born crossover jazz pianist in eclectic mood. This follow-up to 2005’s ‘Catching ...

Jamie CullumThe Pursuit Verve – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz It’s hard to imagine that it’s been 10 years since Jamie Cullum released his first self-funded release called HEARD IT ALL BEFORE! In between touring on behalf of his stell ...

Vanessa WilliamsThe Real Thing Concord – 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz Vanessa Williams’ musical career has been and continues to be a winning combination of great collaborations and chart-topping hits. With Sixteen Grammy Award nominations ...

Sean JonesThe Search Within Mack Avenue – 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz THE POWER WITHIN, Sean Jones’ fifth recording for Mack Avenue Records, is a superb example of the young trumpeter’s growth and musical personality. The 12 songs w ...

Michael FeinsteinThe Sinatra Project Concord – 2008 The Sinatra Project from four time Grammy nominee, singer/pianist Michael Feinsteinis a tribute to “The Chairman of the Board” himself, Frank Sinatra and is Feinstein’s first ...

Take 6The Standard Heads Up – 2008 The Take 6 Debut on Heads Up records features Aaron Neville, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Jon Hendricks, Roy Hargrove, Till Br�nner and Brian McKnight. Winners of 10 GRAMMY� Awards, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul  ...

Nicole HenryThe Very Thought of You Banister – 2008Sounds of Timeless Jazz Nicole Henry will definitely captivate you with her third CD called THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU. Influenced by jazz, pop, and soul, the Miami resident gives a fresh feeling  ...

...  know… In 2000 Diana Krall accounted for 25% of total jazz sales. (that would be cool if there were only 7-8 jazz artists ...  decline of modern jazz???) Of that 2.3 million over 33% was related to the Ken Burns series.(hey, at least he got their attention!)  ...

Danielle ReichThis Year’s Kisses 2010 – Danielle Reich For emerging jazz singer Danielle Reich, there have been only short steps from her classical coloratura opera focus in Florida to standing room only in the Heights of Houston.  From  ...

Jamaica Jazz and Blues FestivalThousands Turn Out to Enjoy the Music Brittany Somerset When reggae band Third World exited the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival stage on Saturday January 30, they brought the curtains down on the biggest staging of the e ...

S.M.V. – Thunder Heads Up – 2008Matt Robinson Despte the title and the imposing (front) cover portrait, this potentially mind-bending bass summit sounds more like SWV than SMV. Sure, the licks are hot, but only for quick spurts. After a s ...

Luciana SouzaTide Verve – 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz On Tide, Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza delivers a superb set of seven original songs on which she collaborates with such musical luminaries as guitarists Romero Lubambo, Larry Koonse, hus ...

Jason MilesTo Grover with Love Koch – 2008 Producer and keyboardist Jason Miles recently released his second tribute to jazz and soul saxophonist Grover Washington. “2 Grover With Love”, the highly anticipated follow up to 2000’ ...

John McLaughlinTo the One Abstract Logix – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz In his liner notes, McLaughlin talks about the sources of inspiration behind his new recording for Abstract Logix called TO THE ONE.  His perception of John Coltrane’ ...

Freihofers Saratoga Jazz FestivalTops Last Years Attendance SPAC Saratoga Springs, NY (July 1, 2009) – With a strong artist lineup that included performances by  Patti LaBelle, George Benson and Bettye LaVette, SPAC’s 2009 FreihoferR ...

Jazz Albums of 1996 As chosen by our Jazz Editor Herbie Hancock – The New Standard – Verve Conrad Herwig – The Latin Side Of John Coltrane – Astor Place Claire Martin – The Waiting Game – Honest Jo ...

Reasons to Listen to Jazz. Music, soothes the savage beast…and Jazz does it best Jazz is the music of the soul For the intricate harmonies and improvisations Jazz sounds better It helps me sleep It reminds me of college My spouse  ...

