Dave Grusin scored the soundtrack of a generation
The soundscape of Dave Grusin is so very much the soundtrack of a generation. He scored music for iconic film and television...

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The artistry of Jackie Richardson is warm, welcoming and comforting
In mere moments in the presence of Jackie Richardson, you both will walk away as friends. You will gain the friendship of...

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Oscar Peterson made perfection look effortless
I think he was the brilliant artist that he was because there was not a single element of skill foundation out of...

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With his final album, Miles Davis began exploring the world of hip hop
In Lifted, Javon Anderson examines the long-standing relationship between jazz and hip hop. Throughout his illustrious career, Miles Davis always had an ear...

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João Gilberto’s music was part of the definition of a culture
In the New York Times article written at the time of his death, João Gilberto is called an architect of bossa nova....

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Betty Carter improvised freely and fearlessly
There is magic when one artist speaks fondly of another. The vocalist Carmen McCrae said these words once upon a time: “There’s...

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Mike Stern speaks the language of the heart
His playing bridges generations in scope, sound, attitude and spirit. His artistry speaks of respect for the foundations and the explorations of...

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Year in review: 25 of the best jazz albums of 2021
Throughout this year, jazz artists crossed time and space to make extraordinary music that rose to the moment...

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For Emmet Cohen, the piano is the soulful machinery of creativity
Jazz is in a mode of advancement with the artistry of Emmet Cohen. His musicality was expressed at a very early age,...

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Gretchen Parlato sings with wit, irony and adventure
She is a Los Angeleno by birth, with a richness of diversity in her earliest music and art experiences. Her father was...

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The fun and playful ways of Tuck & Patti
They play like they are playing: chasing, laughing, enjoying, nurturing, sharing, and blending. Their music beckons the listener, inviting them onto the...

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How Digable Planets ambitiously advanced the sound of jazz rap
In Lifted, Javon Anderson examines the long-standing relationship between jazz and hip hop. No conversation about jazz rap is complete without talking about...

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The music of Ron Carter excites all of the senses
These are Ron Carter’s words: “My responsibility as a bassist and bandleader is using every opportunity to create spectacular music.” I think...

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The best of Wes Montgomery: Five essential albums by the eternally influential guitarist
Wes Montgomery reinvented jazz guitar, and his legacy continues to be felt to this day. These five albums are among the best displays of his unique style....

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Even to the side of the limelight, Kenny Dorham was essential to jazz
His was a short life that had in it a crucial and significant creativity and activity that could have filled so very...

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Peter Appleyard was jazz in every sense of the word
Piano, drums, vibes, keys… the beat, the swing and, well, the vibes kind of say it all. There was a distinct charm...

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Challenge was part of the Billy Eckstine way
If silk sounded like music, it would sound like Billy Eckstine — as smooth as his distinctive voice and look. The singing...

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The best of Count Basie: Five essential albums by the big band leader
For nearly half a century, the Count Basie Orchestra was on top of the heap. These five albums are among the best displays of that excellence....

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For Brandee Younger, the harp sings with the soul of jazz
The harp… There is something brash and defiant even just about the way it looks. It belies its amazing range of musical...

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Lionel Loueke speaks the languages of music and soul
He speaks with his guitar. His is a dual language: the language of music and the language of the soul. They are...

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The best of Peter Appleyard: Five essential albums by a master of mallets
Peter Appleyard was a world-renowned vibraphonist and a beloved fixture in the Canadian music scene. These five albums showcase his excellence and versatility....

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George Benson plays like his soul depends on it
George Benson plays like his soul depends on it. It’s like his very being craves it and needs it to breathe and...

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How BADBADNOTGOOD carved out a unique space in the music scene
The entirety of the Toronto group's career is an interesting case study of how jazz and hip hop can intertwine and enhance one another...

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The music of Lizz Wright is imbued with respect for the natural world
She’s a Southerner and there is a sensibility. A signature of grace under — and as a means of getting over and...

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