While mentions of specific tracks are generally best done later in a review, one special thing has to be mentioned about a track right in the middle of the 12 pieces of Dan Chadburn’s latest master solo piano collection Always. He’s perhaps the only instrumentalist in the genre who can take a song with an anxious title like “Uncertainty” and turn it into a thing of elegant and hopeful beauty even in uncertain times like these. Taking the big picture view, while there is usual

From her 2010 release Glacier Soundscapes through The Winds of Badlands (2019) and The Canyons and Mesas of Bandelier (2021), no instrumental artist this century has musically chronicled the visual splendor, majestic landscapes, intricate natural details and precious eco-systems of our National Parks as powerfully and impactfully as multi-instrumentalist Jill Haley. While most artists who create thematic works based on these stunning locales offer meaningful impressions, the

Flush with the groundbreaking journey and incredible, impactful success she had as runner up on Season 21 of “The Voice,” Wendy Moten – whose versatile career has earned her, ironically enough, the music industry’s affectionate nickname “The Voice” – could have chosen any number of possible new solo projects to launch the latest phase of her solo career. Her wonderfully fitting decision to create a rousing gospel, R&B and urban jazz driven spin on Stevie Wonder’s iconic anthe

“Coming Out” just a few weeks after the passing of Olivia Newton-John, Diana Ross’ first of two late August full scale extravaganzas at the Hollywood Bowl couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. With so many icons of the 70s and 80s era departing in recent years, it’s comforting, uplifting and inspiring to be reminded that a few legends are not only still with us, but still sound fantastic, perform energetically and entertain with the same enthusiasm and excitement as th

From Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley to the late Eva Cassidy, there are some artists who create such a strong, distinctive impression with their versions of popular songs, that they feel more like re-inventions and inspire us to want to hear their takes over and over rather than the original. Like these legends, New Jersey bred, London based sophisticated pop, soul, jazz and blues vocalist Allen Austin-Bishop brings a unique versatility and straightforward emotional honesty t

In my write up on Albare Plays Jobim, Vol. 2, the versatile jazz guitarist’s second exquisite, sonically expansive tribute to the Brazilian master, I mentioned that he was a musical citizen of the world by virtue of being born in Morocco, growing up in Israel and France and living for decades in Australia. From living in those countries and traveling the globe, he clearly has a perspective on the concept of freedom, political and otherwise, like no other. Back from Jobimland

To fully grasp the momentous achievement of German born, NYC based composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist (saxophonist, flutist, pianist) Chris Torkewitz finally releasing his epic Jazz Chamber Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra work NY Ensembles after nine years, the attentive listener should know some of his other epic achievements. Among them, he has performed at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, the Kennedy Center and for the German embassies in Toronto, DC and New York. He’s p

If you approach The Margaret Slovak Trio’s intricate, soulfully exquisite collection Ballad For Brad from a purely musical perspective, it’s easy to understand just why the music of these original Slovak compositions flows so freely and, more important, intuitively, as if the veteran guitarist is in non-stop conversation, whether they’re performing a meditative waltz like the opening track “Again” or dashing into more exotic, percussive territory looking for “The Answer Withi

The title of veteran UK jazz/soul singer Katriotna Taylor’s highly awaiting, lushly scintillating and stylistically eclectic first album in a dozen years isn’t just a clever play on words. In a world where so many want to overlook or dismiss disabilities, Blind Passion offers a refreshing ode to some of our most cherished sightless singers – Stevie Wonder, Jose Feliciano, Diane Schuur, Ray Charles – by a multi-talented artist who has herself been legally blind since age seven

The smooth jazz world got its first taste of the cool, soulful cosmopolitan saxophonist Evan Carydakis in 2021, when the Australian born, University of New England educated artist dropped his perfectly titled five track EP Groove House. Among other accolades, it hit two Smoothjazz.com charts and earned the praise of Jazz World Monthly. More than just a high impact collection heralding the emergence of an exciting new genre artist, the collection was a sparkling celebration of

When Carol Albert released her debut vocal and instrumental album Love in Your Eyes back in 1992, there’s no way the multi-talented pianist/composer could have known that 25-30 years down the road, she’d not only be a Billboard chart sensation, but that her elegant and soulful, dreamy and free flowing melodic piano style, combined with her passion for R&B grooves and sexy tropical Brazilian rhythms, would make her a spot on fit for the urban centric vibe that drives today’s s

In what should be thought of as a beautiful dilemma, a multi-talented vocalist like Tracye Eileen is so passionate about several genres – and so good and natural singing them – that it’s been both fascinating to listen to her evolution yet frustrating that there may never be a perfect niche for her. Inspired by her father Ed Smith, an accomplished jazz percussionist, the Chicago based artist launched her career in 2012 with the straight ahead album Love’s Journey – then follo