Maintaining a big band based in New York for nearly 25 years, arranger/saxophonist Bob Mintzer is also a member of the Yellowjackets, teaches music, writes books on music and gives back to his community through music. Mintzer has played and written for Buddy Rich, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Art Blakey, Sam Jones and Jaco Pastorius, as well as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri and the New York Philharmonic. Among his session work, Mintzer has performed with James Taylor, Queen, Steve Winwood and …

As with every holiday season from years gone by, one thinks they have had their fill of the holiday music scene. The year 2004 has brought changes to that mindset; a stunning and momentous rhythmic composition was produced, which has revitalized the parade of holiday melodies. Hiroshima allows us to embrace their new creation, as ""Spirit of the Season"" has been left under all our trees to adopt, adding a new, soon to be, traditional piece for holiday seasons to come. In September, Heads Up …

Sensually laced keyboards. Emotionally driven arrangements. Intellectually intense compositions, but still not tender justice to Brooklyn native pianist Leslie Pintchik. In the fall of 2004, Ambient Records ignited the fire of jazz enthusiasts with Ms. Pintchik’s So Glad To Be Here, an imaginative endeavor that allows the listener to feel the gentleness and compassion of the artist’s unique talent. This venture is a journey of sorts as you enter the mystical ambiance of the keyboa …

Uplifting and vibrant is this "Oasis" of rhythmic jazz. Mike Longo and Consolidated Artists Productions have put forth another extraordinary piece of musical delights to add to the jazz culture. Released in 2004, Longo and the New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble capture the many faces, moods, and inner emotions of what jazz should be to the listener with such creations as The Godfather, Bag of Bones, and Lazy Afternoon. Longo is not a complex man but one with such insight and pure intensity, …

Jazz is very much like a tree, with numerous branches reaching out, allowing it to finally define it’s identity. However, without that artiste to water and nurture it, the identity is lost and it’s existence becomes meaningless. Adam Rafferty is one of those few artistes’ who waters and nurtures growth into jazz every time he touches a string, or composes a mood a jazz guitarist/composer who interacts personally with every note and melody played within each eclectic style he chooses to liberate. …