Mike ArroyoTransition Mike Arroyo – 2009 Dedicated to one of Puerto Rico’s master guitarists, Maximo Torres, who performs on his own “Recuerdos de HumacaIn, the new Mike Arroyo CD is culminating his path not only musicially but also  ...

Dan MorettiTres Muse Foundation Jazz – 2009 Veteran tenor-saxophonist Dan Moretti has released Tres Muse, a stirring set of trio performances embodies his hardest-swinging set yet. Teamed with electric bassist Marty Ballou and drummer Marty Rich ...

Lutalo (Sweet Lu) OlutosinTribute to Greatness 2010 – SESAC Lutalo Olutosin [pronounced O-la-TO-sin] was born in East Chicago, Indiana. Raised during early life in Gary, Indiana, Lutalo (Lu) moved to the South East in the mid 1970’s. Influ ...

Tia FullerDecisive Steps Mack Avenue – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz Multi-instrumentalist Tia Fuller takes several DECISIVE STEPS on her second offering for Mack Avenue Records. From the start, the compositions included on the recording offer F ...

Kurt EllingDedicated to You Concord – 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz Recorded LIVE in Manhattan as part of Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series, Grammy Award nominee and critically acclaimed vocalist Kurt Elling offers his fans a stunni ...

YellowjacketsNew Morning: The Paris Concert Heads Up – 2009 A performance by the Yellowjackets – purveyors of progressive jazz for nearly three decades – is an experience that has as much to do with sight as it does with sound. Any g ...

The Alex Levin TrioNew York Portraits 2010 – Alex Levin Records Originally from Philadelphia, Alex Levin has performed in Philadelphia and New York as a leader and a sideman for almost two decades. After studying at The New School with teacher  ...

by Matthew Robinson Our roving writer spent some time at the Newport Jazz Festival taking in the music and ambiance so he could report his take on some of the live jazz… Dave Brubeck – Aug. 11, 2007 While he may be a  ...

Nick Colionne – No Limits Koch – 2008Jonathan Widran The title of Nick Colionne’s highly anticipated KOCH Records debut says it all about the charismatic Chicago-based guitarist’s rich, sizzling mix of jazz, R&B, funk, blu ...

Jeff Lorber FusionNow is the TIme Heads Up – 2010 By the late 1970s, keyboardist and composer Jeff Lorber had become a prominent figure in the new movement known as jazz fusion – a marriage of traditional jazz with elements of rock, R& ...

Sir James GalwayO’Reilly Street RCA – 2008 Sir James Galway, revered as one of the world’s greatest flute players, and the two-time Grammy�-nominated Cuban music group, Tiempo Libre, offer an exuberant Afro-Cuban take on music from ...

Meklit HaderoOn A Day Like This… Porto Franco – 2010 If Joni Mitchell were East African and met Nina Simone for tea in San Francisco’s Mission District, she might end up sounding like Meklit Hadero. Meklit is a true modern global ar ...

Brandon BurrowsOn The Move Brandon Burrows – 2009 Despite being only 14 years-old, Brandon Burrows is going places.  The soulful pop crooner recently released his debut disc, On The Move.  The title track has received radio spins across the na ...

The LoudhornsOne For Maynard The Loudhorns – 2009 The Loudhorns live up to their name. Comprised of Nashville’s top studio brass players – players who have shared the stage and recording studio with superstars such as Elton John, P ...

Carol Morgan TrioOpening Blue Bamboo – 2010 Opening, a new release from the Carol Morgan Trio, is the result of a booking at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola last January. Todd Barkan, of Jazz at Lincoln Center, had asked Carol to bring her group t ...

Oliver ManchonOrchestre de Chambre Miniature ObliqueSound – 2010 Olivier Manchon‘s Orchestre de Chambre Miniature – Volume 1 evokes the fantastic. Just imagine a masquerade wherein a violin, a viola, a cello and a bass dance in a circ ...

