Ten-time Grammy and ten-time Dove winners, TAKE 6, (Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley) have a lot to be grateful for as they celebrate their 25th Anniversary with the release of their new album One. There is only ONE quintessential acapella group and it's Take 6!

On her new Jazz CD, "Here's To Love," vocalist Carol Nielsson draws from a career in musical theater to add a fresh, yet comfortable spin on old favorites. She recalls the innocent delivery of Doris Day, her voice both sweet and nuanced. She honors the songs by singing them the way they were written, reminding us why we fell in love with this music in the first place. It doesn't hurt that she has assembled some of the finest musicians on the Pacific Northwest Jazz Scene.

"Goodbye To Yesterday" is the debut single from Incognito's 15th album Surreal. Bandleader Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick recalls the genesis of the song, "Goodbye To Yesterday" featuring Mo Brandis, who also co-wrote and co-produced the track with me, was the by-product of two creative minds a generation apart, proves that great melodies and well crafted lyrics hold the key to creations that have a timeless quality to them. This song could have easily been sung by Steve Winwood in the 60's, Stevie Wonder in the 70's, Michael Jackson in the 80's, George Michael in the 90's. The catchy horn lines arranged by Trevor Mires make the track even more hooky and immediate."

Stephanie Jordan Sings a Tribute to the Fabulous Lena Horne; Yesterday When I Was Young:  "Great lyrics permeate this beautifully rendered homage, and Jordan has the skill sets to do them justice—a voice that projects from a whisper to a scream, impeccable diction, dead-center pitch, fluid phrasing. Backed by a breathe-as-one 8-piece unit of top-shelf New Orleanians that sounds twice its size, and counterstated by a cohort of virtuoso soloists, she finds fresh, unfailingly swinging approaches to this well-traveled repertoire, melding into a personal argot elements garnered from such distinguished mentors as Shirley Horn, Abbey Lincoln, Nancy Wilson—and Lena Horne herself—while sounding like no one other than Stephanie Jordan. As she aptly puts it, "it's a tribute, not a copy." - Ted Panken    

"Something Cool" by Veronica klaus with Tammy L. Hall Quartet is coming May 21, 2012.   Funding in part by crowd-funding, here is a sneak peek.  

Visual artist, pianist, vocalist, and composer Meredith d'Ambrosio has quietly been releasing critically acclaimed recordings since 1978.  Never one to push recordings on her fans, By Myself is her first release since 2006.  This new 2011 recording features, exclusively, the songs of Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz and is framed only by her voice and sparse piano playing.

Singer Carmen Lundy has returned to the scene with an album that can easily be categorized as one of her best yet.  With music that is both consistent and a pleasure to listen to, this nine-track collection is entitled 'Changes' and features eight original compositions.  It is a CD that will charm you, encourage you to dance, sing along and quite simply will brighten your mood.  The tracks speak about love from all angles and include themes ranging from love for neighbors and friends, new love and breakups.  With a CD launch planned for March 8 – 11 at the Jazz Standard in New York, and another in LA on March 29 and 30, Carmen took time out to speak to JazzReview about the new CD and her upcoming work.

Vocalist Rene Marie's seventh CD as a leader, Voice Of My Beautiful Country, borrows heavily from Americana as well as, what appears on almost every jazz vocalist's recording recently, a number of standards drawn from the wider rock world.  The best part of the recording is how Marie proves there is great depth that can be mined from songs many of us grew up on.  "O Shenandoah," for example, gets an extended treatment that is so free flowing and open to possibilities one can't help but imagine it's this arrangement of the folk song getting called up on gigs. 

It has to have been difficult for Lorraine Feather.  Her father, Leonard Feather, was the man who not only singlehandedly defined the role of the modern jazz critic, but was also arguably the greatest jazz journalist ever.  That's a huge shadow to grow up under, especially if the daughter has talents and ambitions that heavily lean towards the aural arts.  Lorraine, however, has fashioned a career that is apologetic to no one.

When Diane Schuur burst on the national scene in 1985 with the release of her Deedles recording on GRP, the world was treated to an exceptional vocalist who had strengths in jazz and jazz-pop crossover.  Her string of hit records was aided by not just topnotch production and producing via her partnership with the Dave Grusin - Larry Rosen brain trust, but also a selection of material that fit her voice and abilities in way that has rarely been seen since.  Add to this her abundant skill on piano, which is subtle and always overlooked, and you had an artist for whom, it seemed, nothing could go wrong.

