The staff is friendly and the vibe is perfect for enjoying some of New York's finest jazz musicians, live, Seven days a week. The waitresses escorts customers to tables, which soon fill up with local aficionados as well as tourists from the world over. "This is the home of jazz, the traditional jazz" Announces the emcee, whose smile radiates throughout the club. It's Thursday night and Arlene Talley and her new crew are the featured artists. They play an energetic blend of music …

Though he was a different kind of musician Ray Brown’s type of music signaled that a new kind of musician was beginning to appear. Brown was a scholar and a theorist of music, he wasn’t just a performer, but someone that set no limits on what his music might be. Reviewing the lives of jazzmen, there are certain recurrent features, the instant and early recognition- often almost in infancy-of the music that is to be their destiny. In a recent interview with Brown, I asked the bassist of his e …

He’s not Pres-like or Bird like, not Trane-ish or New-ish. None of the stylish adjectives so commonly use to describe the work of tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson. It’s evident he’s listened to the greats, to Lester Young, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins- to them and all the others he’s enjoyed. But he doesn’t play like them, doesn’t sound like them, Joe Henderson is a master, and like the greats, UNIQUE. Henderson, whose brother is also a saxophonist, first came to prominen …

The first time I heard James Carter, he was performing at Yoshi's for the Eddie Moore festival in August, 1995 with the New York Organ ensemble. The group included Lester Bowie on trumpet, Amina Claudine Myers on organ, Frank Lacy on trombone, Kelvyn Bell on guitar, Don Moye on drums and Carter on all saxophones. Carter's performance was high powered and high energy; although he was the youngest of the group, he appeared to be a well-experienced musician on stage. James Carter c …

There is a new sound of jazz being heard around Florida that is quickly blossoming. That sound emanates from 16 year old Eric Darius. It’s hard to believe such silky sounds come from an artist too young to vote. Darius, a resident of Lutz, Florida attends Blake performing Arts High School where he plays with the Marching Band, a symphony band, and is the first chair with the all-county symphony band. Darius’s influences range from John Coltrane and Charlie Parker to Kenny G and …