The James Moody and Hank Jones QuartetOur Delight IPO Recordings – 2008Sounds of Timeless Jazz Our Delight is a major release in the world of jazz, especially when you consider the quartet of musicians involved – James Moody on saxophone, ...

Tricia ObrienOut of a Dream Trisha OBrien – 2010 Vocalist Trisha O’Brien’s her new CD, Out Of A Dream, features her thoughtful interpretations of 14 love songs, revealing a confident presence as a musical storyteller. She is accompan ...

DESCRIPTIONThe Sharp OZ-750PC Personal Information Electronic Organizer combines small size and multifunction utility. New features include the ability to download and install new add-on software applications from the box and www.mywizard.com. and a ne ...

...  rock, funk, to jazz. After graduating high school with a 93% average, as well as many performance, composition, and academic awards. Now ...

Stephano Battaglia and Michele RabbiaPastorale ECM – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz Stephano Battaglia is an expert improviser, using many strategies and finding ideas within ideas. As he alters and changes notes here with his fellow improviser an ...

Dave Holland OctetPathways Dare 2 Records – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz Dave Holland returned to one of his favorite New York jazz clubs – the legendary Birdland – to record PATHWAYS with his incredible new octet. The Dave Holland O ...

There Was Music In The AirThe Portland Jazz Festival February 2-8, 2004 – Portland, Oregon By S.H. Watkins and John Thompson Mel Brown was playing with his regular Thursday night band as we walked into Jimmy Maks about 7:30. Sitting down ...

...  mission while maintaining an industry low overhead of 8%, meaning that 92 cents of each dollar goes to the direct care and treatment ...

Vince GuaraldiPeanuts Portraits Concord – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz This vital collection of musical themes written for Charles Schultz’s animated characters is both entertaining and especially nostalgic for those who grew up with the c ...

Patti LabellePerforms Two Sold Out Valentine’s Day Concerts Brittany Somerset and Gerry Hopkins In response to what has been characterized as “Patti-fever,” the cultural connoisseurs of Jammins Entertainment, assisted by Gmax Enterpr ...

Art TatumPiano Starts Here Zenphe – 2008Sounds of Timeless Jazz Although Art Tatum stands out as a much-lauded master of Harlem stride piano and boogie Woogie, he remains a complex and controversial figure because many jazz historians could not ...

John ScofieldPiety Street Emarcy / Pgd – 2009 “I’m just shifting the balances for this one,” he says. I’ve always wanted to record and tour a blues project. That’s where I started as a guitarist and I’m feeli ...

HiromiPlace To Be Concord – 2010 If all the world is indeed a stage, pianist-composer Hiromi Uehara has played on just about every corner of it. Since the beginning of the decade, she has supported her impressive body of studio work with an ambi ...

Jacques LoussierPlays Bach Telarc – 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz This is music you should hear! With each release in Jacques Loussier’s Plays Bach Trio series, his fans have found that each recording is more astounding than its predecessor ...

Richard BlakePlays Midtown at Midnight Richard Blake – 2010 This is Blake’s second CD, a follow-up to Richard Blake Plays Heartache Guitar, a collection of love songs played completely alone on guitar. Richard Blake Plays Midtown at Midnig ...

Marcus JohnsonPoetically Justified Three Keys – 2009Ray Redmond Hang on folks… some say that smooth jazz may be ailing, but Marcus Johnson‘s new release Poetically Justified definitely gives it a hearty shot in the arm. The release  ...

Reggie Pittmann & Loren DanielsPoint A to Point A 2010 – The Reggie Pittman/Loren Daniels Quartet Loren Daniels – pianist, vocalist, composer, lyricist Loren studied music at Hofstra University and Berklee College of Music before gradu ...

Christopher LehmanPopjazzic EM&M – 2009 PopJazzic is Christopher Lehman’s first solo release of his original material on one recording. PopJazzic features two original vocals and eight original instrumentals, PopJazzic music is contem ...

