Woodwind instrumentalist, Mark Hollingsworth has one of the most outrageous and thrilling journeys that you may ever read about as narrated by him. Hollingsworth goes into depth about how he came into his own musicality after being a studio musician for a litany of recording artists from rock ‘n’ roll’s Alice Cooper and U2 to smooth crooners like Tom Jones and Luther Vandross. Hollingsworth latest solo album Chasing The Sun is the follow up to his debut album On Th …

The name "Shilts" is synonymous in jazz circles with saxophonist Paul Weimar, whose work as a member of the British jazz-funk ensemble, Down To The Bone is still associated with him today. And maybe that is for a good reason since on some of the Spirit Cruises in 2008, Shilts reunited with his band mates from Down To The Bone to play a handful of shows. One of those shows gave Shilts the opportunity to indulge the audience in one of his own compositions which he titled, "Back on the Hudson." The …

One would think that saxophonist Darren Rahn would need a rolodex just to keep account of all of the hats that he has worn playing the roles of solo artist, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, music programmer, and his latest addition, a member of Nu Groove Records smooth R&B/soul group, De’Nate’, fronted by keyboardist/programmer Nate Harasim and the beautiful siren Deborah Connors on lead vocals. Rahn stepped forward as a solo artist in 2007 with the release of his debut record, …

Free jazz saxophonist Frank Gratkowski portrays himself as an improvisational musician whose best material comes out when he is most vulnerable, performing live and being on the spot searching inside himself and feeling his way around the chords on his saxophone. "Actually most of my recordings are live recordings," he remarks, "and I think I'm more open in a live situation than in the studio. Solo music, for example, I can’t do in the studio at all. I need an audience to focus and tr …

The six-man and one-woman contemporary jazz/world music ensemble Airborne, who call the heart of New Haven, Connecticut their home, are setting course for a tour in support of their latest release Turbulence from Tilt Records. Formed in 1988, Airborne is comprised of seven musicians who respect each others individuality and musical diversity which ranges from Latin, African, and Caribbean influences to R&B, soul, Gospel, and smooth jazz palates. Core members Thomas Borino o …