In speaking with guitarist/composer/educator Bill Hart, I found a sturdy foundation with cemented principles, driven frequently by his deep passions. Strings often...

It seems every project Jackson becomes involved with becomes a top hit, including his work on Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, along with Jackson’s own #1 hit single with his version of Motown’s “It’s A Shame,” and his own previous album, Still...

As with their previous album, 2007’s On the Other Side, the Tierney...

One would think that saxophonist Darren Rahn would need a rolodex just to keep account of all of the hats that he has worn playing the roles of solo artist, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, music programmer, and his latest addition, a member of Nu Groove Records smooth R&B/soul group, De’Nate’, fronted by keyboardist/programmer Nate Harasim and the beautiful siren Deborah...

Aspiring artists can take music lessons and they can learn from other musicians, but nothing can prepare them to be live performers, which is what makes saxophonist Seamus Blake special. Normally, musicians build their reputations based on their recorded works, but Blake’s reputation is solidly built on his live performances, which captured the attention of John Scofield early in...

There is only one avenue that someone with jazz singer Marge Notte’s natural born gifts can pursue. With a face that radiates warmth as brightly as actress Marisa Tomei and a register that permeates of passion in every cell so emblematic of Eydie Gorme, Margie Notte has no choice but to seek a life in show biz. Her debut...

At a young age, David Boswell saw the potential that the guitar has to act as a tool to channel his thoughts and moods into melodic patterns and sonic forms. Effortlessly, his energy impacted the tides that moved around him, and affected people in ways that other artists music had affected him as a youth. He discloses, “I got...

It seems every project Jackson becomes involved with becomes a top hit, including his work on Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, along with Jackson’s own #1 hit single with his version of Motown’s “It’s A Shame,” and his own previous album, Still...

Composer Al Conti took his experiences in time and...

Jazz described as music beginning in the 20th century and subsequently developing through various increasingly complex styles, generally marked by intricate, propulsive rhythms, a polyphonic ensemble playing, improvisatory, virtuosic solos, melodic freedom, and a harmonic idiom ranging from simple diatonicism through chromaticism to atonality.  With a clearly open description of meaning why are there so many industry professionals using...

With a long list of credentials to validate their considerable talent, Incognito has retained a massive fan base from their "not-to-be-missed" live shows. For Bluey, it’s a chance to get close to his audience. It’s not about playing the tune just to get audience applause. It’s about communicating, making sure people get it. It’s knowing that everyone shares a...

Jazz is the ideal model of genetic evolution.  New individuals express similar traits to their ancestors.  Why shouldn’t they?  After all they are born of the same species, same DNA, same gene pool, but when the traits are blended within every new generation, something truly unique is expressed.   There are similarities, likenesses in expression, a familiarity in the voice,...

It is impossible not to like Frank Macchia. The sax man could not grate anyone the wrong way even if he tried, which may explain why when he asked five other world renown saxophone players to join him on the recording of his latest album, Saxolollapalooza, none of them expressed any hesitation about coming on board for the project....

For jazz guitarist Steve Herberman, playing music isn’t about copying the masters, but learning from them and developing one’s own style of creative expression. Throughout his teaching career, he has encouraged students to familiarize themselves with the roots of jazz, to respect its masters, and to learn from its large repertoire based in American, Brazilian and World cultures. Jazz...

JazzReview:  Your group is very busy.  You have been featured weekly...

Deborah Latz’s new album Lifeline opens her up more personally in front of audiences than ever before.  The depth of her vocals and the mood of the music reel audiences into her life in a way that her past experiences as a stage actress/singer and her training, which included Afro/Haitian classes with Madonna in attendance, never gave her the...

Instead of the traditional hard CD format, it is primarily a digital release that serves multiple purposes. First, it gets Burns’ music, a rich blend of jazz genres, out into the world. The digital format, however, serves to cut down on the...

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