When jazzy sisters meet to spend some time together, the result can be found in the highly intelligent and welcoming "The Mosaic Project", a compilation from Boston drummer Terri Lyne Carrington.

Frank Carlberg's "Tivoli Trio" is one of those rare piano trio beasts that makes an immediate impression. It helps that Carlberg himself is a fascinating composer who has an immediately recognizable touch on the keys. He's also one of those players who's impossible to pigeonhole. His precise, lively piano playing seems informed by classical music, but he's a jazz dude through and through. There's no gimmick here – no pop covers and no bad boy posturing. Even within the jazz realm, Carlberg's style is idiosyncratic – he's clearly not a Chick / Herbie / McCoy / Bill Evans acolyte. Nor is he a Cecil Taylor-esque freebird. Rather, Carlberg seems to come out of a quirky modern jazz / proto-free jazz lineage that would include players such as Richie Beirach, Ran Blake, Steve Kuhn, and Paul Bley.

"Sketches" is Azerbaijan-born pianist Amina Figarova 11th recording as a leader: she's been creating high-quality modern mainstream jazz since the mid-1990s.

A second release from Assaf Kehati is getting great reviews! Flowers and Other Stories is all original materials by the guitarist that recently performed with names such as Billy Hart and Seamus Blake.

Time Together, Franks' First New CD in Five Years, Unites Him With An All-Star Cast of Friends Including Gil Goldstein, Chuck Loeb, Till Bronner, Mike Mainieri, Eric Marienthal, Veronica Nunn & Others

A seamless mixture of familiar favorites and jazz-inspired originals, Herzig celebrates the romantic expanse of modern instrumental music. Gentle in spirit but generous in craftsmanship, the “Come with Me” CD and full-length DVD bridges the gap between entertainment and inspiration.

Centuries ago, long before the advent of radio or recording technology, chamber music was the music for the masses – the music in which people from nearly every segment of society could find meaning and relevance. A decade into the 21st century, Esperanza Spalding – the bassist, vocalist and composer who first appeared on the jazz scene in 2008 – takes a contemporary approach to this once universal form of entertainment with Chamber Music Society, her August 17, 2010, release on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group.Backed by drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and pianist Leo Genovese – and inspired by the classical training of her younger years – Esperanza creates a modern chamber music group that combines the spontaneity and intrigue of improvisation with sweet and angular string trio arrangements. The result is a sound that weaves the innovative elements of jazz, folk and world music into the enduring foundations of classical music.

"His clean, polished guitar playing is in itself a force of nature" Kyrby Raine (Ink 19). With a music career spanning over two decades, guitarist and songwriter, Joel Del Rosario has just about touched every genre of music from: Classical, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Southern Gospel. Classically trained in Viola, Joel studied, performed, as second chair in the San Francisco School of the Arts Orchestra. Though winning several competitions with the renowned SOTA orchestra, he felt the pull to venture into the world of jazz, which began his love affair with the genre, and would later envelop a majority of his music career.

Organizers of the annual Buffalo Music Awards may want to consider renaming its Saxophonist of the Year award the Jack Prybylski Award – in November 2010, Prybylski (pronounced Purr-bill-ski) took home the top honor for the 11th time. "Even though it's on a regional scale, it's very flattering to be nominated by your peers," Prybylski says. And although musicians nominated artists, the general public selected winners.

If you've spent any time at all in a movie theater or in front of a TV set during prime time over the past four decades, chances are good you've encountered Dave Grusin along the way. In addition to a formidable body of work as a jazz recording artist, this pianist, composer, arranger, and winner of 10 Grammys, an Oscar, and has scored some of the most entertaining and enduring films of the past half-century, including The Graduate, Three Days of the Condor, On Golden Pond, Tootsie, The Champ, Milagro Beanfield War, The Firm, and many others. On the small screen, Grusin composed scores and themes for It Takes a Thief, The Bold Ones, Maude, Baretta, St. Elsewhere and other popular TV series.

