Maybe something that you have often asked yourself is "What is neo-soul and nu-jazz," buzz words that seem to come up often now-a-days? These are terms that music writers like myself use to describe a new generation of soul and jazz artists, similarly to the way writers back in the mid-’80s called Bobby Brown the voice of new-jack FM radio. Singer/songwriter Cynthia Layne is an R&B/soul artist who believes that artists are not separated by generation gaps, because whether they s …

Chris Geith (pronounced "guy-t") is one of the lucky few who actually knew what he wanted to do with the rest of his life from the moment he was able to climb up on a piano stool and sit beside his father. He would watch his father move his nimble fingers across the black and white keys of the piano with agility and total awareness of where those fingers needed to be to make beautiful sounds. Knowing how to make beautiful sounds with the piano gave meaning to life in young Geith‘s eyes. …

Keyboardist Jayson Tipp is absolutely elated to be playing with his bandmates from Under The Lake, when last they played was for their sophomore album Up For Air in 1996. Though the band members have changed since Under The Lake was originally formed in the early ‘90s with the release of their debut album Dive In from 1994, the current line-up have a chemistry that works like magic: Tipp on keyboards, Nathan Brown on bass, Quintin Gerard W. on saxophone and flute, D …

Atlanta, Georgia might be known for being the home of the major league baseball team, The Braves, but bravery does not only run in the veins of the city’s sports teams. It is also found in Atlanta's denizen, Dee Lucas, who began playing the saxophone at the ripe age of 28 and bravely took steps to be active in contemporary smooth jazz music. He highlights, "I am considered a self-taught musician. Once I purchased my first sax at the age 28, I began to see …

A bandleader, versatile keyboardist, judicial negotiator, and devoted family man all describe Ray Chew equally. As the Music Director for NBC’s TV show The Singing Bee, Chew balances these duties with his numerous other projects that include being the Music Director for NBC’s TV series Showtime At the Apollo and managing Chew Entertainment Production alongside with his wife Vivian. "My wife and partner Vivian Scott Chew are veterans of the business with the understa …