Although Vinny Valentino is a guitar virtuoso, his talent with six strings often overshadows his insight and genius as a composer. "I think that it is very difficult in our world to wear many different hats and for people to be accepting of those different hats. If you are a guitar player, you are not really thought of as a great composer," says Valentino. He continues the thought with, "(Take) Pat Metheny, nobody really thinks of Pat as a great composer. Well, I guess some people do, but …

It was Cyndi Lauper who rode the pop tune "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" in the early eighties, but Chicago born songstress, Ann Hampton Callaway, is one of New York City's bright lights in 2006, and she is the one having all the fun. The lady with the effervescent personality and fabulous vocals often refers to herself as a lover. "I was just born to be a lover," says Callaway. "I think that sense of love immediately draws people in. I am so glad that I can sing because all of that stuf …

"There is something about when you are so close and people can almost touch you. It is another feeling and that is the way I like it," Reuben Rogers says in replying to my question about the type of venue that best suits him as an artist. The highly acclaimed bassist who earlier this year debuted his self-titled solo project continues, "(So close) that they can hear you breathe. I like to be able to look down and see the reaction of the person to the soloist, and to the energy of the song that t …

If you are a fan of jazz music and you haven't heard of Wycliffe Gordon, you have to get dialed in now! You have probably heard people make statements about other artists such as, "It is almost like he/she makes that instrument talk." Well Gordon does indeed give a human voice to his Edwards 500 bore trombone and he has a lot of fun doing it. With songs like "Shhhh!!!!" from his most recent release, Cone's Coup from the Criss Cross label and "Take Your Cake Back" from the previously …

Monika Heidemann, or Monika H as she prefers to be called, joins Julie Hardy and Brenda Earle as part of the new wave of very talented contemporary Jazz singer/composers coming out of New York City. One couldn't hope for a more resounding endorsement than she received from highly respected Dominique Eade: "Monika always had her ear pointed in a different direction; she wasn't going for the beaten path and she stayed true to the sound she was after. She's smart, hip and has a great sense …