A serious sculpture of musical superiority molded from the pulse of Dave Grusin's intellect as well as crafted by exceptional precision, opens the music sheets of this new Heads Up project An Evening with Dave Grusin. One of the world's top ivory manipulators in iconic fashion unravels genius into entertainment this one sunset. An Evening with Dave Grusin is a renaissance of unique temperament, from keys to vibraphone...

Born in Jersey City, NJ, and raised in the small towns of Rowland, Marion, and Laurinburg, NC, Bryant Thompson is a spiritual and versatile producer, songwriter, musician and engineer. Bryant operates in excellence and performs each task from the heart.Bryant studied classical piano at Brevard College and studied recording engineering at the Art Institute of Atlanta. He quickly began carving his niche in Atlanta's independent recording community by becoming an apprentice of Marcus Williams, who is a professional drummer, studio owner and the Editor In Chief of Urban Drummer Magazine.

He beckons on the cover, seated at the piano, an imposing figure in a yellow Moroccan shirt and cap. The CD opens to show him grinning and seated at the keys. The liner notes are by the author of the best biography of Thelonious Monk. The recording is a solid set of compositions, all but one written by him and many dating back decades. At 84, Randy is still going strong, after more than a half century of composing and performing. More than 50 CDs and albums in, he still has something to say, as

Returning is the third CD for FMR Records from Bob Gluck. I fully enjoyed his previous effort Something Quiet which came out earlier this year. While the similarities are there, this latest effort in my mind, is a step farther for Gluck. The trio format features Gluck's virtuoso piano work, the tight supportive punctuation of Michael Bisio's bass work and the incredible dynamics of Dean Sharp on drums. This configuration drives the relationships of dynamics and rhythm and the interchange that mu

When Ron Carter writes album notes for another bass player, I take notice. After hearing this album, I think even non-bassists will agree Kenny Davis deserves the praise. Whether soloing or under the top line with well-chosen harmonic support, his articulation is clean, his intonation dead-on, his tone rich and full. Unusual for even a bass-led group, the bowed solo on the heartfelt "Gone too Soon" makes it the date's best track. Davis goes to bluesy plucking on "Before Sunrise," and it's anothe

The Captain Black Big Band, led by pianist Orrin Evans, is a high-intensity, swinging affair featuring a number of top soloists from the jazz scenes of New York and Philadelphia. Recorded during three different live performances in 2010, the group features a rotating cast of thirty-eight musicians over seven tracks. Despite the lack of a cohesive unit, the disc maintains stunning consistency with undeniable spirit and musical drive. From the opening "Art of War," a blistering, boppish piece feat

All Things Must Converge is a memorable listening experience, and the orginal jazz compositions are well-conceived, lively, and enjoyable listening. Al Garcia plays guitars, and other instruments, and these songs are his creation.Al Garcia has a big, lovely talent, and it is much in evidence with this collection. The CD features eight songs. They include "Labyrinth," "The Eternal Cycle," the memorable "Lingua Franca" with its intriguing harmony, "A Distant Mirror," "Two Shakes," "As Luck Would H

Acclaimed vocalist Gretchen Parlato presents an ambitious follow-up to 2009's In a Dream with The Lost and Found, a smorgasbord of vocal jazz styling over a diverse set of tracks. Along with associate producer Robert Glasper, Parlato reaches far and wide with the aid of a first rate band. Pianist Taylor Eigsti, bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Kendrick Scott create ultra-hip grooves while maintaining a sensitive rapport with Parlato's soft-spoken approach. Bassist Alan Hampton—who does a convin

This is Walter Beasley's fifteenth album which was released on October twenty-six of 2010. This album was produced by Chris "Big Dog" Davis and Phil Davis. Walter Beasley is a best-selling contemporary jazz artist of today. He is a recording artist, performer, full professor at Berklee College of Music, performance consultant, and music entrepreneur (founder and CEO of Affable Publishing and Affable Records) who hit number one on the contemporary jazz charts. He plays the soprano/alto saxophone

The Fred Hess Big Band has a winner on its hands with the innovative big band CD collection, Into The Open. The collection shines with its intricate approaches and right-on performances.With the exception of the Jean Bardy/Denny Goodhew song, "See You" (Illuma Soma), all other songs are by composer Fred Hess. There are eight songs with a total playing time of 65:27 minutes. The imaginative song list contains such big band gems as "Sooz Blooz," "Home Bass," "See You" (Illuma Soma), "Norman's Gold

