People generally have a preconceived idea about how classic jazz music should sound, relying on reference points like the soft timbres of Peggy Lee, the swift scat shuffles of Ella Fitzgerald, or the refined grooves of Duke Ellington, but singer/pianist/composer Daniela Schächter plays classic jazz without adhering to anyone else’s rules but her own. Schächter personalizes jazz music to fit her own voicing and make-up. She admits, "I wasn’t concerned" about making music that appea …

It’s common for aspiring artists to hear that they could be an international star from agents and people in the press, but in the case of singer/ guitarist/ arranger/ teacher Martha J, those folks are not just weaving tall-tales. Martha J has the goods and the chops to become much more than a local attraction in her native land of Milan, Italy. The lass has a set of pipes that can appeal to the denizens of Australia’s outback just as assuredly as she can reel in crowds for a conce …

Jazz music is like catnip to Irene Atman, when she rubs her vocals all around its creamy lathers and emits sensual purrs as if the music is an aphrodisiac that she cannot resist. Jazz calls to Atman like bees swarm to honey, barnacles attach to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, or lightning strikes are drawn to metal. She admits that her attraction to jazz music stems from, "The rhythm, the harmonics and the freedom to make up your own ideas ..and playing with people doing the same thing. …

Composer/keyboardist/saxophonist/singer/producer Jason Peterson ("JP") DeLaire comes from a very musical family whose roots are firmly planted in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His family is to Minneapolis-soul what the Rockefeller’s are to the financial world, the Barrymore’s to the acting world, and the Kennedy’s to the world of politics. His uncle, Paul Peterson, was a member of the dance-funk group, The Time and played in Prince’s 1985 movie, Purple Rain. DeLaire shares about h …

Bassist, composer, producer, arranger, and bandleader Jon Burr has learned to not only be an astute musician, but also to be an astute diplomat when it comes to dealing with other musicians, and bringing out the best from them. His latest release is a CD/DVD set entitled Just Can’t Wait that features live footage of him on the upright bass, performing with his band for a special show at the Birdland in New York City. Accompanying Burr on the recording are vocalists Hilary K …