A while ago I started interviewing and writing about George Russell and I fell in love with his latest album New York N.Y., which was originally released on Decca. The line up of musicians on the album is absolutely incredible so I decided that I would try to speak with as many of the musicians who had played on the album as I could. One of the musicians I was fortunate enough to speak with was Benny Golson. At the time I first spoke withBenny GolsonI wasn’t using a tape recorde …

I first heard Michel Camilo play with his trio at Founder’s Hall, which is located in the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. When the opportunity to interview him presented itself, I was thrilled. As I started doing my research on this pianist/composer, I was awe struck by his accomplishments. There are amazing musicians playing jazz piano today, but Michel does so much more. He plays classical and jazz, he interprets the masters and creates works which have in turn become cl …

Victor Fields sings really, really well with a voice that covers a double range from baritone through tenor, and a very skillfully developed delivery. I put VICTOR, Mr. Fields latest release on Regina Records, on the office CD player and all of my office mates really dug it. They even let me play it again, which isn’t usual for many of the jazz albums that I play. VICTOR is a collection of ten songs with a jazzy, soulful R & B sound. Back in my single days …

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has released a joyous and habit-forming album of South African scapula singing called the LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, which is part of the "Heads Up Africa Series" on the Heads Up International Label. Heads Up International is a division of Telarc International Corp. When LONG WALK TO FREEDOM arrived I first read through the beautiful sixteen-page booklet of notes that accompanies it. There are many pictures of the group and even in a still shot Ladysmit …

John Levy will be awarded the A. B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy for a career of Management at the IAJE Convention at the New York Hilton on January 14, 2006. Natalie Bernard has been referring jazz performers to me for potential interviews, internet exposure and the potential for some additional gigs from her roster of talent for some time now. There are people she represents such as Jane Getz, and Harold Land Jr. who are truly remarkable musicians. I will if I can alway …