Anne WalshPretty World May 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz Anne Walsh sings a lovely set of jazz standards, Brazilian jazz, and original songs on her latest release titled PRETTY WORLD. Produced by her husband, Thomas Zink, the dynamic song stylist gives ...

Danilo PerezProvidencia Mack Avenue – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz Danilo Perez’s highly anticipated debut for Mack Avenue Records is absolutely stunning. Providencia crosses streams of jazz, classical and Latin American folk music on 11 ...

Gabriel Alegr�a & The Afro-Peruvian Sextet Pucusana Saponegro Records – August 2010 The growling clarion call evokes old jazz, Louis Armstrong, and New Orleans, but the cries in Spanish, the percussion, and the gentle, looping groove takes  ...

Gary Burton, Steve Swallow, Pat Metheny, Antonio SanchezQuartet Live! Concord – 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz Gary Burton, Steve Swallow, Pat Metheny and Antonio Sanchez are the great musicians behind QUARTET LIVE!  Recorded “live” a ...

...  catches your ear, keeps your attention, and puts out 150% of the frequency with little or no sweat. The music flows like honey while ...

Tony DesareRadio Show Telarc – 2009 Radio Show embraces a variety of eras in American popular music, all tied together by the voices of radio announcers who set the tone for each individual track and the recording as a whole. Most prominent and  ...

Ragabop TrioRagabop Trio Abstract Logix – 2010Sounds of Timeless Jazz Drummer Steve Smith, saxophonist George Brooks and guitarist Prasanna are the Ragabop Trio. Their self-titled debut recording for Abstract Logix is comprised of original song ...

Tobin MuellerRain Bather Tobin Mueller – 2008 Combining outstanding players in a variety of settings, RAIN BATHER captures fabulous performances on this extra long play CD. A breadth of styles find play within these totally hip arrangements of  ...

John SteinRaising The Roof Whaling City – 2009 One of the hallmarks of a great jazz artist is versatility. Guitarist and bandleader John Stein is as agile and colorful as it gets, and he simply outdoes himself with each passing effort. Raising T ...

Roberto BadoglioRe-Evaluating-Time Erino Pasini, Wood Tronics Bass Guitars Four decades after Fusion’s burst into the seventies, it is spontaneous to wonder what’s left of the amazing musical virtues that Fusion brought up. The confusing  ...

Nic Harcourt – Music LustRecommended Listening for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason Sasquatch BooksMatt Robinson As one of the nation’s most trusted and respected musical taste makers, Australian import Nic Harcourt of public radio station&# ...

Michael C. LewisReflection Michael C. Lewis – 2010 In his new CD Reflection Lewis worked with Grammy Winning Engineer Jeff Jones (best contemporary blues record) and Wendell Brooks. He has created an intimate and intense experience where the lis ...

Anson WrightUkiah’s Lullaby Saphu – 2009 With unerring musical devotion, Ukiah’s Lullaby elicits in the listener the absorption of a parent watching a small child at play, and offers back the experience of innocent trust that all is  ...

Babatunde LeaUmbo Weti: A Tribute to Leon Thomas Motema Music – 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz This CD exudes the post-bop spirituality of jazz and the social consciousness of  a bygone era that found music lovers basking in the peace and love mo ...

Andy Narell & RelatorUniversity of Calypso Heads Up – 2009 Featuring Dario Eskenazi, Pedro Martinez, Gregory Jones, Mark Walker, and Special Guest Paquito D’Rivera With Andy Narell-who’s been playing calypso music from Trinidad s ...

Mosaic – Unsaid, Undone Snack Records – 2008 Mosaic is an ensemble/collective dedicated to forging an original voice in Jazz. Together they perform an eclectic range of styles to create a music that’s unique and experimental yet rema ...

Fernandez & WrightUnsung 2009 – New Market Music This collaboration was no accident. After performing one song together at a charity event in Melbourne Australia in 2004, Vanessa Fernandez and Steve Wright began a musical journey which would ...

