By: Edward Blanco After performing primarily modern post-bop material on his previous five releases, in which some Latin rhythms were included but were never the focus, Cuban-born pianist Manuel Valera finally pays tribute to his Afro-Cuban roots on his sixth album as leader with the New Cuban Express. Accompanied by …

By: Edward Blanco Less than a year from the release of his highly-acclaimed self-titled debut, Michael Benedict & Bopitude, drummer Benedict unleashes a monster recording of sizzling hard-bop fulfilling an objective to, as he states “present hard-bop jazz in its pure form…creating harmony, improvisation, textures and rhythms in jazz.” Loaded …

By: Bill Donaldson Growing up as part of a family that hosted jazz people like Benny Goodman and Zoot Sims, John Pizzarelli couldn’t help but be influenced by jazz. Or by the guitar. His father, Bucky Pizzarelli, has devoted his life to playing guitar in broadcasting studios, big bands, Broadway …

Glenn Astarita New World Records is a New York City-based organization that specializes in the modern classical space, highlighting works by avant-garde composer John Cage and others. Every so often the label releases a progressive-jazz or in this case, a new music and largely unclassifiable program by experimentalist, composer and …

Karl Stober JJA Director John Ford once stated through his character Maxwell Scott in “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” that, “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend”, and why not, as it ignites inspiration to those whom embrace its mystique and drama. Legends have a way rebirthing old …

Carlos Santana is a name synonymous with rock, Latin and blues music. He is a hero to millions of Latinos and inspiring guitar players worldwide. Santana’s influence ranges far and wide and the music he has produced since the 60s continues to gain a seemingly endless fan base. Santana had …

Glenn Astarita As a young man, drummer Chad Wackerman was hired by Frank Zappa, which is no minor achievement. With his notoriously difficult charts, Zappa commanded the best from his musicians while running a tight ship along the way. Since then, Wackerman has become an in-demand session artist within progressive-rock, …

by Geannine Reid Russian pianist Yelena Eckemoff has long been adored by the ECM follower, her working relationships with many likeminded artists such artists as Peter Erskine and, more recently, Marilyn Mazur with her latest endeavor, FORGET-me-NOT, which delightfully features Tord Gustavsen recruit Mats Eilertsen on bass, rounds out the …

Karl H. Stober Under the influence of numerous safari’s in my career with Ms. Hilton, fourteen to be exact, one thing is certain, the Lioness of Jazz still remains untamed and wild in the ivory jungle. Her techniques never stoic, melodies seldom droll, and rhythms never without mental stimuli; Ms. …

By: Edward Blanco Colombian-born composer and pianist Gabriel Guerrero emerges from the talent-rich jazz environment of New York City as the latest hidden wonder to surface and stake a claim with a brilliant musical statement on FEYAS. Some people believe in angels that exist to protect and guide them. As …