Tell Me More
A contemporary look at jazz, from celebrities to new shining stars, from the studio to the road.
Ronnie Laws: Finding His New Groove
by Belinda Ware
Ronnie Laws is a passionate musician who finds joy in discovering new music in moments of reflection or jamming with his peers. When it comes to creating new music, he makes it a point to test new ideas exploring dimensions of fusing jazz with modern R&B while staying true to his signature sound. Laws' journey of musical discovery began to take shape during the time he started playing saxophone with the Jazz Crusaders, Hugh Masakela and super group ...
read moreLee Ritenour: Behind a "Twist of Rit"
by Belinda Ware
Lee Ritenour is a musical talent who approaches jazz as an artist does a canvas. He takes time to explore colorful arrangements within each song he records mixing various degrees of fusion, rock, blues, and funk based on the feel of the song. Ritenour has become a master of his own style in creating music that reflects the story of each song he performs through the instrument of the guitar. He has an innate passion to create message music that ...
read moreKeb' Mo': Blues Meets Jazz in BluesAmericana
by Belinda Ware
Jazz and Blues go hand in hand like mother and daughter, father and son. Blues is often associated with a style of music imbued and cultivated within musicians born and raised in the downhome South hanging out in nightclubs on Memphis' Beale Street, New Orleans and Tupelo waiting for a spot to perform. Kevin Moore hails originally from the city of Compton, a city that has served as home to Venus and Serena Williams, Kendrick Lamar, and George ...
read moreCyrille Aimee: It's a Good Day
by Belinda Ware
In countries around the world, March is designated as Women's History Month, a time where we acknowledge women of excellence in a variety of fields of expertise. Women who create milestones and trends to awaken the consciousness of people who they inspire with the light of a new approach to something familiar. A true pioneer is one who possesses the independent spirit of ingenuity and the spirit of change. Looking at the world of jazz, that independent spirit is embodied ...
read moreBoney James: The Beat Goes On
by Belinda Ware
Saxophonist Boney James is a prolific musician and songwriter gifted with an ear for creating music inspired by artistic expressionism. As an architect of original songs, James is an intellectual man of modest demeanor who has established himself as a musical pioneer in his intuitive discovery of the formula for longevity in his mellifluous career spanning three decades. At the root of his professional success is his meditative passion for exploring uncharted paths as a songwriter and interpreter of songs. ...
read moreStacey Kent: Songs in the Key of Love and Life
by Belinda Ware
Stacey Kent is a unique talent in the world of jazz with the ability to illuminate a stage through her enthusiasm and artistic zest for performance. As an international jazz singer, she can be described as an insightful storyteller with the inner gift to bring to life the human experience through her music with an honest candor that is respectable in many ways. As seen in the collection of her Blue Note recordings, Kent's musical gifts are truly ...
read moreLili Añel: Finding Bliss by Climbing the Wall
by Belinda Ware
In defining the concept of good music, it goes without saying that it is subjective to the listener's taste both in styles and personal preferences. When the weekend arrives, it is common to see people heading out to catch a live music show in New York, jny: Philadelphia, and other cities across America that are popular artist havens. Some of the most interesting original music can be heard while walking on the boulevard passing by a small café ...
read moreGeorge Benson: Finding His Groove In Inspiration
by Belinda Ware
George Benson is a quintessential master of jazz whose professional musical career continues to flourish over decades due to his charisma, wit, showmanship and a succession of multiple hit record releases that are foundational in the evolution of contemporary jazz. As a seasoned jazz connoisseur, Benson stays in demand as a sought after performing artist as seen in his steady concert schedules taking to the stage in countries around the world. Simply put, Benson is on a mission ...
read moreMolly Ringwald: Redefining Her Roots In Jazz
by Belinda Ware
Molly Ringwald currently stars in the role of Anne Juergens on The Secret Life of the American Teenager on the ABC Family Channel. Her role is a nice fit for the Golden Globe -nominated actress, who became a household name as a teen film actress referred to as your favorite teenage crush."Her popularity attained to star status as the result of several memorable film roles starring as one of the brat pack" stars alongside Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, ...
read moreDiana Krall: Rediscovering Vaudeville in Glad Rag Doll
by Belinda Ware
Diana Krall is more than just a jazz songstress. She established herself as a solid interpreter of standards with her rendition of the Dusty Springfield's classic, The Look of Love," making her mark with notable acoustic arrangements coupled with openly sensuous vocals carrying the tune. Krall is one of the jazz world's uniquely eclectic artists who has built a respectable longevity with her career. She is consistent as a serious jazz artist, both in the recording studio as ...
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