Local saxophonist (Phila.) Lynn Riley enjoys a vibrant career as a jazz musician, composer, and educator, whose primary instruments are saxophone and flute. As the leader of The World-Mix, Lynn has been described more than once as "Superwoman" of the sax. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised outside of Philadelphia, Pa., she received a B. A. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Hawaii. She continued her musical studies at the University of Missouri Kansas City, studied privately with Doris Sellers (principal flutist of the Kansas City Symphony), saxophone with Ahmed Alladeen, and immersed in its rich jazz tradition, apprenticed and performed with many of KC's jazz legends. More recently Lynn has been expanding her composing vocabulary, traveling and performing in Ghana, Cuba, South Africa, Bolivia, Brazil and Columbia, adding fresh material to The World-Mix repertoire. Here is ‘Too Cool’ from her most recent release 2015

Stanley Clarke is an American bassist, film composer and founding member of Return to Forever, one of the first jazz fusion bands. Clarke gave the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music. He is the first jazz-fusion bassist to headline tours, sell out shows worldwide and have recordings reach gold status. Clarke is a 5-time Grammy winner, with 15 nominations, 3 as a solo artist. Clarke was born on June 30, 1951 in Philadelphia. Clarke attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy (later known as the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts. Clarke intended to become the first black musician in the Philadelphia Orchestra until he met jazz pianist Chick Corea who while working with saxophonist Stan Getz was putting together a new band. That band ultimately became Return To Forever the prominent Jazz Fusion Band of its time with Drummer Lenny White, guitarist Bill Conners (later replaced by Al Di Meola) and Corea. This is one of my favorite tracks of his from his solo album Journey To Love, ‘A Song To John’ dedicated to John Coltrane.

Born in Detroit, Regina Carter began studying violin at the age of four using the Suzuki method. She attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, and her training continued at the New England Conservatory of Music and at Oakland University in Michigan for jazz. She taught violin in public schools in Detroit and on a U.S. military base in Germany. She first gained attention with Straight Ahead, an all-female jazz quintet that recently celebrated its 25-year reunion at the Detroit Jazz Festival. She also recorded and toured for six years with The String Trio of New York. She has performed at numerous jazz festivals, including Monterey, Newport, Detroit, Atlanta, Bern, Montreux, Miami, New Orleans, Montreal, Mid-Atlantic (Washington, DC), PDX (Portland, Oregon), Rochester, and North Sea (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). In 1995 Regina released her self-titled solo debut on Atlantic Records. Three more albums followed in rapid succession. Here is her version of the classical composition by French composer Gabriel Faure’s ‘Pavane.

Francisco de Jesús Rivera Figueras, known as Paquito D'Rivera, is a Cuban-American alto saxophonist, clarinetist and composer. He was a member of the Cuban songo band Irakere and, since the 1980s, he has established himself as a bandleader in the United States. Jesús Valdés Rodríguez, better known as Chucho Valdés, is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger whose career spans over 50 years. An original member of the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna, in 1973 he founded the group Irakere, one of Cuba's best-known Latin jazz bands. Here is a track from Paquito’s titled “To Brenda With Love’

Local Band (New Jersey) Cintron Band is a 14 piece group formed by percussionist Edgardo Cintron that mixes elements of Jazz, Soul and Latin influences into a very nice amalgamation that leans heavily on 60s and 70s. Here is the track ‘Suavecito’ from their release in 2015.

Local Jazz trumpeter (Wilmington DE.) Tony “Big Cat” Smith was Born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. Currently residing in New Castle, Delaware. Received high school diploma from Howard High School, B.S. Degree in Music from Delaware State College, and a Masters Degree in Education Administration from Wilmington University. Worked as a teacher and administrator in the Christina School District, Brandywine School District, and at Christina Cultural Arts Center. Currently retired from education. Performs regularly in the Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and New York areas. Performs a variety of music genres with an emphasis on jazz in small ensemble settings i.e. solo, duet, trio, quartet, quintet, and more. Here is a cut from one of his albums released in 2015 ‘Big Cat’

Maysa Leak is an American jazz singer better known by her mononym Maysa. She is well known by fans of smooth jazz both for her solo work and for her work with the British band Incognito. Having collaborated with everyone from Stevie Wonder, Will Downing, Jonathan Butler and more, Maysa can hang with the best. She is the recipient of many awards including the Soul Train Music Award in 2009 and Grammy nomination. The Baltimore native is her with her track ‘Just Stay’.

Local Jazz trombonist Ernest Stuart has a post-bop-jazz-based but often genre-fluid sound that merges influences from Philadelphia soul past and present. Think Gamble & Huff and John Legend melded with alternative electronic pop á la Radiohead. In his mind, it’s a very Philadelphia thing to do. “Playing in Philly means playing every type of music. Scenes and sounds intersect. I’ve played salsa gigs, Brazilian music brass band. I love it. I am a musical sponge.” Equal to his music, though, is his sense of civic pride and duty, one that led him to create the still-going Center City Jazz festival in 2012, and currently finds him executing a course of study in nonprofit management and its ethics at Columbia University. Here is his track ‘Oh Snap’ from a release in 2015.

I hope you enjoy.

JK

Born in Italy and now based in New York City, Pasquale Grasso the 30-year- old guitarist has developed an astounding technique and concept informed not by jazz guitarists so much as by bebop pioneers like Powell, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and the classical-guitar tradition. In 2015, he won the Wes Montgomery International Jazz Guitar Competition in New York City, taking home a $5,000 prize and performing with guitar legend Pat Martino’s organ trio. These days, Grasso teaches and maintains a packed gig schedule around New York, including frequent solo performances at the popular Greenwich Village haunt Mezzrow. Here is his track playing the Dizzy Gillespie classic ‘Night In Tunisia’ from his latest Album Be-Bop.

Nikolai Mischenko: This young pianist composer recently graduated from Berklee College of Music in December 2021 and already released two albums prior to graduation. Not a lot of information on this twenty one year old, but here is the track ‘Dawn’ from his soon to be released album of the same name.

Kresten Osgood (born 1976) is a composer multi-instrumentalist, communicator. He plays drums and has done so with several internationally famous musicians in as many constellations. He was born in West Jutland Lemvig and musically educated in Holstebro Music School conservatories education MGK from 1993 to 1996. An extraordinary drummer and improviser who with the fullest respect to tradition, challenges it at any given moment of his creative endeavors. He has about a 100 albums to his credit, toured practically everywhere, has been performing and/or recording with legends like Roscoe Mitchell, Paul Bley, Lee Scratch Perry, William Parker, Masabumi Kikuchi, Derek Bailey, Wadada Leo Smith, Jason Moran, Michael Blake, Oliver Lake, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Tchicai, Tim Berne, Justin Vernon, Peter Brötzman, Joshua Redman, Eugene Chadbourne, Billy Preston, Alan Silva, Brad Mehldau, Mats Gustafsson, Bennie Maupin, The National, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sam Rivers, Henry Grimes, Dr. Yusef Lateef, Warren Smith, and many many others. Here is his track ‘Nar lyset breeder frem’ from his most recent album Kresten Osgood Plays The Organ For You.

Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, better known by his stage name Fantastic Negrito, is an American singer-songwriter whose music spans blues, R&B, and roots music. His 2016 album The Last Days of Oakland won a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 59th Grammy Awards. His 2020 Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? won Fantastic Negrito his 3rd consecutive Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy at the 63rd Grammy Awards.

He became inspired to teach himself how to play music after listening to Prince’s album Dirty Mind and hearing that Prince was a self-taught musician. He learned to play music by sneaking into music classrooms at the University of California Berkeley despite not being a student there. This is ‘Venomous Dogma’ from his latest release.

With a confidence reflecting an instrumental and compositional maturity that both belie his age and announce the arrival of a remarkable talent, Bryan Carter exudes what promises a highly successful career. Carter attended The Juilliard School as a Jazz Studies major and studied with Carl Allen and Kenny Washington. He was the recipient of the Irene Diamond Scholarship as well as the Samuel L Jackson Scholarship. While at Juilliard, Carter took a strong interest in composition, orchestration and interdivisional cross-collaborative performance. Bryan is currently touring across the world with his band, “The Swangers”, a diverse semi-acoustic band built upon a foundation of brash eclecticism as well as it’s expanded “concert-driven” counterpart, "The Swangers Orchestra”. He served as the house drummer for NBC’S “Maya & Marty” starring Maya Rudolph, Keenan Thompson and Martin Short. ‘I Believe’ is a track from his newly released album of the same name.

Lettuce is a funk band that originated in Boston, Massachusetts in 1992. Its members are guitarist Adam "Shmeeans" Smirnoff, Nigel Hall, Adam Deitch, Erick "Jesus" Coomes, Ryan Zoidis and trumpeter Eric "Benny" Bloom. Lettuce began in the summer of 1992, when all of its members attended a music program at Berklee College Of Music in Boston, MA as teenagers. Brought together by the influence of various funk bands including Herbie Hancock, Earth Wind & Fire and Tower of Power, the band jammed throughout that summer before going their separate ways. In the fall of 1994, the band reconvened as undergrads at Berklee and attempted to play at various Boston jazz clubs, walking in and asking the club owners and other musicians if they would "let us play", giving birth to the name Lettuce. In 2020, Lettuce's album Elevate was nominated at Grammy's for Instrumental Album of the Year. Here is their track ‘RVA Dance’ from their latest release.

Julius Rodriguez, also known as "Orange Julius", is an American pianist, drummer and composer. He began to study classical piano at an early age. He was exposed to jazz, particularly music by Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Lois Armstrong, John Coltrane through his father. He attended the Manhattan School of Music at the age of twelve college division and later studied at Julliard School of Music. He has worked as a sideman with Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, to name but a few. Here is his latest track ‘All I Do’ from his latest release.

Not much information on this young saxophonist Binker Golding. Here is his latest track ‘Take Me To The Wide Open Lows’

‘Webb T’s Blues’ from my album Feels Better Than It Sounds

I hope you enjoy

JK

Bassist and composer Nicholas Krolak is a young veteran of the Philadelphia jazz scene. A graduate of Temple University Music, He has spent the last decade working as a side-man, experiencing new styles, and studying with the masters. Now, he has taken all he has learned and is applying it to his own artistic adventures. I have played with Nick once or twice at jazz musicians jam sessions. Here is ‘Interlude 2’ from his latest most current release.

I have a personal connection with Kevin Eubanks being classmates at Berklee College of Music during the same time. We who witnessed his talent back then knew or felt he would be make a big splash in the music world. He has released several albums since graduating on major jazz labels and also was the Tonight Show Band Leader with Jay Leno for twenty plus years. Orin Evans a Philadelphia based pianist and also a Thelonius Monk Jazz Piano Competition 1st class winner is one of my most local favorite pianist. He is also the leader and creator of the Grammy nominated big band Captain Black Big Band. You can catch this rising artist around the country and elsewhere playing with a who’s who in jazz music delivering his unique robust creative style. Kevin and Orin released a CD together on Orin’s self label Imani Records and this is a track from that CD ‘I Don’t Know’

V. Shayne Frederick's work as a recording artist, composer, educator, and scintillating performer spans well over two decades. He has been featured by TEDx, NPR, music festivals, museums, and jazz clubs throughout the country. His recent work includes weekly musical series he's curated for South Jazz Kitchen in Phildelphia and JG Skyhigh at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia's Comcast Technology Center. Outside of his busy performance schedule he's an adjunct professor at The University of the Arts and a private music coach. Here is ‘Black Nile’ from his most recent release in 2021

Gerald Veasley is an American jazz bass guitarist. Veasley was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he played in R&B groups as a teenager. He worked with Joe Zawinul from 1988 to 1995, and began releasing his own records in 1992. He has also done extensive work as a studio musician. Gerald was also the bassist in the last band of saxophone great Grover Washington Jr. He has become an impresario of sorts bringing major established mostly smooth jazz acts to Philadelphia along with local Jazz acts at South Kitchen Jazz Parlor in Philadelphia through is Unscripted Jazz Series. He was a DJ on the Sooth Jazz station WJJZ in Philadelphia as well as very instrumental in the Berks Jazz Festival. This is ‘Blue Cee’ from his current latest release (2011)

John Colianni is a virtuoso on the piano. So much so, I am using his published piano instruction book to help better my own playing. Long before John Colianni was acclaimed as the “consummate piano virtuoso,” he was a budding musician growing up in Silver Spring, MD. The nearby Washington D.C. area was instrumental—no pun intended—in shaping the youngster’s love of jazz. For more than four years in the early 1990s, Colianni worked as Mel Torme’s pianist. He has either recorded or played with a host of who’s who which included Lionel Hampton. John is also an awesome arranger and big band leader whom I had the pleasure of connecting with him as well as sit in as the pianist for his rehearsals. This is his rendition of the Dione Warwick hit ‘Déjà vu’ from his latest release (2021)

Local pianist/composer Tim Brey is becoming the pianist that jazz artist are recognizing as a awesome player with a style all his own. A graduate of Temple University Music and now an Adjunct Professor at the University of The Arts in Philadelphia. He has had the privilege of performing in small groups led by artists such as Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Eric Alexander, and Joanna Pascale; featured in ensembles with Branford Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Houston Person, Karrin Allyson, and more. This is ‘Strange Meadowlark/On A Mist Night’ from is latest release (2021)

Jonathan Blake is becoming a much in demand drummer for many established Jazz artist as well as being an established artist himself being signed to Blue Note Records. He is the son of the late jazz violinist Johnathan Blake (Sr.). I first met Johnathan when he was about 12 or 13 when he was playing the trumpet (which he was very good on that instrument) at the Mill Creek Community Center in West Philly. He and another future Jazz star Jaleel Shaw were best friends whose parents would bring them to this center for music instruction on Saturdays. He has gone onto great heights in the Jazz music world. This is ‘Homeward Bound’ from his most recent release.