Rich JohnsonUp the Turret Mil Loyal Label – 2008 Northern Minnesota born trumpeter Rich Johnson explores a mix of trumpet, acoustic guitar and piano with laptop glitch, sampling, and musique concrete. Blending his many influences-including Bob D ...

Spencer DayVagabond Concord – 2009 A slight departure from his previous releases, primarily standards, Vagabond, an album that Day considers “a marked departure” from his previous work. “I have very eclectic tastes, and they&# ...

Tony MarcusVanishing Point Tuxedo Records Vanishing Point, the new CD of original songs from California composer and guitarist Tony Marcus, spans many musical pathways, but offers a singular message of jazz flavorings. “That Summer” is a d ...

EldarVirtue Sony – 2009Ray Redmond Virtue, the new recording from jazz keyboard virtuoso Eldar affirms his position as one of the young lions of contemporary jazz and is a fitting follow-up to his 2008 Grammy-nominated album, re-imagination. A ...

Shawn CostantinoWaltz for Anne 2010 – Shawn Costantino Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1978, Shawn took to music at a very young age. As a student, Shawn performed at various district and all state festivals, but his primary inspirations toward ...

Mose AllisonWay of the World Anti – 2010Matthew Robinson From the cerebral reconstruction of the Blues classic “My Babe”  called “My Brain” to the bouncy anti-apology “I Know You Didn’t Mean It,” the b ...

Denise DonatelliWhat Lies Within Savant – 2008Sounds of Timeless Jazz Geoffrey Keezer produced and arranged this wonderful recording that feature the multi-talented woodwind artist Bob Sheppard on saxophone, as well as Marvin “Smitty̶ ...

Kim PensylWhen Katie Smiles Penton – 2008 Blessed with a bountiful life of jazz, music, love, family and education, pianist Kim Pensyl united his passions in a celebration of intimately inspired melodies and robust rhythm tracks on his fourteent ...

Why Do YOUNeed A Website?By Stephen H. Watkins, Sr. Exposure. If there is one word that sums up the primary reason to have a website, it has to be exposure. The Internet community is growing at a phenomenal rate. The number or  ...

Willie ‘The Lion’ SmithWillie the Lion – DVD Koch Vision – 2004S. H. Watkins, Sr. Willie the Lion takes you into the life and times of one of the most brilliant and enigmatic pianists in the history of jazz. One of the origina ...

Esperanza SpaldingWins Grammy For Best New Artist February 2011 – S. H. Watkins, Sr. Portland, OR Bassist Esperanza Spalding won the Grammy for Best New Artist at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards held  Feb. 13th, 2011 at the Staples Center in L.A. ...

John PizzarelliWith a Song in my Heart Telarc – 2008 With a Song in My Heart explores the catalog of Richard Rodgers.Guitarist-vocalist John Pizzarelli was still in his late teens when composer Richard Rodgers died in December 1979, but the vete ...

Kathryn SmithWith Every Breath I Take Kathryn Smith Music – 2010 With Every Breath I Take signals the reemergence of a valuable addition to the vocal jazz genre. Though this is Smith’s debut CD, it is not therecording of a freshman artist, ...

Lua Hadar – with TWIST Lua Hadar – 2009Ray Redmond This CD caught me off guard. I was expecting… just more female vocals (I hear a LOT of them.) I got a real vocalist with some long range and power, and that certain secret ingredie ...

Anna Maria FlecheroWithin the Fourteenth Hour Anna Maria Flechero – 2008 This CD features well-known pop and jazz standards and one original by Anna Maria. Even though this CD touches on the well-known, Anna Maria masterfully articulates each st ...

Nat AdderlyWork Song [Keepnews Collection]Concord Jazz – 2008 Orrin’s commentary (from his original liner notes): “There are two very good reasons why this album, which at this writing is just a couple of years short of being a half ...

