Piano player Satoko Fujii has defied conventions throughout her career as she has sought to find her own voice among the wide variety of musical influences she has received--and sought out. Having studied classical piano throughout her childhood, Fujii finally reached the point in her development where she found it most important to become introspective and discover, first, her true identity, and then the musical expression of her self. Once she developed confidence in her musical beliefs, she r …

Every once in a while, it’s interesting, and gratifying, to interview an artist who seems to be on the verge of discovery by the larger listening public. Such a person is Kaïssa Doumbé. Since she is known professionally and to her devoted listeners as Kaïssa, many people don’t even know her last name. Furthermore, American audiences may not even be able to understand the words she sings. But they do know that she reaches out to embrace universal topics that instinctively touch her them with …

Nnenna Freelon’s profile has been on the rise among jazz listeners, as well as among the general listening public. Part of the reason may lie in the integrity that she projects through her music and her choice of songs. Another part of her growing popularity may lie in her interest in the universal themes all people share, such as spirituality, mutual respect and human growth, both physical and emotional. In addition, Freelon’s appearance with Take 6 during the 2001 Grammy Awards’ program ge …

Bill Charlap has been quietly and conscientiously paying his dues for years, accompanying the likes of Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Carol Sloane, Tony Bennett and Gerry Mulligan. With an unpretentious, swinging style that combines intricate delicacies with personalized interpretation, Charlap has shown respect for the origins of the materials he plays--that of the composers themselves. That makes sense when you consider that Charlap’s father was a composer himself. Moose Charlap wrote the scores …

Stacey Kent’s ability to get into the heart of a song-and into the hearts of her listeners is slowly becoming evident, not only among jazz enthusiasts, but also among the general listening public. Defying the sometimes stultifying need to categorize music, Kent instead places the emphasis of her music upon its ultimate objective: touching a place of inexpressible meaning within her listeners’ consciousness. Ironically, Stacey Kent found her initial success in England, even though she grew up …