Jaleel Shaw is an alto sax phenom originating from Philadelphia. A Berklee College of Music alum, Jaleel has traveled the world delivering symposiums, workshops on Jazz improvisation as well as playing and recording with many Jazz artist. He is also the leader of his own groups. As stated in the above bio, Jaleel was getting music lessons from fellow Berklee Alumni Lawrence Jones at the Mill Creek Community Center who was instrumental for getting him into Berklee. This is ‘Flight Energy’ from his most recent release.

Duane Eubanks is the younger brother of Kevin and Robin (trombone) Eubanks ,leading his own group. Duane is a trumpet player making a name for himself as an emerging artist traveling mostly the U.S. and elsewhere displaying his prowess on his chosen instrument. Here is ‘Dance With Aleta’ written for his wife from his most recent release.

Philadelphia based singer Carol Riddick is no stranger to the music industry. She has been featured with R&B artists such as Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Kindred, Norman Brown, and Jeff Bradshaw. Her unique vocal delivery was evident on the platinum selling cd title song “Soulstar” which she was featured with Musiq Soulchild. Carol was one of the background singers for Jill Scott along with Vivian Green before stepping out on her own. Her unique vocal delivery was evident on the platinum selling title song ”Soulstar” which she was featured with Musiq Soulchild.

Now moving from the background to the forefront, Carol has made some artistic strides with some of the best producers in the game such as James Poyser, Anthony Bell, and other heavy hitters which comes through each track. Here is ‘The Way You Say My Name’ from her most recent release.

My track Caillou’s Buddy’

I hope you enjoy

JK

Troy Andrews, also known by the stage name Trombone Shorty, is an American musician, producer, actor and philanthropist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Born January 2 1986, He is best known as a trombone and trumpet player but also plays drums, organ, and tuba. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry U2, Lenny Kravitz, Green Day, The Foo Fighters, Eric Clapton. Andrews began playing trombone at age four, and since 2009 has toured with his own band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. This is a new track of his ‘Lifted’ released in March 2022.

Josiah Alexander Sila, known professionally as Joey Alexander, is an Indonesian jazz pianist. He became the first Indonesian musician to chart on Billboard 200 when his album My Favorite Things debuted at number 174 and then peaked at 59. Born June 25 2003. Joey Alexander has been performing professionally since 2013 when he was invited by Wynton Marsalis to perform at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala. Over the course of his astonishing career, Alexander has performed with Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding at the Obama White House, for President Bill Clinton at the Arthur Ashe Learning Center Gala, at the Grand Ole Opry, the Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall and at major jazz festivals and night clubs around the world. This is ‘Promise of Spring’ from his soon to be released album Origin.

Melody Gardot is an American jazz singer. Born February 2 1985 in New Jersey, Gardot started music lessons at the age of nine and began playing piano in Philadelphia bars at the age of 16 on Fridays and Saturdays for four hours a night. French-born, composer and pianist, Phillippe Powell and Gardot have joined forces to create an album where many of the songs sound as if they came straight out of the Great American Songbook. The only twist of lime is that at times, these “new standards” offer a Gershwinian nod to what could be otherwise dubbed the “Great French Songbook”, since several titles are in the language of the city where they were conceived (France). This is their track ‘This Foolish Heart Could Love You’ from Entre eux Deux.

Brandon Coleman is a keyboardist, vocalist, composer, producer, arranger. A regular fixture in the saxophone great Kamasi Washington band, on the keys or wielding his keytar, he is introduced onstage at gigs as “Professor Boogie” by his longtime friend and collaborator. Coleman’s epiphany came aged 16 when he’d only really just taken up piano. “My brother gave me a Herbie Hancock record - ‘Sunlight’,” he says. “I put it on and just kept listening to it on repeat ‘cos I couldn’t fathom how he was singing like that… it sounded electric.

The list of artists with whom Coleman has collaborated is simultaneously inspiring and exhausting. From Ciara to Mulatu Astatke and Childish Gambino to Shuggie Otis… but one of his most consistent studio partners during the last decade has been R&B icon Babyface. “I’ve learned a lot from him. This is from his most recent release May 10 2022 ‘Be With Me’

Shabaka Hutchings is a British jazz saxophonist, clarinettist and band leader. He leads the bands Sons of Kemet and Shabaka and the Ancestors. He is also a member of The Comet Is Coming, performing under the stage name King Shabaka. Over the last half decade, Shabaka Hutchings has established himself as a central figure in the London jazz scene, which is enjoying its greatest creative renaissance since the breakthroughs of Joe Harriott and Evan Parker. He has studied classical clarinet at college at London’s prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama. In his teens he was obsessed with reggae and hip-hop, especially Tupac, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and E-40 (“he’s the Eric Dolphy of hip-hop,” Hutchings says of the West Coast rapper, “where he’s going is just completely out there”), and still practices by playing his saxophone along to rap albums like the Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die. This is new track from his new release on May 2022 ‘Ital Is Vital’

Tank and the Bangas is an American musical group based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band won the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest and in November 2019, they were nominated in the Best New Artist category for the 2020 Grammy Awards. They have released three studio albums, Thinktank and Green Balloon, and Red Balloon. From their new release May 12, 2022 this is ‘Mr Bluebell’

Peter Erskine has played the drums since the age of four and is known for his versatility and love of working in different musical contexts. He appears on 700 albums and film scores, and has won two Grammy Awards, plus an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee School of Music (1992). Fifty albums have been released under his own name or as co-leader. He has played with the Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson Big Bands, Weather Report, Steps Ahead, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Diana Krall, Kenny Wheeler, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Brecker Brothers, The Yellowjackets, Pat Metheny and Gary Burton, John Scofield, et al, and has appeared as a soloist with the London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Frankfurt Radio, Scottish Chamber, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Royal Opera House, BBC Symphony, Oslo and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras. Peter is Professor of Practice and Director of Drumset Studies at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California. From his most recent release April 2022 with his trio this is ‘The Honeymoon’

Trombonist Steve Davis was born April 14, 1967 in Worcester MA. He studied jazz under Jackie Mclean at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford in Connecticut. Davis has played with Chick Corea, Art Blakey, Larry Willis, Jackie McLean. This ‘Bluesthetic’ from his release April 16, 2022

Guitar great John Scofield, sometimes referred to as "Sco", is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. Born in Dayton OH 1951thsi composer guitarist has been wowing audiences for decades with his virtuosity. John Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late 70’s and is going strong today. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R & B. Since that time he has prominently led his own groups in the international Jazz scene, recorded over 30 albums as a leader (many already classics) including collaborations with contemporary favorites like Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau, Mavis Staples, Government Mule, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano and Phil Lesh. He’s played and recorded with Tony Williams, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Dave Holland, Terumasa Hino among many jazz legends. Throughout his career Scofield has punctuated his traditional jazz offerings with funk-oriented electric music. All along, the guitarist has kept an open musical mind. From his soon to be released album this is the track ‘Honest I Do’

‘Carnival de la Samba’ from my Feels Better Than It Sounds CD.

