The portrayal of the cowboy exemplifies the American tradition of freedom. Life was simpler in the days of the West. There weren’t any bottom lines or corporate gurus to please. The only rules were to live honestly and with courage. All a cowboy needed was a trusted horse, a good gun and wide-open spaces to roam. Although the barbed wire fence ended this chapter in American history, the spirit of the cowboy remains in the fabric of the American life. Some might say that jazz musicians are a …

Although Patti Wicks has performed in New York over the years with various jazz notables, it wasn’t until landing in Florida that things really began to happen. With the release of her first CD in 1998, suddenly everybody was buzzing about Wicks’ superb piano textures and smoky emotional vocals. This gained her recognition in various jazz circles leading to her upcoming July 29, 2003 release, "Love Locked Out," an exquisite selection of rare ballads from the Great American Songbook, on the disti …

Some vocalists merely sing the words to a song, but when you hear an extraordinary artist like Kenny Rankin pour out life’s emotions through words and music, the experience is long remembered. Singer, songwriter and accomplished guitarist, Rankin has the ability to keep listeners spellbound while he weaves a certain magic to a variety of songs straight from his heart. Now after three and a half decades of memorable recording history, Rankin enters into an exciting new chapter with his debut …

For jazz guitarist Steve Herberman, playing music isn’t about copying the masters, but learning from them and developing one’s own style of creative expression. Throughout his teaching career, he has encouraged students to familiarize themselves with the roots of jazz, to respect its masters, and to learn from its large repertoire based in American, Brazilian and World cultures. Jazz is a form of music that has evolved from the multitude of cultures out there, and to know them is to know its …

As the pianist/keyboardist for Spyro Gyra for 27 years, Tom Schuman is following his personal inspiration in producing his latest solo effort, "Into Your Heart," a revealing insight into the man and artist who with faith, talent, and the support of a loving family, has come to the realization that beautiful music is the expression of a happy soul. Schuman’s debut release on his own label is filled with persuasive, original compositions, ones that will move you to thought, love, happiness and …