Funksters Spyro Gyra, whose music has traversed numerous genres and drawn from numerous eclectic musical influences during the course of their almost thirty year career, recorded an excellent Christmas jazz album, A Night Before Christmas, while the cherry trees were blossoming in New York. Joining Spyro Gyra’s regular cast, which consists of Jay Beckenstein (saxophones), Tom Schuman (pianist), Julio Fernandez (guitar), Scott Ambush (bass) and drummer Bonny B., are singer and Tony Award …

Gato Barbieri has recorded over 50 albums, composed the score for one of the most controversial movies of the 20th century, Last Tango in Paris, recorded a smooth jazz classic, Europa and has performed with many of jazz's elite during his five decade career. Even though he has gone through so much in his personal life, saxophonist Gato Barbieri feels stronger today than ever before. After a very productive decade in the 70's with the movie soundtrack and releases on both the Im …

After the duo of Acoustic Alchemy released AArt, a studio album that received high accolades, including a third Grammy nomination, guitarists Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale decided to get back into the studio and get back to basics. Their newest release, Radio Contact helps to get back the synergy that Carmichael and Gilderdale are known for on stage. That synergy is the same that prevailed when Carmichael was paired with late co-founder Nick Webb. Carmichael says, "I still f …

Known to many rock and rollers as "Phantom" of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, keyboardist Danny Federici feels that his new self-titled smooth jazz CD is a return to his roots. Federici is a classically trained musician who moved into rock and roll because it "was a great departure from classical lessons. This is what I really like to do and the kind of music I listen to." Before Springsteen, Federici played keyboards with Joan Armatrading, The BoDeans, Gary US Bonds and Graham Parker. W …

One thing that makes smooth jazz different from all other kinds of music is its diversity. Diversity in fans, performers and instruments makes smooth jazz stand out as a kind of music that embraces every aspect of life. Roberto Perera has been recording with the Paraguayan harp since the early 90's and has been a master at bringing the harp into smooth jazz. His latest release Sensual, continues to show the diverse influences that smooth jazz brings to the listener. Perera brings a Latin …