I hope You Enjoy

JK

Mary Halvorson is an American avant-garde jazz guitarist from Brookline, Massachusetts. Halvorson began her musical education on violin but was enthralled with the idea of playing guitar after discovering Jimi Hendrix She first picked up electric guitar at the age of 11 in seventh grade. She initially enrolled in Wellesley College to study biology, but dropped her prospective major after sitting in on one of saxophonist Anthony Braxton’s music classes. She quickly connected with him and he heavily encouraged her to find her own expression on guitar.[3] Although Halvorson is often categorized as a jazz guitarist, her music includes elements of many other genres, such as flamenco, rock, noise, and psychedelia. This is ‘Night Shift’ from her newly released album Amaryllis.

New York City-based Jonathan Barber was voted the #1 Up-and-Coming Drummer of 2018 in Modern Drummer. Only 29 years old, he has already recorded and toured worldwide with such artists as Pat Metheny, Nicholas Payton, Buster Williams, Jeremy Pelt, Wallace Roney, Terrace Martin, Jennifer Holiday, Harold Mabern, Steve Davis, Stefon Harris, and many more. Barber has also been called on for such significant performances as Jimmy Greene’s Ana Grace Project (with an all-star band comprised of Greene, Kenny Barron, John Patitucci, and Kurt Elling) and back-to-back sold-out concerts with the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Erykah Badu at the BAM Opera House. Born in Hartford, CT, Barber has been playing drums since the age of five, initially falling in love with the instrument through watching his father perform in the family church. Barber’s upbringing in the church instilled within him a deep appreciation of the power, passion, and full sound of the gospel music tradition, and he now brings its infectious energy to the wide range of styles in his musical toolkit. This is ‘Poetic’ from his May 2022 release.

Jacob Garcchic (trombone), is a multi-instrumentalist and composer. Since moving to New York in 1994 he has been a vital part of the Downtown and Brooklyn scene, playing trombone with the Lee Konitz Nonet, Ohad Talmor/Steve Swallow Sextet, Mary Halvorson Octet, and the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble. This is his track ‘Fanfare’ from his latest release Assembly.

Brandon Seabrook is a guitarist, banjoist, and composer living in New York City where he has established himself as one of the most forward-thinking and versatile and guitarists of his generation. Seabrook's work focuses on the juxtaposition of fragmented soundscapes, angular composition, and a massive dynamic range that can change in a nanosecond. Rolling Stone Magazine noted, “The fiercely dexterous musician has lunched a number of bands combining serious chops with manic intensity and a left- field compositional vision.” “In The Swarm” is the track heard hear from his May 2022 release.

Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo is a well known drummer, musician and DJ in the Chicago music scene. Originally from Panamá he fuses his pan-Latin style with influences of psychedelic rock, Cumbia, afro-beat, boogaloo, rock, free experimental jazz, hip-hop, and funk to create an original contemporary soundscape. Daniel was most recently seen playing drums on Season 6, Episode 12 of the television series “Empire.” As a DJ, Daniel specializes in groovy vintage Afro-diasporic sounds. His DJ sets (vinyl or digital) showcase his knowledge of world music, electronica,Tropicalia, vintage latin soul, Chicha, psychedelic Cumbia, Afrobeat, reggae, funk, and groovy deep cuts beats. “Uncanny” is the track heard here from his new release International Anthem.

Nduduzo Makhathini is a South African jazz musician from Umgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Coming from a musical family, his love for music began at an early age. Makhathini is the recipient of the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award in the category of Jazz. Makhathini won the Best Jazz Artist award. His musical output has led him to be described by Seton Hawkins of All About Jazz to be "a truly singular pianist, an astonishingly gifted composer, and a deeply nuanced thinker on the music...one of the [South Africa]'s most remarkable talents." From his new release in May 2022 In The Spirit Of Ntu is ‘Senze Nina’

Gordon McChesney "Ches" Smith is an American musician, whose primary instruments are drums, percussion, and vibraphone. He recorded and performed an album of his own solo percussion pieces entitled Congs for Brums. In 2010 he released Noise to Men. Originally from Sacramento, California, Ches Smith is a drummer, percussionist, and composer based in New York. He has collaborated with a host of artists on many scenes since the early 2000s, including Marc Ribot, Tim Berne, John Zorn, Darius Jones, David Torn, John Tchicai, Nels Cline, Mary Halvorson, Trevor Dunn, Terry Riley, Kris Davis, Dave Holland, Secret Chiefs 3, Xiu Xiu, Good for Cows, Theory of Ruin, and Mr. Bungle, among others. This is ‘Interpret It Well’ a new release for him.

Tigran Hamasyan is an Armenian jazz pianist. He plays mostly original compositions, which are strongly influenced by the Armenian folk tradition, often using its scales and modalities. In addition to Tigran's folk influence, he is influenced by American jazz traditions and to some extent, as on his album Red Hail, by progressive rock. His solo album A Fabel is most strongly influenced by Armenian Folk Music. Even on his most overt jazz compositions and renditions of well-known jazz pieces, his improvisations often contain embellishments based on scales from Middle Eastern/South Western Asian traditions. This is “De-Dah’ from his most recent 2022 release StandArt.

Tord Gustavsen (born 5 October 1970) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer. He tours extensively worldwide, and he has been a bandleader for a trio, ensemble and quartet at various times, all bearing his name. After playing primarily in trio format for several years, Tord launched his new project, Tord Gustavsen Ensemble in 2008, with a commissioned work for the Vossajazz Festival in Norway, followed by a new recording in 2009. In 2011-2015, the quartet was Tord’s major touring ensemble formation, alongside duo and trio formats with the musicians in the ensemble. He did extended projects with Kristin Asbjørnsen and Susanna Wallumrød joining the ensemble on vocals, with Cecilie Jørstad doing spoken word, and with Nils Økland on fiddle/violin. In 2022, Tord continues the journey in trio format, now introducing bass player Steinar Raknes alongside drummer Jarle Vespestad, for a trio that takes inventive interplay and humble virtuosity to yet another level. His latest 2022 album release is Opening and this track ‘Stream’ is from that album.

Per Mollehoj is a Danish jazz guitarist based in Copenhagen. ‘Beal Street Blues’ is from his new 2022 release with his trio S’Wonderful.

As a contrast to the 1st track on this playlist with the same title. This my track ‘Night Shift’ from my 1st CD Feels Better Than It Sounds.