Julian Waterfall Pollack is a keeper. Though in his early 20s, he already has enough technique and imagination to hold attention, and he swings with the best. The opening, "Summertime," demonstrates all of the above. After a slow bluesy statement of the melody, there's a repeat in double-time with insistent single-note harmony in the left hand. Double-time prevails. Runs flash by. The left hand challenges the right in a fugal pattern with cross rhythms. Your foot needs to tap, but may not be abl

Janet Planet has been a jazz musician for over twenty-five years. Words taken from her pres kit, "She is a productive recording artist, performer, teacher and clinician. She has been self-produced and managed for the majority or her career. Jazziz Magazine hailed her as a 'Voice of the New Jazz Culture...amazingly powerful with seemingly limitless expression'." In her biography it states that she has performed with legends such as Jackie and Roy, George Benson, and her mentor Nancy King, and sha

Point of No Return is truly an exceptional journey in jazz listening with its original compositions by pianist Michel Reis. Listening to Michel Reis is akin to listening to a most perfect combination of jazz stylings by such pianists as Danilo Perez, Andre Previn, and Bill Evans, topped by the special creative touch of Michel Reis. Michel Reis has an unique jazz piano sound, and his place in the realm of jazz pianists is assured, as heard in this fine collection. This CD collection will discover

Cote D'Azur is a fascinating collection of jazz music that will light up your listening time with much joy, entertainment, and fun. The musicians are very imaginative in both their solo work and group work.What makes this an outstanding jazz CD is its unusual blend of jazz motifs, world music motifs, and the influence of contemporary French jazz. There are ten great original songs in the collection. Among them are found "Cote D'Azur," Le Calypso," "Bandol," "Sainte Maxime," "Postcard From Cannes

Big City Circus is one of those recordings that defies expectations in more ways than one. Looking at the bass-less trio instrumentation, I assumed this CD was going to be dominated by free-ish or avant-garde type sounds. This turned out not to be the case. Yennoir, best known for his work with Boston's great little big band, The Either/Orchestra, and his trio – while certainly on the quirky side – essentially maintain a reserved, swinging sound throughout “Big City Circus.” Yennoir's sound on t

The seemingly endless parade of very worthwhile jazz recordings by artists I've never heard of continues with the Britton Brothers' debut CD, Uncertain Living. Ben and John Britton play the saxophone and trumpet, respectively, and have made a name for themselves in academic jazz circles while remaining relatively unknown to the jazz-listening public at large. “Uncertain Living” shows that the Brittons and their band are clearly ready for prime time – the playing here is marvelous and the writing

New York-based guitarist Chris Crocco displays flowing improvisational lines with horn-like character. It's not that the Virginia native completely eschews the traditions of jazz guitar, but a thorough listen to his latest disc reveals a forward-thinking approach, void of typical blues riffs, octave slides and other predictable tricks associated with his instrument. Dubbed the Fluid Trio +, Crocco recruits bassist Peter Slavov, drummer Francisco Mela and veterans saxophonist/educator George Garz

Now into his early seventies, Charles Lloyd finds himself fronting one of the hottest jazz quartets currently working the circuit, and with Mirror has produced one of the most highly rated albums of the year.Combining material from several influential sources throughout his career, Lloyd and his band give equal weight and respect on this CD to material from Thelonious Monk, Brian Wilson and Sammy Cahn. There's also a heavy gospel and spiritual influence at work, with some Lloyd originals making

Contemporary jazz saxophone icon Dave Koz has recently released his first CD for the Concord Music Group entitled Hello Tomorrow. Two decades of recording and touring extensively (on many occasions billed as “Dave Koz and Friends”) has helped lay the requisite groundwork for this superb masterpiece. Superlatively and exactingly produced by the renowned duo of Concord Music Group veteran ace producer John Burk and Grammy winner Marcus Miller, Dave follows the doctrine that he conveys in his lin

