It isn’t easy being a standard bearer. That adage is especially true when your peers seem to pass on suddenly. Such is the case with the legendary bandleader Eddie Palmieri. In the past few years the world of Latin Jazz and salsa have lost Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, and most recently Cuban diva Celia Cruz. But Palmieri presses on, earning a Latin Grammy nomination for last year’s La Perfecta II and releasing his new album Ritmo Caliente (both on Concord Picante) this summer.

Sitting down for an interview with a musical icon can be a daunting task. But when that icon is McCoy Tyner, all nervousness melts once he answers the phone and introduces himself. Mr. Tyner’s graciousness and accommodation is even more impressive considering that when this writer phoned him, he had just completed inquiring about some lost luggage from a tour of Italy. I had the chance to talk to Mr. Tyner about his upcoming Telarc release Land of Giants, which sees his working trio ( …

Jazz vocalist, musician, arranger and composer, Karrin Allyson (pronounced Cãr in) is one of those artists who can do it all. She can sing sassy, sensually, belt out a standard or coo a romantic love song. When she is not singing at the front of the stage, Allyson approaches the piano with the confident air, expectation, and professionalism that one has come to associate with other jazz greats, such as Diana Krall and Chick Corea. Allyson, who is fluent in French and sings beautifully in Port …

In the liner notes to his newest release on Telarc Records, My America, Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander expresses his love of his adopted country, "a land where dreams can come true." In the post-September 11th landscape it would be easy to assume the role of a cynic and accuse Alexander of capitalizing on the "don’t-tread-on-me" jingoism that has swept the country in the wake of the attacks. But that’s not Alexander’s intention with My America. "Last January", Alexander explained in a …

Claudia Acuña recently invited everyone to join her for a MAXJAZZ CD release party at Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis from April 23-24, 2004. Recorded mostly in her native Spanish tongue, the songs Luna are vibrant tales of love and life. The clarity of vision and passionate interpretations are simply stunning. Please join us as Claudia Acuña tells JazzReview.com about this new album and her dreams for the future. JazzReview.com: This is your third CD and your MAXJAZZ de …