I hope you enjoy

JK

Led by Drummer Damien Schmitt Dam'nco is the new face of French Jazz pop.The compositions, which borrow different musical styles, are directly inspired by the atmospheres of the districts of Paris where all the members of the group live. Dam'nco represents the interbreeding of 21st century France and its multiculturalism. Colorful, singing and dancing music punctuated by explosive improvisations. Dam'nco is the gathering of six of the best French musicians who play a resolutely modern jazz, anchored in its time, with this little additional ingredient: the French touch! Here is ‘French Kiss’

Composer pianist Lao Tizer hails from Boulder, CO, with a career that now spans nine albums over nearly a quarter of a century he was a teenage prodigy. Tizer is the son of hippies with a Russian-Jewish background, and the mix of that ethnic family heritage, parental new age influence and growing up with the sights and sounds of '80s and '90s pop culture (alongside the music of the '60s and '70s he heard from his parents) have brought him to a place in his artistic life where he was ready to embrace a wider range of influences and stretch himself and his players to pull off such an ambitious project. This is ‘16th Heaven’ from one of his earlier albums.

James Robert Haslip (born December 31, 1951) is an American bass guitarist who was a founding member of the jazz fusion group the Yellowjackets which he left in 2012. He was also an early user of the five-string electric bass. Born in the Bronx to Puerto Ricans immigrants, Spanish was Haslip's first language and he learned to speak English in kindergarten. In addition to working with the Yellowjackets Haslip has worked with Jeff Lorber, Bruce Hornsby, Rita Coolidge, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau and a host of who’s who in jazz and beyond. This is ‘Outland’ from his 1st solo album ARC.

Cheltenham Pa.’s (just outside of Philadelphia PA) own Jeff Lorber is an American keyboardist, composer, and record producer. After six previous nominations, Lorber won his first Grammy Award on January 28, 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Prototype by his band the Jeff Lorber Fusion. He attended Berklee College of Music in the early 1970s but did not graduate to go on the road with guitarist John Scofield who he met there. His first group, the Jeff Lorber Fusion, released their self-titled debut album in 1977 and has gone on to release thirteen albums. He has also recorded and released thirteen solo albums. This is a live performance of is tune ‘Surreptitious’

Cedar Anthony Walton, Jr. was an American hard bop jazz pianist. He came to prominence as a member of drummer Art Blakey's band, The Jazz Messengers, before establishing a long career as a bandleader and composer. Several of his compositions have become jazz standards including Bolivia, Holy Land and Mode for Joe. He and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard joined the Jazz Messengers on the same day. He left the Messengers in 1964 and was part of the rhythm section band at Prestige records. This is ‘Firm Roots’ another of his original tunes that have become Jazz standards.

The Yellowjackets were formed when guitarist Robben Ford assembled keyboardist Russell Farrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Ricky Lawson for an album recording. They decided to continue as a group and were signed to Warner Brothers Records in 1977. Ford left the group in 1984 and was replaced by saxophonist Marc Russo and later replaced by Bob Mintzer in 1990. Drummer Ricky Lawson was later replaced by drummer Will Kennedy. They have recorded and released twenty six albums during their career. This is ‘Tenacity’ from their Timeline Album from 2011.

Snarky Puppy is an American instrumental ensemble led by bassist Michael League. Snarky Puppy combines a variety of jazz idioms, rock, world music, and funk and has won four Grammy Awards. Although the band has worked with vocalists, League described Snarky Puppy as "a pop band that improvises a lot, without vocals". In 2005, League self-released the band's unofficial first album Live at Uncommon Ground. Snarky Puppy's next three albums were released independently, after which Tell Your Friends, groundUP, Family Dinner: Volume One, and We Like It Here were released on the band's GroundUP imprint on Ropeadope Records. This is ’Lingus’ featuring keyboard phenom Corey Henry a member (at the time) of the group.

Folk singer and songwriter Richie Havens (the very first artist to perform at Woodstock) was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music encompassed elements of folk, soul, and rhythm and blues. He had an intense and rhythmic guitar style, and played soulful covers of pop and folk songs. Born in Brooklyn New York in 1941 he left his home at age 20 to seek artist stimulation in Greenwich Village in Manhattan NY. Known for is cover versions of other artist music by making it his own, brought Havens to a wider audience and made him very popular. He appeared on television shows like The Ed Sullivan Show, and Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show. This is where I first heard ‘Dreaming As One’ and it has become one of my favorite tunes of his.

Stephen Lee Bruner, better known by his stage name Thundercat, is an American bass guitarist, singer, songwriter and actor from Los Angeles.
Born into a family of musicians, Bruner began playing the bass at an early age, listening to bass players such as Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller for inspiration. By 15 he had a minor hit in Germany as a member of the boy band No Curfew. A year later he joined his brother drummer Ronald. as a member of the Los Angeles punk band Suicidal Tendencies. This ‘Uh Uh’ from his album as a bandleader.

Jan Hammer is a Czech-American musician, composer, and record producer. He first gained his most visible audience while playing keyboards with the Mahavishnu Orchestra during the early 1970s, as well as his film scores and television including Miami Vice Theme from the 1980s television program. Hammer has collaborated with some of the era's most influential jazz and rock musicians such as Jeff Beck, Billy Cobham, Mick Jagger, Carlos Santana, Stanley Clarke and others. This is from his jazz fusion album from the album Oh Yeah ‘One To One’ from 1977.

Rare Bird Ballet is from my 1st CD featuring Webb Thomas drums, Lee Smith bass and the late Leonard ‘Doc’ Gibbs on percussion.

I hope you Enjoy.

JK

Drummer Steve Gadd may be the most recorded drummer in history although others have claimed this coveted spot. He has played with a who’s who in the music industry from Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Bee Gees, Chick Corea, Grover Washington Jr. etc. One of his most famous recognizable playing was on singer song writer Paul Simon’s ’50 Way to Leave Your Lover’ from the Grammy winning Album ‘Still Crazy After All These Years’. Steve started playing at age 11 and is a graduate of Eastman School of Music in New York. Here is one of his tracks from his many albums and bands ‘Sly Boots’.

Percussionist master extraordinaire Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin Jazz compositions that endured over a 50-year career. During the 1950s, Puente was at the height of his popularity, and helped to bring Afro-Cuban and Caribbean sounds like mambo, son and cha cha’ to mainstream audiences. Puente was so successful playing popular Afro-Cuban rhythms that many people mistakenly identify him as Cuban. Dance Mania possibly Puente's most well known album, was released in 1958. Among his most famous compositions are mambo "Oye Como va’ (1963), popularized by Latin rock musician Carlos Santana and later interpreted, among others.

Trumpeter composer Freddie Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives for modern jazz and bebop. One of the greatest trumpet virtuosos ever to play in the jazz idiom, and arguably one of the most influential, Freddie Hubbard played mellophone and then trumpet in his school band and studied at the Jordan Conservatory with the principal trumpeter of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Often played with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and a host of Jazz and music greats, he was a member of the Art Blakey Jazz Messengers of the early 60s. Here is ‘Red Clay’ one of his most popular compositions and now a Jazz Standard.

