For Wayne Escoffery, the saxophone mimics the human voice
The Artistry of… Wayne Escoffery The sounds of music were constant when Wayne Escoffery was a child. His parents were not professional...
The voice of Johnny Hartman is like a warm hug
The Artistry of… Johnny Hartman The luscious, rich baritone voice of Johnny Hartman is an unforgettable corner in a world with far...
With his guitar, Gilad Hekselman defies the instrument’s mechanics
The Artistry of… Gilad Hekselman He’s a guitarist who makes his instrument sound like a voice, defying the instrument’s mechanics and allowing...
Guido Basso is a musical messenger
The Artistry of… Guido Basso From the earliest of times, the sound of the horn signalled a coming message: a happening, news,...
The artistry of Mary Stallings is rich with life experience
The Artistry of… Mary Stallings There is an elegance and maturity to Mary Stallings that results in a richness of artistry that...
Eric Reed remains true to the music’s message
The Artistry of… Eric Reed Art is art and influence comes from many sources, things, and existences. I love it when there...
Mike Downes is the smiling bassist
The Artistry of… Mike Downes I have called Mike Downes the smiling bassist before — for good reason. He’s still smiling. I...
The music of Terence Blanchard is deeply visual
The Artistry of… Terence Blanchard When I was a young child, someone bought me a kaleidoscope from the bookshop at a museum....
The artistry of Shirley Horn was in the strength of expression
The Artistry of… Shirley Horn Shirley Horn not only played piano and sang, but she played with the piano the same way...
The music of Mark Isham acts as a multi-layered lens
The Artistry of… Mark Isham Art made to capture sentiments expressed in and by another art form is special. Music made to...
Cannonball Adderley put his soulful signature on the language of jazz
The Artistry of… Cannonball Adderley Sometimes I imagine jazz to be a language we all have forgotten in a moment, but that...
Jodi Proznick leads with beautiful, sweet expression
The Artistry of… Jodi Proznick I like it when the foundation takes determined and confident steps out to the front — when...
With Mark Eisenman, we hear the musical spoils of a good spirit
The Artistry of… Mark Eisenman His is an artistry of spirited tenderness and sensitivity, with a bolstering confidence of an influence of...
José James is a voice of everyday blues, soul and groove
The Artistry of… José James Blue Note describes the vocalist as a jazz singer for the hip-hop generation. A solid foundation of...
Jay Douglas is filled with life, love and soul
The Artistry of… Jay Douglas Soul is life, and like life, it comes in many ways, shapes, expressions and colours. It speaks...
Jocelyn Gould’s guitar resonates with the waves of the soul
The Artistry of… Jocelyn Gould With the depth of their very soul, the guitarist speaks and sings like no other with their...
Renée Yoxon exemplifies the inclusivity of jazz
The Artistry of… Renée Yoxon They’re one of a song’s best friends. In Renée Yoxon’s voice, there is an adventure of the...
Joe Sample played with a hip, hypnotic groove
The Artistry of… Joe Sample The sound was what came out of a foray into a kind of jazz that hit a...
Carol Welsman’s voice is the sound of friendship
The Artistry of… Carol Welsman She sounds like friendliness — in song. She is the song’s best friend. If you have a...
Cyrille Aimée is an adventurer’s muse
The Artistry of… Cyrille Aimée Stephen Holden of The New York Times has described the vocalist Cyrille Aimée as having “one foot...
Melissa Aldana’s artistry intersects colour and sound
The Artistry of… Melissa Aldana I like it when you simply cannot separate the elements of one arts discipline from another in...
Bobo Stenson’s artistry is in the subtlety of expression
The Artistry of… Bobo Stenson There is a nuanced subtlety to the artistry of Swedish piano player Bobo Stenson — almost an...
Duke Ellington was jazz royalty
The Artistry of… Duke Ellington In a word, gold. An original jazz royal. The music driven by, and driving, a wave of...