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Kayla Taylor is a southern gal who, when it comes to torch songs and jazz standards, can sing with the best and surpass them.  Her new CD 'You'd Be Surprised' is the follow up to her 2005 release 'A Night at Pacific & Vine' and features a sophisticated array of classic tunes that she delivers with the warmth of a nightingale and the intimacy of a soul singer.

 Award-winning local jazz vocalist, Chris Williams has been nominated in the category of Best Jazz for the Orange County Music Awards, to be held March 3 at The Grove in Anaheim.

Vocalist and composer Michael Franks has had a long career of which anyone would be envious. Since his launching pad hit “Popsicle Toes,” Franks has consistently released strong jazz oriented recordings featuring the best jazz musicians in both backing and featured roles. Like Kenny Rankin, Franks found a unique way to present his soft pop without ever sounding dated. Time Together is yet another fantastic Franks release featuring the best jazz musicians sweetly swinging behind Franks’ eye-winking lyrics.

 New Orleans trumpeter Nicholas Payton has never conformed to anyone or anything. Reading his Facebook posts and Twitter “tweets”, you sort of get an idea about how un-traditional he is. He speaks his mind and, should someone attempt to challenge him on his views, is hardly lost for words. His outspoken nature has allowed him to create material for “Bitches”, a CD with a controversial title with tracks that draws experiences from his own love life.

Building a career by earning the respect of your peers is a difficult, ongoing task. Imagine trying to do it twice. Punctuated by a storied basketball franchise, the Boston Celtics, honoring him with a bobble head promotion and with Billboard slotting his album Emotionally at number 11 on the jazz album charts, Walter McCarty has succeeded at both.

After 75 Years is an ambitious work. Macy Chen has created a concept album of sorts about the parallel lives of herself and her grandfather. Both Chen and her grandfather, Chin-Chang Liu, had left their homes in Taiwan to pursue jazz music, against the practical wisdom of their friends and family. Though she never met her grandfather, Macy Chen always felt a connection with him through jazz music.

Law school creates more than a few challenges. There are hours upon hours of studying, grueling hours interning at law firms, and financial bills that need to find a way to get paid. For many law students the adversity is just too much to overcome and that can lead to despair. For Ola Onabule, it determined his life's journey.

For Vancouver jazz artist Colleen Savage, an invitation to headline a concert and workshop at Louisiana's Tulane University last February came with an offer no musician could refuse: an opportunity to record with players active in the New Orleans jazz scene.

Zaz is the impressive debut album by the French jazz-pop artist of the same name. Zaz takes a fresh and open-minded approach to her music. Gypsy jazz rhythms, pop hooks and Mills Brothers-esque vocal solos collide in a cohesive and fully realized musical vision. The blend of styles never seems awkward, pretentious or contrived. At its best, this album contains legitimately great pop music. Even at its worst, these songs still tower above their Top 40 pop peers.

The newly released music video for the sultry Latin number “Just A Kiss” written by Perth jazz singer Nicola Milan is a hypnotic mix of smooth Bossa rhythms blended with an emotive visual set awash in candlelight. The poignant playfulness of this clip surrounds the story line of a girl’s daydream fantasy about a timeless moment spent with a mysterious man plucked from her imagination.

Aficionados and neophytes alike should feel equally welcome when listening to Jazz, the accessible history lesson produced by Putamayo. Although this 12-song compilation presents an audio array that reaches as high as Blossom Dearie's top-shelf timbre on "They Say It's Spring," to the joint-jumping horns on Maxine Sullivan's " 'Taint No Use," the consistent core from start to finish remains a simple, steady swing that says plenty in a very limited time. For the aficionado, these classics are reminders about the art form's origins. For the neophyte, they serve as starting points that invite further exploration.

A One Man Band, Kim Waters Plays Virtually Every Instrument On New CD Creating A Powerful New Duet With Calvin Richardson, Timeless Originals & Reinventing Hits By R. Kelly, Alicia Keys and Jay-Z

The newly released Rae Ann Perez CD "Midnight In Paris" has hit the scene. A fresh take, it showcases Rae Ann Perez abilities as a fluent songwriter, pianist and vocalist. The eight originals and four expertly arranged favorites are " world jazz" music with touches of classic standards, funk, and highly influenced Latin sounds and grooves.  