One of my most admired music hero’s was composer, arranger Henry Mancini. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and twenty Grammy Awards, plus a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. He wrote many themes for television and movies including the ‘Pink Panther’ theme. He also was instrumental in recommending Quincy Jones for his 1st movie score ‘The Pawn Broker’ when Black people were denied this opportunity. Here is one of my favorites ‘The Theme To Peter Gunn’ television show.

Charles Mingus the bassist, composer, bandleader is being celebrated around the world this month on his 100th birthday. Although he passed in 1979 his influence is still felt through out the Jazz world. One of the most important figures in twentieth century American music, Charles Mingus was a virtuoso bass player, accomplished pianist, bandleader and composer. His early professional experience, in the 40's, found him touring with bands like Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory and Lionel Hampton. From the 1960's until his death in 1979 at age 56 from a rare decease, Mingus remained in the forefront of American music. When asked to comment on his accomplishments, Mingus said that his abilities as a bassist were the result of hard work but that his talent for composition came from God. ‘Better Git It In Your Soul’ is one of his most recognizable and popular compositions.

What hasn’t been written about the great American composer and bandleader Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington. One of the most prolific composers in history mainly in Jazz but not limited to this genre, Duke was and still revered as an American treasure. His influence in Jazz cast a wide shadow on many Jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Dave Brubeck and Stevie Wonder to name but a few. ‘Drop Me Off In Harlem’ later with added lyrics was made popular by another Jazz icon Louis Armstrong.

Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson was a ‘monster’ of a player in my opinion. His playing and solos were never boring and filled with so much of a depth of a knowledge of harmony and phrasing which mesmerized the listener every time you heard it. His early musical interests included drums, piano, saxophone and composition. While attending classes of flute and bass at Wayne State University he further developed his saxophone and compositional skills. From 1963 to 1968, Henderson appeared on nearly 30 albums for Blue Note records including five released under his name. Though he occasionally worked with Echoes of An Era the Griffith Park Band and Chick Corea, Henderson remained primarily a leader throughout the 1980s. An accomplished and prolific composer, he began to focus more on reinterpreting standards and his own earlier compositions. ‘Shade of Jade’ is one of my favorite tunes of his.

Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Jr. was an American jazz double bassist. A fixture of rhythm sections during the 1950s and 1960s, his importance in the development of jazz bass can be measured not only by the extent of his work in this short period, but also by his impeccable timekeeping and virtuosic improvisations. His career was cut short by his untimely death in 1969 at the age of thirty three, left a huge whole in the Jazz world. In 1955 he joined the Mile Davis quintet, and was awarded the Down Beat"New Star Award" the following year. Chambers stayed with the group until 1963, and appeared on many classic albums, including Kind of Blue One of Chambers's most noted performances was on that album's first track, "So What. Here is one of his own compositions ‘Omicron’.

Flautist Herbert Jay Solomon known professionally by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor sax and clarinet but Mann was among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute. His most popular single was ‘Hijack’ which was a Billboard No. 1 dance hit for three weeks in 1975. He was a major influence on me when I use young and being introduced to jazz because of his groove based tracks. Here is one of his popular tracks ‘Comin Home Baby’

Child prodigy on the organ local phenom (Philadelphia PA) Joey Defrancesco has been wowing audiences for many years. I remember listening to him for the first time when he was fifteen and was blown away by his playing, which only improved over the years. He has since gone on to add trumpet and tenor saxophone to his arsenal. He has played with Miles Davis, guitarist great John McLaughlin, George Benson, Ray Charles, Bette Midler, Christian McBride, and others. He was born into a musical family that included three generations of jazz musicians. He was named after his grandfather, Joseph DeFrancesco, a jazz musician who played the saxophone and clarinet. Here is his rendition of ‘Fly Me To The Moon’

Another artist who had a short career due to an untimely death from an auto accident in 2002 was saxophonist great Bob Berg. He played with Miles Davis, Chick Corea, pianist composer Cedar Walton, Mike Stern, and his own band. He was a student of hard bop, he also played fusion, funk, and even country. I am so fond of his rendition of the Jazz standard ‘You and The Night And The Music’ I play this on my own gigs. A talent gone too soon.

Bobby Humphrey was an anomaly being she was one of the first female Jazz ‘super stars’ (my opinion) to come out of the 1970s. She plays Jazz fusion, Funk, and soul-jazz. Barbara Ann "Bobbi" Humphrey has recorded twelve albums and founded the jazz label Paradise Sounds Records. In 1971, she was the first female instrumentalist signed by Blue Note. ‘Harlem River Drive’ is one of her most popular tracks.

I hope you Enjoy.

JK

Drummer Steve Gadd may be the most recorded drummer in history although others have claimed this coveted spot. He has played with a who’s who in the music industry from Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Bee Gees, Chick Corea, Grover Washington Jr. etc. One of his most famous recognizable playing was on singer song writer Paul Simon’s ’50 Way to Leave Your Lover’ from the Grammy winning Album ‘Still Crazy After All These Years’. Steve started playing at age 11 and is a graduate of Eastman School of Music in New York. Here is one of his tracks from his many albums and bands ‘Sly Boots’.

Percussionist master extraordinaire Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin Jazz compositions that endured over a 50-year career. During the 1950s, Puente was at the height of his popularity, and helped to bring Afro-Cuban and Caribbean sounds like mambo, son and cha cha’ to mainstream audiences. Puente was so successful playing popular Afro-Cuban rhythms that many people mistakenly identify him as Cuban. Dance Mania possibly Puente's most well known album, was released in 1958. Among his most famous compositions are mambo "Oye Como va’ (1963), popularized by Latin rock musician Carlos Santana and later interpreted, among others.

Trumpeter composer Freddie Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives for modern jazz and bebop. One of the greatest trumpet virtuosos ever to play in the jazz idiom, and arguably one of the most influential, Freddie Hubbard played mellophone and then trumpet in his school band and studied at the Jordan Conservatory with the principal trumpeter of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Often played with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and a host of Jazz and music greats, he was a member of the Art Blakey Jazz Messengers of the early 60s. Here is ‘Red Clay’ one of his most popular compositions and now a Jazz Standard.

One of my most admired music hero’s was composer, arranger Henry Mancini. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and twenty Grammy Awards, plus a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. He wrote many themes for television and movies including the ‘Pink Panther’ theme. He also was instrumental in recommending Quincy Jones for his 1st movie score ‘The Pawn Broker’ when Black people were denied this opportunity. Here is one of my favorites ‘The Theme To Peter Gunn’ television show.

