Sara Gazarek is the consummate storytelling artist
In spite of the fact that she has a beautiful album called Vanity there is not a hint of vanity in the...
Eddie Henderson makes you see what you hear
When you can feel the emotion in the lines, you are experiencing what happens when an artist is able to connect, seemingly...
Kevin Eubanks delivers directly from his soul
He’s a Philadelphia native. There is a lot of music legacy packed into that birthright. A city steeped in music traditions and...
Stu Mac sings it like he means it
Sing it like you mean it. I think Stu’s heart says something just like that when he sings, I think his heart...
Bobby Hutcherson’s music reflected the times
Bobby Hutcherson played vibes. That phrase says a lot. Vibes indeed. He infused cool into the palette of the lyrical percussion instrument. It’s...
Defiance is in the spirit of Ruth Brown’s artistry
She was known as Miss Rhythm. Her artistry garnered her credit for the early importance of Atlantic records as a powerhouse R&B...
Marcus Miller has the currency of soul
In 2013, he was appointed as a UNESCO Artist for Peace. Peace, it is the main ingredient. That should be enough and...
Aaron Davis is an explorer of world music
The world of world-beat music is a journey of endless adventure. It gives its adventurers visits into the ways and whys the...
Andy Milne’s artistry is courageous and brave
Courage and bravery beats fear, courage and bravery beats fear: Imagine if your creative trajectory was challenged mid-flight by a force that...
Aaron Parks finds play in variances of depth and sound
Study with a piano master like Kenny Barron and you’re then simply ready for the world. Barron is living wisdom and to...
Mark Kelso is infectiously magnetic
Mark is a native of the Emerald Isle, from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is based in Toronto, Canada. A drummer percussionist, he...
Eddie Jefferson gave improvised melody language
Moody’s Mood For Love is a lilting instrumental rollercoaster ride of soulful expression. It evolved from a solo improvised by James Moody...
10 Indigenous Artists to Add to Your Music Playlist
NOTE (June 19, 2025): This article has been updated with some new music from some of the artists featured. Indigenous people have...
Joanna Majoko lives deep in every single note
Joanna Majoko lives deep in every single note she sings. Every single note that passes through her from her soul to her...
Bob Dorough brought jazz to the schoolhouse
The story goes like this, well mostly like this: Imagine if the slog that was learning multiplication tables was made kind of...
Dan Wilson paints pictures with his guitar
Dan Wilson paints music with his guitar. He introduces a vividness of color to tunes that give a new and yet very...
James Francies belongs to the family of jazz
He belongs with the family. The family that is jazz before, jazz now, and jazz tomorrow. He is all of that and...
Marlena Shaw sang with a purposeful spirit
Marlena Shaw’s Bluenote bio speaks of an extroverted stage presence. She sang with a purposeful spirit, every phrase got a life all...
David Berkman brings Midwestern wryness and wit to jazz
There is a kind of caution sidelined audacity, even if a gentle kind, that determinedly and fearlessly explores music’s relationships and its...
Exclusive: Carlos Santana sits down with Laura Fernandez at Cafe Latino
Acclaimed musician Carlos Santana sits down with Laura Fernandez on the most recent episode of Cafe Latino where they spoke about his...
Chris Potter – the sax player’s sax player
He is the sax player’s sax player. A sometimes simple and deep soulful sound that belies a heavier seriously complex texture. Light...
Maxine Sullivan lived a life well sung
The National Museum of African American History and Culture titles their profile story of the singer Maxine Sullivan this way: “A Life...
Bill Charlap is the epitome of pure jazz muscle
Grace and sophistication. Pure jazz muscle with an artistry steeped in the standards and the great American Songbook. A sweetness in the...