Only a couple of months after releasing her critically-acclaimed Embraceable CD, song stylist Nicole Henry keeps the momentum rolling with a joyous jazz collection of holiday-themed classics that were recorded live at the Cotton Club in Tokyo. Set For The Season: Live In Japan, produced by Henry and Grammy nominee Matt Pierson (Kirk Whalum, Jane Monheit, Joshua Redman), will be released October 25th on Henry’s Banister Records.

Colin Hunter is a Toronto-based vocalist who sings as a passionate hobby. He sings the standards from that period of time when jazz was the popular music of the day. His style of singing is a classic mix of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Perry Como.

  Is there time to explore and reflect on musical beauty in the frenetic pace of modern life? It’s a question vocalist Anne Walsh asks on her latest CD “Go,” which was released September 27th on AtoZink Music. “The title sums up my wish to move forward as an artist, and strike out into areas of the musical art-form that I haven’t had the opportunity to explore in the past.” Walsh and husband Tom Zink created this memorable musical journey as the follow up to their previous project “Pretty World,” which earned a Grammy nomination for the arrangement of “In The Still Of The Night.”

Although she didn’t play Newport or London, multiplatinum chanteuse Basia delighted American audiences from coast to coast during a successful 20-city concert tour that concluded in Seattle last week (October 5) with a sold-out show in support of her newly released From Newport to London: Greatest Hits Live…And More album. The month-long trek that visited major U.S. cities also registered sell-outs in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Sacramento and San Juan Capistrano.

Heather Ramsey, vocalist and CEO of The Midwest School of Voice, honored to be releasing her second CD with "Peace Like a River." Her soulful vocal style and poignant interpretations of holiday classics are a reflection of her diverse influences in music. Renowned pianist, arranger, composer and author Dr. Monika Herzig adds her unique spin to these festive tunes to showcase Ramsey's ability to sing many styles.

Upcoming masterclasses in Tuscia, Italy by Tuscia In Jazz.  

Singer and songwriter Nicci Canada presents her debute album "Twenty Twelve", available now on all digital media. Her newest smash, entitled "Attraction", which showcases her sultrier and sensual side; is a follow up to her first single "Love" and you literally cannot get enough!

Time for something new. The new Rae Ann Perez CD "Midnight In Paris" has its official release date on October 7th and will be available on CD baby, Amazon, iTunes and more. A new term "World Jazz", is what best describes the 12 song release of Rae Ann's 8 originals compositions and 4 modernized jazz classics. The style is a multi genre mix that includes unique blends of latin, jazz standards, modern cool jazz, funk, and world music with exciting rhythms. Rae Ann leads the way with creative piano melody improvs accompanied by sweet and cool vocals.

Jazz vocalists are, by and large, not an adventurous lot. Most prefer to stick to standards and re-interpretations of contemporary pop songs. While this is a totally valid form of musical expression, I rarely seek out recordings made by vocalists when I want to hear risky, modern, cutting-edge music. With her second recording, "Mobile," the Portugese vocalist Sara Serpa boldly grabs this stereotype by the scruff of the neck and shows it out the door. "Mobile" is a startlingly individualistic collection of beautifully developed and arranged original compositions for voice and a four-piece ensemble. Serpa's clearly not afraid of words – each piece is inspired by books she's read over an 18-month period preceding this recording. Yet, on "Mobile," she functions largely as an instrumentalist, singing wordlessly. What I really like about Serpa's approach is that – contrary to the jazz tradition of scat singing – she does not try to mimic a saxophone or trumpet. Sure, she has a great sense of jazz phrasing, but what you hear is her voice. And what a voice it is! Clear, unaffected, and vibrato-less, with a crystalline purity that seems both fragile and diamond-hard.

(New York, NY) – Nu Jazz Entertainment -- a long time producer of high quality audio and video content in the genre of jazz--announced the November 2011 release of the special holiday album, Ellis Marsalis: A New Orleans Christmas Carol, from the 2011 National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master, on iTunes, digital music services around the world, and in brick and mortar retail stores.

Born in Nagasaki, Japan , Hiromi Kanda was exposed to American music via the armed forces personnel that were stationed in the city. At the age of 8, Hiromi moved to Osaka with her family. It was there that she developed an appreciation for several forms of music from Sinatra and Cole Porter, to the Monkees and the Supremes. ‘Days of Yesterday’ is Hiromi Kanda's sophomore album, and is a remarkable album from a vocalist who doesn't just sing the standards, she symbolizes them.