Charles Mingus the bassist, composer, bandleader is being celebrated around the world this month on his 100th birthday. Although he passed in 1979 his influence is still felt through out the Jazz world. One of the most important figures in twentieth century American music, Charles Mingus was a virtuoso bass player, accomplished pianist, bandleader and composer. His early professional experience, in the 40's, found him touring with bands like Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory and Lionel Hampton. From the 1960's until his death in 1979 at age 56 from a rare decease, Mingus remained in the forefront of American music. When asked to comment on his accomplishments, Mingus said that his abilities as a bassist were the result of hard work but that his talent for composition came from God. ‘Better Git It In Your Soul’ is one of his most recognizable and popular compositions.

What hasn’t been written about the great American composer and bandleader Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington. One of the most prolific composers in history mainly in Jazz but not limited to this genre, Duke was and still revered as an American treasure. His influence in Jazz cast a wide shadow on many Jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Dave Brubeck and Stevie Wonder to name but a few. ‘Drop Me Off In Harlem’ later with added lyrics was made popular by another Jazz icon Louis Armstrong.

Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson was a ‘monster’ of a player in my opinion. His playing and solos were never boring and filled with so much of a depth of a knowledge of harmony and phrasing which mesmerized the listener every time you heard it. His early musical interests included drums, piano, saxophone and composition. While attending classes of flute and bass at Wayne State University he further developed his saxophone and compositional skills. From 1963 to 1968, Henderson appeared on nearly 30 albums for Blue Note records including five released under his name. Though he occasionally worked with Echoes of An Era the Griffith Park Band and Chick Corea, Henderson remained primarily a leader throughout the 1980s. An accomplished and prolific composer, he began to focus more on reinterpreting standards and his own earlier compositions. ‘Shade of Jade’ is one of my favorite tunes of his.

Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Jr. was an American jazz double bassist. A fixture of rhythm sections during the 1950s and 1960s, his importance in the development of jazz bass can be measured not only by the extent of his work in this short period, but also by his impeccable timekeeping and virtuosic improvisations. His career was cut short by his untimely death in 1969 at the age of thirty three, left a huge whole in the Jazz world. In 1955 he joined the Mile Davis quintet, and was awarded the Down Beat"New Star Award" the following year. Chambers stayed with the group until 1963, and appeared on many classic albums, including Kind of Blue One of Chambers's most noted performances was on that album's first track, "So What. Here is one of his own compositions ‘Omicron’.

Flautist Herbert Jay Solomon known professionally by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor sax and clarinet but Mann was among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute. His most popular single was ‘Hijack’ which was a Billboard No. 1 dance hit for three weeks in 1975. He was a major influence on me when I use young and being introduced to jazz because of his groove based tracks. Here is one of his popular tracks ‘Comin Home Baby’

Child prodigy on the organ local phenom (Philadelphia PA) Joey Defrancesco has been wowing audiences for many years. I remember listening to him for the first time when he was fifteen and was blown away by his playing, which only improved over the years. He has since gone on to add trumpet and tenor saxophone to his arsenal. He has played with Miles Davis, guitarist great John McLaughlin, George Benson, Ray Charles, Bette Midler, Christian McBride, and others. He was born into a musical family that included three generations of jazz musicians. He was named after his grandfather, Joseph DeFrancesco, a jazz musician who played the saxophone and clarinet. Here is his rendition of ‘Fly Me To The Moon’

Another artist who had a short career due to an untimely death from an auto accident in 2002 was saxophonist great Bob Berg. He played with Miles Davis, Chick Corea, pianist composer Cedar Walton, Mike Stern, and his own band. He was a student of hard bop, he also played fusion, funk, and even country. I am so fond of his rendition of the Jazz standard ‘You and The Night And The Music’ I play this on my own gigs. A talent gone too soon.

Bobby Humphrey was an anomaly being she was one of the first female Jazz ‘super stars’ (my opinion) to come out of the 1970s. She plays Jazz fusion, Funk, and soul-jazz. Barbara Ann "Bobbi" Humphrey has recorded twelve albums and founded the jazz label Paradise Sounds Records. In 1971, she was the first female instrumentalist signed by Blue Note. ‘Harlem River Drive’ is one of her most popular tracks.

I hope you Enjoy.

JK

Composer pianist Billy Strayhorn notable for his collaborations with composer bandleader Duke Ellington. Strayhorn joined the Ellington band at the age twenty four. Ellington liked what he saw in Billy and took this shy, talented pianist under his wings. Neither one was sure what Strayhorn’s function in the band would be, but their musical talents had attracted each other. By the end of the year Strayhorn had become essential to the Duke Ellington Band; arranging, composing, sitting-in at the piano. Strayhorn wrote many of the popular tunes performed by the Ellington band including ‘Chelsea Bridge’, ‘Lush Life’ and the track most associated with the Ellington Band ‘Take The A Train’.

Drummer Tony Williams was put on the world stage by his mentor trumpeter Miles Davis. Tony joined Miles Davis Band which included Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter when he was seventeen years of age. After his stint with Miles, Tony started his own jazz fusion, jazz band Lifetime and played on many Jazz artist recordings before his untimely death in 1997. Here is ‘Fred’ from Lifeline: The Collection.

Mentored by the pianist educator Kenny Barron, pianist/composer Geri Allen was an extraordinary music force in jazz which included Jazz funk, blues and gospel. Geri was a graduate of Howard University and earned a Master’s degree from University of Pittsburg. As a pianist she pushed boundaries in rhythm, harmony and was a consummate player. She was married to the late trumpeter Wallace Roney for some years which produced a son Wallace Roney Jr. who is now currently a recognized talent in Jazz. Geri passed away in 2017 in Philadelphia. Here she is with her ‘Obtuse Angels’ from ‘Live At The Village Vanguard’ Album.

One of my new favorite pianist is this young master Christian Sands. I first heard this phenom when he was twenty three years playing with bassist great Christian McBride’s trio and I was blown away. He was mentored by the late great jazz pianist Billy Taylor. Now thirty two years of age, this awesome talent is becoming a major force in Jazz music and I predict he will be revered as much as his influences in the future. This multi Grammy nominated composer pianist is here with ‘Samba de Vela’ from his Facing Dragons album.

Hard Bop pianist Benny Green was mentored by be-bop jazz pianist Walter Bishop Jr. who was heavily influenced by Jazz great Bud Powell and has appeared on more than 100 recordings, with artists such as Betty Carter, Milt Jackson and Diana Krall. In 1993, Oscar Peterson chose Green to receive the Glen Gould International Protégé Prize in Music. Here is Green with his track ‘Virgo’ from his ‘These Are The Soulful Days’ album.

Drummer Art Blakey with his Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers was a mentor to many of the great names in jazz such as Benny Golson, Lee Morgan, Bobby Timmons, Freddie Hubbard and the great Wayne Shorter who went onto higher fame playing with was considered the second great Miles Davis band and in the 1960s. Wayne is an icon in jazz and a composer who pushes the boundaries of harmonics and phrasing. Wayne and pianist Joe Zawinul created the jazz fusion band Weather Report. ‘FootPrints’ is now a jazz classic standard composed by Wayne first introduced when he played in the Miles Davis band.

