The stunning, ultra-romantic artwork adoring Brian Hagen’s gorgeous, multi-faceted new solo piano collection You’re The One shows an embracing couple in the brush silhouetted by a majestic sunset. That memorable image, combined with the fact that Hagen penned the lighthearted yet soulful title track about the day he and his future wife first met, might lead the casual listener to believe that the album is a collection of musical love letters to his beloved. That may have been

In musical scope, depth and vision and diversity, Legacy & Alchemy, Atlanta based musical citizen of the world Alexandra Jackson’s double CD celebration of Brazilian music, is easily one of the most extraordinary debut projects ever recorded. Conceived and produced by Robert Hebert and Larry Williams, the expansive, rhythmically explosive yet delectably soulful and smooth 18 track – recorded in Rio, L.A., London, NYC, Chicago and Atlanta over three years - is at heart a showc

On their latest bold, chaotic avant-garde jazz adventure, inventive violinist and critical darling Jason Kao Hwang’s Burning Bridge is out for Blood, literally and figuratively, conveying the inner and outer chaos of war with an otherworldly, purposefully melody and traditional rhythm scheme averse fusion of Western jazz sounds and sparks of traditional Chinese music from the eight piece ensemble leader’s home culture. The backstory is fascinating as Jason explains it, medita

Three years after the passing of Ornette Coleman, veteran trumpeter Chris Pasin gathers a deeply committed and inspired sextet to pay homage to the unique synergy shared by the legendary free jazz saxophonist’s greatest and trumpet great Don Cherry throughout the late 50’s and early 60s’ and even into subsequent decades. Considering that “free jazz” is generally defined as an improvised style of jazz characterized by the absence of set chord or time patterns, the expansive ar

The term “multi-talented artist” is bandied about maybe too liberally when it comes to vocalists and musicians, but when we say that about the incredible Diane Hoffman, we’re being quite literal – and aren’t simply referring to her immense musical gifts and charms, which she shares to perfection on her latest full length vocal master class Do I Love You. An accomplished painter, she’s had her work exhibited throughout North America and has been involved in the artist run gall

In their glowing intro to the premiere of the humorous video for “Friends and the Fakers,” the title track to emerging pop/rock duo LowRay’s first full length album, the premier indie music website Popdust offered: “Minnesota is famous for artists like Prince, The Replacements and Husker Du. Soon we’ll be able to add LowRay to that list. Amen. Any album this well played, engaging and enjoyable should inspire such optimism. Yet one listen to the track, which sounds like a broo

It’s unusual to say the least to have the lead singer of a band create a solo follow-up EP whose sound is so completely different in tone and content than the group's debut breakthrough, but that’s by design with Emma DeCorsey, of Brooklyn indie rockers I Am The Polish Army – whose searing and edgy, yet vibrantly tuneful 2017 debut My Old Man earned Rolling Stone’s praise as “the year’s best rock & roll album about time running out – and making the best of all you have to giv

If you listen to Brooklyn singer-songwriter Katie Mullins’ offbeat yet intimate and ultimately intoxicating new EP Three Songs without knowing its dramatic backstory, you might think you stumbled blissfully onto some intriguing and dreamy Joni Mitchell outtakes – if the legendary singer were teaching a master class in vocal texturing. Yet the backstory makes this inviting EP even more compelling. It’s the result of her having literally no intention of writing or singing after

Known in his native San Diego as “The Velvet Throat,” the late Warren Wiebe sang at Carnegie Hall and at Sonny Bono’s funeral. Celine Dion said he had the most beautiful voice she had ever heard. Quincy Jones, who called him the “Soulful Rain Man,” tapped him to record on “Q’s Juke Joint.” He was David Foster’s right hand studio guy. Wiebe was the premiere session singer in the 1990s, yet the average music fan may never have heard of him because he never recorded an album of

Long before I had met Ann Licater and seen her transform a meditation service at the Agape International Spiritual Center into a full blown soul symphony of relaxation and transcendence with just a few breathy tones from one of her many flutes, I gave a glowing review to her captivating 2007 debut Following the Call. I wrote: “What the listener gets out of this stark, soul-stirring 16-track collection by lifelong silver flute player Ann Licater. . .is partially dependent on t

Jack Magnet’s instantly hummable, crazy-catchy new track “Hook, Line & Sinker” is being released is being released as a solo single – and follow-up to his 2016 debut single “Still Boppin’ Along,” which reached #16 on the Billboard jazz charts. Yet it’s truly a collaborative jam involving a total of four genre greats – Magnet on acoustic piano, featured guest Jeff Ryan on tenor sax, producer Paul Brown on guitar and Chris Standring, who co-wrote the sure fire hit tune with Br

One of the great challenges for multi-talented, genre-transcendent vocalists like Tiffany Bynoe is finding that perfect niche that captures all of her passions and influences from the worlds of pop, R&B, gospel and contemporary jazz. But let’s set aside strict categorizing – Tiffany’s all about heart, mind and soul seduction. After recently hitting the gospel charts with her comeback song “Seasons” and the smooth jazz lists with “All Things New” (which includes a feature from