In his 2019 breakout debut “Fulfillment,” multi-instrumentalist Zac Zinger explores an impressive breadth of musical instrumentation. Without exception, all the tracks feature a sonic exploration where he whips, caresses, attacks and bends notes with excellent accompaniment (pianist Kana Dehara, bassist Adam Neely and many others). Zinger is as much at home in creating melody with... Continue Reading →
Double Dreams, Double Time – Chip Shelton’s “PLAN BE DREAM MUSIC”
As a package deal, a book and a jazz CD is an unusual combo and Chip Shelton takes it next-level. The orthodontist-by-day and all-around musician/composer has found the path to fulfilling not one but two dreams. His journey and the steps that got him there are the material that has become the book “Excel in... Continue Reading →
Hiro Honshuku & Yuka Kido – All Aglow in “Love to Brasil Project”
The newest EP to come from flutist Hiro Honshuku has him paired with flutist Yuka Kido where they've created righteous bop inspired by a Latin vibe. Just out this past July, the six tracks on "Love to Brasil Project" traverse the emotions from pensive to whirlwind to hip and hearty. Always remaining melodic and in... Continue Reading →
Guts, Tone and Moxie – Bill McBirnie on The Technique and Theory of Improvisation
Flute player Bill McBirnie says he took everything he knows about being a musician and broke it down to the basics in his new book The Technique and Theory of Improvisation: A practical guide for flutists, doublers, and other instrumentalists. Just released in November 2019, it’s accessible, honest and conversational, covering topics like how to... Continue Reading →
Pouring Honey Through the Notes – Christian Artmann on Flute
A spinning globe of sound breathing through each other, the quartet fronted by flautist Christian Artmann brings the listener through lush and multicolored places. In May they released the CD “Our Story” that has a chapter for anybody who appreciates stunning melodies, harmonies that artfully blend/depart/blend back, and a grooving rhythmic backbone traded seamlessly between... Continue Reading →
It’s Real Right Now
Smitten by the British Invasion as a youth in Windsor, Ontario, Alexander Zonjic picked up a guitar and formed a rock band with his school friends. But his destiny was in another instrument entirely. When the flute came into his life, he was astoundingly lucky to receive private lessons from the second flutist and then... Continue Reading →
Ragan Whiteside’s Blazing, White-Hot Flute
Being named Flutist of the Year by Black Women in Jazz and the Fine Arts, well, that's only the tip of the jazzy iceberg for multi-talented Regan Whiteside. With a handful of jazz/funk/soul albums to her credit (including Class Axe and Quantum Drive) - and she's just getting started! - her style is way beyond... Continue Reading →