The jazz dynasty of the Marsalis’s from New Orleans which includes Wynton, and Bradford was started by the patriarch of the family jazz pianist, teacher, educator Ellis Marsalis. Ellis was also a mentor to many in the New Orleans area such as pianist, singer and actor Harry Connick Jr. here is a collaboration between Bradford Marsalis and Ellis ‘Lulu’s Back in Town’ from ‘Loved Ones’ album.

Even the all time greats were mentored at sometime in their career and the great Louis Armstrong was no exception. Louis was mentored by King Oliver the reigning great jazz trumpeter influencer in New Orleans, Chicago and beyond. Nicknamed ‘Satchmo’, Pops’ Louis was a trumpeter and vocalist whose career spanned five decades and different eras of Jazz. He was the oldest person to have a number one hit knocking the Beatles off of the top charts with his rendition of ‘Hello Dolly’ in 1964. Here is ‘Skokiaan’ (South Africa Song) from his ‘All Time Greatest Hits’ album.

Drummer Marcus Gilmore is the nephew of drummer great Roy Haynes his mentor. Marcus is another young jazz phenom at the age of thirty five. He received a full ride scholarships at Julliard and Manhattan Schools of music in New York. He has played with Chick Corea winning a Grammy, pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and others. Here is ‘Hazelnut Eyes’ from his Hearts Wide Open’ album.

Virtuoso guitarist composer Pat Metheny from Lee’s Summit MO came to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music invited by his mentor vibraphone great Gary Burton after Burton heard him play while on tour. He has gone on to become an icon in jazz and has played with a who’s who in the music industry Jazz and elsewhere. I met Pat Metheny on my first official day as a student at Berklee not knowing who he was or would become since he had just released his first album. We hung out and talked for an hour while he was waiting for his brother Mike who taught at Berklee. This is ‘America Undefined’ from his ‘From This Place’ album.

I hope you enjoy.

JK

Sylvia Moy was the first woman at Motown to write and produce records for the label’s artists. When there were talks of dropping Stevie from the label due to changes in his voice, she requested that she be given a chance to change the label’s mind. “I don’t believe it’s over for him,” she said she told Motown’s head of artists and repertoire Mickey Stevenson, “Let me have Stevie.” Having promised to write a hit for the young talent to perform, Moy teamed up with songwriter Henry Crosby and came up with “Uptight (Everything Is Alright).” Other songs of hers were “This Old Heart of Mine” for the Isley Brothers and “Honey Chile” for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Here is ‘My Cherie Amour’ one of Stevie Wonders's biggest hits of the 1960s.

Christi McVie is a member and keyboardist for the supergroup Fleetwood Mac. She has written many of the group’s biggest hits like ‘Don’t’ Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)” “Little Lies” and “You Make Loving Fun”. ‘Over My Head’ is one of my favorite tunes written by this songwriter.

As far as I am concerned, no list of songwriters male or female would be complete without including the great Valerie Simpson. I have been influenced by this gifted songwriter. Along with her late lyricist husband Nick Ashford they wrote some of the most endearing songs of our time. Their first hit was written for Ray Charles ‘Lets’s Go Get Stoned’ in the early 60s and then for Motown and their own solo career: ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing’ ‘Solid’ ‘Your Precious Love’ and this track ‘You’re All I Need To Get By’

Songwriter Brenda Russell has had a very successful career as a songwriter starting in 1963 at the age of 12. Her songs have been covered by: Babyface, Luther Vandross, Ramsey Lewis, and sampled by Janet Jackson, and Tupac Shakur to name but a few. She really became more noticed in the 1980s for her songs ‘Dinner With Gershwin’ and this hit for singer Oleta Adams ‘Get Here’

Nina Simone has found her way to my Playlist more than once. This singer-songwriter used her music as a reflection of the times during the civil rights movement. Her music spanned styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop. One of her most poignant and heartfelt tunes from that era was ‘Mississippi Goddam’ in response to the killing of civil rights field officer in Mississippi Medgar Evers.

The prolific songwriter Joni Mitchell is the epitome of a singer-songwriter. She has written tunes since the 1960s covered by Cosby, Stills, Nash, & Young’s ‘Woodstock’ to singer Julie Collins ‘Both Sides Now’. One of her songs ‘Chelsea Morning’ was the inspiration for the former President and his wife Bill and Hillary to name their only child Chelsea. One of my favorite and most sampled songs of hers is ‘Big Yellow Taxi’.

Aside from the larger-than-life persona of this country music legend, Dolly Parton is a very prolific songwriter. Mostly she has written music for the country music market with her songs being covered by those artist. She wrote the hit song ‘9 to Five’ for the movie of the same title and her most famous cover of a song she wrote was ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston from the movie Body Guard.

A personal favorite and in my opinion underrated songwriter of mine is Aimee Mann. She started in the 80s girl group Till Tuesday and then branched out into a solo career. Her debut 1993 release of her album ‘Whatever’’ showed a gift for prose with thoughtful lyrics and music along with what I consider great production. She was a student at Berklee College of Music. Here is one of my favorite tracks of hers ‘That’s Just What You Are’ which was featured on the TV show Melrose Place.

In the very early 1970s, it seemed you could not escape the sounds of singer-songwriter’s debut album ‘Tapestry’ by Carol King. Along with her husband lyrist Gerry Goffin, of the Brill Building songwriters in the 60s which included Burt Bacharach, Neil Diamond, and others, they wrote some of the most enduring songs of our time covered by other artists such as The Drifters, Little Eva, Aretha Franklin. ‘It’s Too Late’ was from her debut solo album and a massive hit for her.

With her infectious beats and innovative videos, Missy Elliot is someone who I have come to admire and recognize as a force in the music industry. Missy Elliott has helped write several classics, such as “1,2,3, Step” from Ciara's album Goodiesand ‘One In A Million” by Aaliyah for her second album, One in a Million. She has also helped write for Jenifer Hudson, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, and many others, along with writing her own music for years. She is the first female rapper nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has collaborated with super-producer Timbaland on many of her hits. Here is ‘Work It” one of her most popular tracks performed by her.

The late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro who passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 49 in 1997 was a prolific songwriter whose songs were made famous by the 5th Dimension, Three Dog Night, Linda Ronstadt, Blood Sweat & Tears. Rejecting commercial pressures, she would help push the boundaries of popular music by writing songs celebrating motherhood, female sexuality and her menstrual cycle. ‘This is her version of the tune she penned covered by the 5th Dimension “Stoned Soul Picnic’

North Philadelphia’s own Singer Jill Scott pens many of her tunes along with a collaborator at times. Her music empowers females and deals with relations. She is the only female on this Playlist who is known for mostly writing the lyrics to her tunes. She has won accolades for her acting and Grammy wins. She attended Temple University and planned on becoming a Highschool English teacher but was discovered by Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson at a poetry reading. ‘Golden’ is one of her biggest hits empowering women with its positive message.



I Hope You Enjoy



JK