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...
The artistry of Barbra Lica is a balance of playfulness and sophistication
The Artistry of… Barbra Lica Imagine the bravest and most daring one on the playground: the one going the highest on the...
The playing of Benny Green is a journey of melody
The Artistry of… Benny Green If I were a piano, I would want to be as ready as I could imagine being...
The music of Norah Jones is like the feeling of holding hands
If holding hands could have a sound, Norah Jones would be that sound. Her voice is tenderness and reassurance; it’s a steadying...
Grace Kelly plays with her soul out loud
Soul out loud. That is how she sounds. Oh, for the love of soul, and for that same love of the play...
On the vibraphone, Warren Wolf stands out
A jazz vibraphone player stands out. The instrument is not easy to put in the back. The sound demands attention and the...
With the violin, we hear every piece of Regina Carter’s soul
The energy behind the artistry is fuelled by an intentional blurring of genre boundaries, telling stories through the unique range and soundscape...
For Norma Winstone, the voice is an instrument
A critic once wrote that Norma Winstone “sets herself impossibly high standards, and then surpasses them.” She’s a writer of lyrics, some...
Art Pepper’s sound was inspired by raw life
The artistry and career of Art Pepper was rough-edged and addled — narcotics-affected and shadowed by a lifestyle that sometimes adventured in...
Etienne Charles embodies the Caribbean Creole spirit
Caribbean Creole is in the soul, the sounds, the spirit, the flavours of the food, the movements in the dance, and the...
The music of Jesse Ryan sounds like the flavours of his homeland
The artistic energy of Trinidad and Tobago is a delicious blend of an enviable collective of rich cultures. The music has elements...
Like a relay runner, Roy Hargrove proudly held the jazz baton
One of my favourite track and field events is the 4×100 relay. From the original concept originating in ancient Greece, it evolved...
Charenée Wade is a force of jazz energy
I think it is safe to say that as a two-time entrant in the Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition, she is an artist...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
