When a percussionist can add a bit of swirl and funk (but lightly) to a classic like “Naima” that serves the song in a surprisingly new and pretty way, it’s true instinct. Drummer Michele Bazzani has a sixth sense, providing a voice that belongs in the foreground. Largely influenced by the Afro-Latin vibe, Bazzani’s drums... Continue Reading →
What are the ingredients to an instant classic, especially in a subgenre with so much existing material like Christmas jazz? A sultry pace, heavy on the brushes, lyrics that make it seem like the song was written only for the listener, and vocals that are comfortable, warm and evoke time together by the fireplace. Who... Continue Reading →
When all the components are just right, the “music in the air” is a delightful and immersive breeze. Mark Christian Miller shows skills in pacing, punctuation, scat and melody. It’s all there in his new album, where he and the band swing like a gate in a hurricane. A thoughtful and multi-colored tonal experience in... Continue Reading →
Betty Bryant has a long career of gracing the air with beautiful music. With a voice that’s powerful when it needs to be, at turns delicate, forlorn, and brazen, by all accounts she is the quintessential professional, a quiet giant of vocal jazz. What lends a unique authenticity is that she describes her sound as... Continue Reading →
The paucity of Black journalists who write about jazz has been tackled with insight and honest observations by journalist and author Willard Jenkins in a new book that comes out December 2 called Ain’t But a Few of Us: Black Music Writers Tell Their Story (Duke University Press). Some of these issues have been discussed... Continue Reading →
With a background in blues and soft rock and a deep appreciation for the urban smooth jazz vibe, guitarist Ellis White (now in Florida, originally from Maine) sings through his instrument in spectacular style in his latest EP, “Keeping It Real.” The song is an instant transport to easy beats wrapped up in a warm... Continue Reading →
Kristin Berardi has a voice that lilts, rises and falls, all stepping-stones and light movements. Her new CD, The Light and the Dark, is a full-course meal of storytelling and melodic finesse. “He Was a Loaded Gun” takes you on a trip with a guy her heart should have avoided but the pull was inevitable.... Continue Reading →
A game with the unlikely name of “Cuphead” mashes together the “rubber hose animation” of the early 20th century with a stellar soundtrack to create an action-filled big band experience for gamers. Composed by Kris Maddigan (also a jazz drummer and percussionist), the music keeps players at the edge of their seats while providing hot... Continue Reading →
Without a list of CDs or even EPs yet to share, how are we to know what will become of a new artist on the scene? Bassist Rayah Thomas, based near Raleigh, NC, has all the right ingredients: a great musical education, experience with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Summer Jazz Academy and the Essentially... Continue Reading →
Debbie Burke - jazz author 
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