Christian ScottYesterday You Said Tomorrow Concord – 2010 Yesterday You Said Tomorrow references a saying that Scott’s grandfather would use to emphasize the importance of recognizing the work at hand and making the most of the available t ...

Kenny and LeahYou and the Night and the Music K&L – 2009 You and the Night and the Music pays homage to the great American jazz standards. With Leah’s sensuous and playful vocals and Kenny’s polished, fluid jazz saxophone listene ...

James ZollarZollar Systems JZAZ – 2009 The Zollar Systems CD contains a wide range of music for the musical palate, from swing, bebop and funk to avant-garde to bossa novas to sweet ballads. Add in soaring vocals on select tracks in different la ...

...  America. It has become a major tourist attraction, with 23% of its audience coming from out of state. It has a $90M economic impact on ...  as philanthropist Gretchen Valade will match any gift by 50% to help sustain the festival as a free event. “We are extremely ...

...  an inadequate U.S. Federal levy system leaving 80% of the city of New Orleans under water. Among the over four-thousand ...

Donn BynumDo You Feel Me? Donn Bynum – 2008Ray Redmond You have heard saxophonist Donn Bynum playing with legends like the Commodores, Bootsy Collins, Brothers Johnson and more. His recent solo release Do You Feel Me is a dynamic testament to t ...

Alexander ZonjicDoin’ The D Heads Up – 2009 It isn’t hard to see why some jazz listeners might approach this release with a little bit of trepidation.. Alexander Zonjic is a smooth jazz artist, and one of the musicians featured on th ...

Lawrence LeboDon’t Call Her Larry, Vol 3: American Roots On the Air Records – 2010 In the age of the trilogy, Lebo’s  Don’t Call Her Larry, Vol. 3: American Roots continues to explore the depths of American Roots music. She re ...

Spyro GyraDown The Wire Heads Up – 2009Concord Music Group “Life is being on the wire, everything else is just waiting.” – Karl WallendaThe patriarch of the famous aerialist family certainly knew what he was talking about afte ...

MJ Territo Down With Love 2010 – MJ TerritoThe path may have been deliciously circuitous, but my lifelong love of and involvement in jazz has led me to a great point-working as a jazz singer and releasing my first CD. From earliest childhood, I s ...

Cynthia ScottDream for One Bright World April 2009Sounds of Timeless Jazz Sweet, soulful, sassy and soothing are but a few ways to describe Cynthia Scott’s latest release titled DREAM FOR ONE BRIGHT WORLD. The celebrated vocalist whose vocal ar ...

Chick Corea/HiromiDuet Concord – 2008 Chick Corea is not only a highly imaginative and prolific recording artist, but the world-renowned pianist also loves to walk the tight wire without a net. His latest project of jazz daring-so is Duet, a two ...

DMS – Live in PortlandDuke – Miller – Sanborn August 13, 2011 – Roseland TheaterS. H. Watkins, Sr. Performing under the moniker DMS, George Duke, Marcus Miller and David Sanborn are bringing their masterful blend of talent, sk ...

George DukeDukey Treats Heads Up – 2008 Veteran keyboardist and producer George Duke remembers a time when funk was a powerful force – not just in popular music but in social discourse. Frequently with a measure of wit and irony, and often  ...

The Roy Hargrove QuintetEarfood Sounds of Timeless Jazz Sound nutrition makes for a long life. That saying can be interpreted in a number of ways but there’s no mix-up about Roy Hargrove’s emphatic choice of musical ingredients on EARFOOD ...

David BenoitEarthGlow Heads Up – 2010 In October 2008, David Benoit took a much needed breather from the frenetic pace of life in Los Angeles and headed up to the mountains near Saratoga to become an artist in residence at Villa Montalvo. Findi ...

Timothy CooperEast Wind New Piano Age Music – 2008 The East Wind CD contains nearly an hour of music and 30 selections (21 of them under two-minutes in length). The shortest piece, the 42-second “Lark on a Limb,” is light and delicat ...