Greta Panettieri just came out with a new song called 'View from the moon'. View from the moon is an interesting mix between old and contemporary music. The song recalls the sound of the old swing orchestras through a powerful brass arrangement bringing the listener 'back in the days' with the '40s stile vocal harmonies of the background vocals. The result is a refreshing mix of a sophisticated 'Euro Swing' sound and a danceable kick drum on the downbeat.

Reprise Records Presents Highlights From The Duo's Unprecedented, Sold-Out Jazz at Lincoln Center Performances; Also Features Special Guest Appearance By Taj Mahal

Kiawah Island, SC (August 25, 2011) – Since 2004, GRAMMY®-winning guitarist Earl Klugh has been bringing world-renowned artists together with jazz enthusiasts for his one-of-a-kind weekend getaways at 2 Five-Star, Five-Diamond properties; The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The 2nd annual Weekend of Jazz at Kiawah Island will be held November 10-12, 2011 and features 3 incredible nights of music from 10-Time GRAMMY®-Winner CHAKA KHAN in a Rare and Special Jazz Performance, Multi-Instrumentalist BRIAN CULBERTSON, Saxophonist, Vocalist and Composer MINDI ABAIR, Jazz/R&B Saxophonist ERIC DARIUS, Singer, Songwriter and Pianist SPENCER DAY, Lowcountry Favorites The EAST COAST PARTY BAND, PGA Tour Champion & Golf Commentator JOHN MAHAFFEY, Your Host and GRAMMY®-Winning Guitarist EARL KLUGH, and more!

Blessed with an instantly identifiable voice that made her a chart-topping, platinum-selling recording artist around the globe, Basia returned to her native Poland in June to record a live album, From Newport To London: Greatest Hits Live...And More, that will be released by eOne Music on September 13th in conjunction with a twenty-city U.S. concert tour. The jazzy title track with a European film noir air of mystery, one of three new studio recordings penned and produced by Basia and long-time collaborator Danny White, is the first radio single from the collection.

The song stylist sells out a pair of New York City shows on the eve of the release of her critically-acclaimed new album, Embraceable. Miami Beach, FL (24 August 2011): Glowing reviews have embraced the arrival of the fifth album from song stylist Nicole Henry, which was released Tuesday (August 23) by ArtistShare. On Monday night, Henry performed many of the songs from Embraceable at a pair of sold-out, standing room-only shows to enraptured audiences at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca Cola.

Isabelle Geffroy, aka Zaz, released her eponymous debut CD in May 2010 and by any standards it is excellent. If you ask Zaz about her musical influences she will explain that she prefers to think of them as meetings. She is expressive, powerful and has such vocal control that the execution of each song appears effortless. Not only will the album will dazzle you but also make you sit up and listen.

  “Time Together” Is A Tribute To His Beloved Dog Flora. Franks Is Donating Royalties From The Song To Hearts United For Animals  

Dave Flippo's FLIPPOMUSIC explores the role of "musical shamans" as they present "Tao Tunes", a musical jazz setting of the ancient Chinese text Tao Te Ching.  The original music by Flippo explores over 10 different musical styles and presents some extensive arrangements.  Guest Artists: Larry Gray-cello, Neal Alger-guitar, Hamid Drake-percussion.

2011 Tanglewood Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festival, September 2-4 Judy Carmichael's Jazz Inspired with actress Blythe Danner and special guests from the worlds of Jazz, Broadway, and Hollywood to take place September 3 at 2pm Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, and Lizz Wright Featured in Sing the Truth with all-star band Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, James Genus, Munyungo Jackson, and Romero Lubambo on September 4 at 8pm A Latin Jazz Tribute to Cachao with Federico Britos Sextet and John Santos Sextet to take place September 3 at 8pm Coast to Coast Septet featuring NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Cobb with vocalist Mary Stalings and the Mingues Orchestra with conductor NEA Jazz Master Gunther Schuller to Perform September 4, at 2pm Festival Opens with Ulysses Quartet (6:30 pm) and the Robin McKelle Quartet and Michael Kaeshammer Sextet (8pm) on September 2 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Life award provides additional Festival Activities including Interviews with Jimmy Cobb and Gunther Schuller (9/3. At 4:15pm), Screening of Charles Mingus "Epitaph" (9/3, at 4:15pm), and Master Class with Jimmy Cobb and Coast to Coast Septet (9/4, at 12:30pm) Taking place in conjunction with the annual Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festival, the Wine and Food Classic returns to Tanglewood September 1-4

