Artist Biographies (225)
Read about the in-depth lives of your favorite jazz musician and what inspires their music.
Django Reinhardt was born on January 24, 1910 in Belgium and became one of the first ground-breaking influences with lasting effect on the jazz guitar scene. His remarkable style influenced such contemporary jazz guitarists as Earl Klugh, Larry Coryell, George Benson and the late Wes Montgomery, among many others. He…
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At six foot seven, DK Ibomeka (pronounced ee-bo-MECK-ah) has a towering stage presence and a voice to match. Musicians and industry insiders are calling DK Ibomeka one of the best new voices in years, with a three-octave range informed by the clarity and vibrancy of Ella Fitzgerald, the soulfulness of…
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For those of you who are lovers of Jazz Saxophone, the name of Dick Morrissey MUST be at the top of your list of all time great players. Born just 60 years ago in Horley, Surrey, just down the road from the international Gatwick Airport England, Dick was a unique…
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Born in 1970, Didier Verna gets quickly involved in music, since he enters conservatory at the age of 5 and studies music theory for 2 years. At the age of 7, he starts learning classical percussions while continuing his theoretical studies; an opportunity for him to discover group playing and…
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Dave Osoff is an independent recording artist and touring musician active in the New England music scene for over 14 years, who is now celebrating the release of his debut instrumental album, 'Mosaic', featuring very fresh new sounds and many of New England and New Orleans' most creative players: Amadee…
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The title track of David Hughes’ debut CD release begins with the escalating sound of an arctic windstorm, and it is like a windstorm this Scandinavian virtuoso bassist and talented composer will sweep through the music world. His self-produced album offers some delightfully melodic tunes and showcases how beautiful the…
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David Owen launched his debut CD, Red Hot Kisses on September 18 at the Rivoli in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Red Hot Kisses (Owen Sound Recordings), co-produced by David and music veteran, Big Ben Richardson, is ten tracks of personal favourites from such luminaries as Big Bill Broonzy, Robert Johnson, Muddy…
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The only musician ever nominated for an Oscar was, "Dexter 'LTD' Gordon (Long Tall Dexter)," for his role in the most praised jazz film of all time, Bertrand Tavernier's, "Round Midnight"; titled for Theolonius Monk's signature composition. In Tavernier's jazz classic, Dexter plays expatriate, "Dale Turner," whose mission was to…
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He goes for the heart - that’s for sure. Close your eyes and imagine a tear dripping from the bell of the horn. Or envision the keys blasting off the alto, straining under torrential sound. Judging from his acceleration in today’s musical marketplace, Dave Koz conjures up a range of…
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The purpose of Composers is to share information concerning those composers who have influenced American and international music, whose musical creations continue to have an influence on jazz as well as other modes of music. Composers is designed as a biographical reference work and each entry will relate pertinent information…
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Cutting edge, jazz guitarist Corey Christiansen is still in his early thirties but musically he has been a long time in the making. Growing up in a home filled with music, Corey began to play at the early age of five receiving excellent instruction and inspiration from his father, Mike…
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There is an intriguing, sylphlike quality to London born Danielle Thompson, with a whisper of vulnerability dancing just below the surface. These are attributes that quite simply vitalize and enhance all of her performances. Solid British resolve and a firm belief in Kismet produce an energy and tender urgency that…
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Daniel Messina was born on April 9th, 1965 in José C. Paz, Buenos Aires, Argentina.At the age of six, he began to play drums and guitar. He learned to play drums on his own for almost ten years by playing along different records and using a book by Gene Krupa.…
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Jazz has been around long enough for us to see it's most respected practitioners become gray, paunchy, and venerable. The precocity of a Wynton Marsalis already famous by the age of twenty-three is startling. But during the swing era, youth was the norm and the advent of middle age a…
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A little under two hundred years ago, a bunch of American musicians discovered the joy of improvising and called it jazz. Meanwhile over two thousand years ago, Indian classical musicians were busy setting the rules for those American musician's joy. If jazz is improvised music, Indian classical music is jazz!…
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Washington -- Let me begin with those rave reviews: It's difficult to nail down just what makes her voice so darn compelling. Maybe it's the comfort and familiarity, maybe the confiding honesty. Whatever the case, it works exceptionally well. -- Todd S. Jenkins, AllAboutJazz.com A jazzy chanteuse with the pop…
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My name is Chester Allen Thomas born 10-28-1957 in Wichita, Kansas. Parents are Helen & Ulysses Thomas. I am the fifth child of nine, Two sisters and Six Brothers. while growing up my mother would sing just about every song that came on the radio. My mother had a chance…
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Thanks to the proliferation of jazz programs in high schools and Universities, the number of jazz pianists continues to grow at unprecedented rates. This growing population has a vast reservoir of musical devices from which to draw, and the ability to execute ideas with technique to spare. The one factor…
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Kansas City USA - Chris Burnett is a woodwind instrumentalist and composer. He is based in the Kansas City area. Already a veteran musician and skilled composer, with a substantial body of work and a noted career performing with various military music bands, his profile is somewhat different than the…
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Greco is a multi-instrumentalist/composer/performer shaped by the influences of the contemporary western/european tradition, and american jazz music. He holds a D.M.A. (UCLA) in classical saxophone performance, and has substantial professional experience in multiple jazz idioms. Equally adept performing both classical and modern jazz music, Greco's improvisational skills equally excel with…
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