Nearly twenty years after the death of Stan Getz, we now have the complete recordings he made with Kenny Barron at the Cafe Montmatre in Copenhagen in 1991, shortly before the legendary tenor man succumbed to cancer.Up until now, the 2 disc version of People Time has stood as a wonderful testament to the last great recordings Getz made, but this new 7 disc version now surely relegates that set to the status of a starter to this more generous and satisfying main course.The music is a mixture of s

Australia is a land of beautiful sights, kangaroos, and even some great rock bands like AC/DC, Inxs and Men at Work. But Jazz is not the first word that comes to mind when talking about Australia. Sydney native bassist Mark Costa might change that perception with his album Textures. Textures is a collection of interesting compositions in a Jazz Fusion tradition. All compositions are originals by Mark Costa and like all good jazz music, Mark leave a lot of space to improvisations. "Dedication", i

Contemporary Italian saxophonist Marco Spedaliere’s latest album, Stories, encompasses a wide range of compositional styles from the free-form synth and saxophone tune, “Waiting Tomorrow”, to the 80’s sax homages, “Luoghi Comuni” and “Crypto”. Stories offers a nice glimpse into the contemporary jazz scene of twenty-first century Italy. Backed by a solid showing by bassist Davide Costagliola and pianist Dario Zeno, Spedaliere is able to produce a worthy modern take on the over the top “sax-centri

Queens College Professor Neil K. Friedman Ph.D. was the host to a neighborhood jazz outing for nephew Adam Kassell Hoffman of Londonderry, New Hampshire and college gal friend at Cleopatra’s Needle, 2485 Broadway between 92nd and 93rd Street, New York, NY on March 18, 2005 to introduce The Spirit of Life Ensemble’s world-beat to the youthful neophytes.

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Australia is a land of beautiful sights, kangaroos, and even some great rock bands like AC/DC, Inxs and Men at Work. But Jazz is not the first word that comes to mind wh…

Pressing Forward, by west coast electric bassist Daniel Lucca Parenti, or rather just "D-Lucca," paints a scenic landscape of layered bass and harmonic solitude…

Contemporary Italian saxophonist Marco Spedaliere’s latest album, Stories, encompasses a wide range of compositional styles from the free-form synth and saxopho…

On his new album Core 3.0, Fred Fried take full advantage, harmonically and melodically of his new custom 8-string guitar. This guitar has a low A string below the low E…

Possessing the uniquely elite gift of deeply "feeling" every note he writes and plays, Nils, the multi-talented Munich born guitarist, has yet again given his followers …

Masterful pianist Tom Grant has been a mainstay on the contemporary/smooth jazz scene for roughly three decades, continually delighting and roping in listeners with a mu…

Out Of The Box is the name of the alluring contemporary jazz release on Innervision Records from adroit saxophone artist Jack Prybylski. It proves to be an absorb…

The Innkeeper's Gun, the latest CD released by bassist John Goldsby on the Bass Lion Label with Jacob Duncan on alto saxophone and JasonTiemann on drums is a so…

TP & Company is a memorable jazz excursion for all listeners interested in an enjoyable collection of jazz songs. The playing is remarkably smooth and harmonic,…

Assertive, masculine saxophone/drum interactions coexist alongside pleasant, feminine electric keyboard accompaniment, and acoustic bass and brushes meet backbeats on

On his new album Core 3.0, Fred Fried take full advantage, harmonically and melodically of his new custom 8-string guitar. This guitar has a low A string below the low E an…

A remarkable quartet co-lead by guitarist Dave Stryker and saxophonist/flautist Steve Slagle produces a Keeper worth listening to. The 10-track compilation is t…

In Hi-Fi Stereo is an outstanding salure to the ongoing creative genius of Mindi Abair as a saxophone performer. Her performances are flawless, and the musician…

Mindi Abair fans, mark your calendars. Your favorite sax player is about to drop her latest CD set called "In Hi-Fi Stereo" on May 18th. The CD gives listeners a treat a…

The words coming out of the press offices regarding pianist, composer and film scorer David Benoit’s several last releases have all read the same.They have consistently tru…

Pathways features the Dave Holland Octet, and it in an interesting, creative collecion of songs. Holland has composed most of the music. As a group, they have a…