One wonders if Jimi Hendrix had the blues students of today in mind when he said, "Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel." However, when the self-invented wild child of blues, Debbie Davies, hits the stage, it all makes sense! From my first "plug-n-play" of Davies in my studio at a small stick in New England, Davies' manipulation and passion of the strings ignited the station populace. The Duchess of Blues was loose and out of control. Every lick had fever pitch. It was the blu …

As one journey’s down the ivory keys of a piano one stroke at a time, each note is an attitude, however, when harmonies are in union with others they become a relationship soon to develop a story, the author is the musician and the beneficiary is the fan. Simple concept, but not so simple to orchestrate So let me familiarize you with one of jazz’s grand ivory authors Ms. Pamela Hines! From the cunningly complex arrangement of "Return" to the ever-evolving emotions of "Very" this unclas …

Taeko Fukao, a name widely known now, but in the very near future, artiste Taeko the talent, will be synonymous with harmonic ingenuity and inventive musicality. Taeko has unearthed emotional jazz both in performance and concept. Talents are hidden beneath this Japanese born musical philosopher with a range that is refreshingly crisp. Taeko also has a gift of putting fear aside and acting on logic and direction. Asked if she found scatting difficult as many do, Taeko just expressed it as "n …

In the depths of the creative atmosphere that comforts us musically, a fresh resonance with a spirit so animated and enchanting (that cataloging is an exercise in futility) has emerged. The sound is that of Canadian, Marcome’, (Mar-ko-may), a multi-artistic phenomenon that will, I assure, change the way you perceive composition and performance along your journey through musical exploration. Marcomé first emerged on the scene in 1995 and within a few months, engaged the World Music popu …

Jazz, in all its forms, is an art divinely created by a free spirit! An artist who" feels" from all directions, not just a specific occurrence, thereby evolving that process into an expressive sculpture mounted on sound. Along the way breaking down barriers and rules of which need not apply, for that spirit thrives and creates from within by one’s own manual! This is vocalist and pianist Melani Skybell. Skybell’s delivery and insight offers a unique exploit into her world of jazz inter …