The dynamic, instantly recognizable and captivating voice of Kim Burrell is undeniably one of the most powerful voices in music today. Her unrivaled instrument, impeccable musicianship and ability to tap into the human experience and emotion has made her a favorite across genre and within the musician community. Kim is one of the few artists to be revered in both the spiritual and secular worlds. The Grammy-Award nominated and Stellar Award winning singer has collaborated with artists as diverse as Harry Connick Jr. and funk master George Clinton. In the middle, there's R. Kelly, Stevie Wonder and Gospel's First Lady, Shirley Caesar.    

For her Vanguard Records debut, Diane Schuur does something she's never done. She performs 10 country tunes. The Gathering, her first album in three years, is a bold move that pays off.

Miami, FL On July 20th, jazz artist Paulette Dozier will perform the first of four Wednesday evening concerts as part of the Summer Jazz Series at El Bar - Teatro Para Todos (Theatre for All) in Coral Gables. A multi-faceted singer/actress renowned for her sultry alto voice and dynamic stage presence, Paulette Dozier infuses every one of her performances with a depth far beyond the usual - her voice has been called ‘deep, steady, and sexy’. Dozier’s repertoire combines the greatest jazz standards with today’s edgy and contemporary sounds.  She will be backed by three of South Florida’s top musicians: Brad Keller (piano), Dave Tomasello (bass) and James Cotmon (drums). El Bar - Teatro Para Todos, which opened its doors in Coral Gables in 2010 at the initiative of two long time Columbian actors, Marisol Correa and Leandro Fernandez, is a venue designed specifically as a home for local talent, and Dozier is looking forward to taking the stage in this intimate setting.  “There are so few places left in South Florida where jazz artists can perform,” she explains, “and El Bar is great – the perfect size for a casual evening.” In fact, Paulette will be inviting fellow artists to come up and show off their stuff too:  “I’d like to have other singers (and musicians in fact) sit in and jam with us after each of my shows,” she says.  “They will be able to sing a couple of songs, and get a real feel for El Bar.” Dozier, who has opened for the likes of music greats Roy Ayers and Erykah Badu,  has released two well received jazz albums: With You and Over & Over Again. She will release a third CD in the fall of 2012. Paulette Dozier is also a well respected actress, and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Carbonell Award for her stage work.  She originated the role of ‘Paulette’ in the hit musical Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, and recently appeared on stage to sold out audiences along side Broadway’s Melba Moore in Crowns at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. Paulette Dozier will appear at El Bar on Wednesday, July 20th & 27th and August 3 & 10th, 2011 at 9:30 p.m. E Bar is located at 3119 Coral Way (2nd floor) in Coral Gables (33145).   Reservations are available by calling 786-326-6555 or on line at:  www.teatroparatodos.net Tickets are $15, with a 2 drink minimum. For more information about Paulette Dozier visit www.paulettedozier.com To schedule an interview, or for any other information, please contact Carol Kassie (561-445-9244/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )  

When jazzy sisters meet to spend some time together, the result can be found in the highly intelligent and welcoming "The Mosaic Project", a compilation from Boston drummer Terri Lyne Carrington.

The Midwest School of Voice is proud to announce the grand opening on August 13-14, 2011.  A groundbreaking school focusing on all aspects of vocal performance, their goal is to make individual coaching accessible and beneficial to all styles of music. The forming of The Midwest School of Voice represents a merge of existing voice studios of Blair Clark and Heather Ramsey, which represents 30+ combined years of teaching experience.  The location of The Midwest School of Voice will be in spacious studio space at 336 W. Main Street in Carmel, Indiana.

Time Together, Franks' First New CD in Five Years, Unites Him With An All-Star Cast of Friends Including Gil Goldstein, Chuck Loeb, Till Bronner, Mike Mainieri, Eric Marienthal, Veronica Nunn & Others

NEW YORK, NY – On Memorial Day, May 30th, Singer/Songwriter Marcus Goldhaber and The Jon Davis Trio will be performing two sets at 7:30pm and 9:00pm presented by Glen Grant Scotch at Opia—a restaurant lounge in the mezzanine of the Renaissance Hotel.