Videos Recommended by Scott Lichtman

Take Five

Tamsin Dearnley
Duration: 2:31
227 views

{{m: Tamsin Dearnley = 166232}} is a standout harpist known for her range of classical and modern popular styles of music, including jazz. Here she plays "Take Five" as a solo piece and makes it sounds native to the harp. Listen and look for: her warm, plucky sound that compares more than favorably with a jazz hollow-body guitar in tone; open voicings and comped rhythms that fill the frequency spectrum; and her adjustment of the sharp/flat levers at the top of the instrument while she’s modulating steadily through the changes, It's a piece worth appreciating by lovers of any instrument. Also search YouTube for her renditions of "Lullaby of Birdland," "Black Coffee," and "Moving House Rag."

Shadow Dance

Jack DeJohnette
Duration: 15:14
592 views

Jack DeJohnette was one of the most influential and proficient jazz drummers of all time. He was known especially for his playing with Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett and his own bands and compositions. DeJohnette was named a US National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, the highest honor the United States bestows upon jazz musicians. He passed away on October 26, 2025. Innovative elements of his sound included using the tom-toms as a form of propulsive "ride;" tuning the drums low and in synch so that they strengthened the harmonic role of the kit; and, varying the attack on the cymbals so that they would enrich the feel of hard jazz-rock as well as ballads. Listen to him attack and completely occupy the underlying sonic spectrum of "Shadow Dance," with Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, and Dave Holland. DeJohnette’s solo kicks off the song, the band groove is introduced at 02:23, and the head comes at 05:10. Although each performer is outrageously talented, when you turn DeJohnette “up to eleven,” his impact on the song’s drive is clear.

Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter & Huntertones Horns

Kurt Elling
Duration: 19:09
432 views

Kurt Elling has been called the definitive male jazz singer of the modern era. His abundant technique, including an elastic, four octave range, ample sustain and vibrato, and blurry-fast scatting, is matched by his magnetic relationship with the music and his audience. Elling makes a special impression when he reinterprets pop music classics, including Eddie Money’s "Baby Hold On" in this video. Backed by guitarist Charlie Hunter’s soul band, Elling keeps the funk going non-stop in this four-song set, generating impressive energy for someone born November 2, 1967.

Wichita Lineman

hr-Bigband
Duration: 07:19
387 views

There have been so many beautiful jazzy renditions of "Wichita Lineman," composed by Jimmy Webb originally for country artist Glen Campbell. Bob Dylan called the piece "the greatest song ever written." Among the noteworthy covers are recordings pianist Fred Hersch, vocalist Cassandra Wilson, and a trio of Gregoire Maret (harmonica) / Romain Collin (piano) / Bill Frisell (guitar). This reviewer proposes that the most haunting of the jazzy renditions is actually from a large ensemble, the hr-Bigband (a.k.a. the Frankfurt Radio Big Band), featuring the renowned Kate McGarry and Theo Bleckmann on vocals. It opens with a thoughtful guitar solo over the most distinctive feeling in the song--a steady pulse of overlapping long notes, bouncing back and forth between the brass and winds. Kudos to arranger John Hollenbeck, whose commissioned work here shines a spotlight on the talents of the Frankfurt big band.

Caravan

Nandi Bushell
Duration: 06:31
367 views

Watch young drummer Nandi Bushnell execute a stunning rendition of the classic "Caravan." Fast, clean, joyful, inspired. Born in 2010, she was roughly 14 when recording this piece. Impressed yet? Next, look for the YouTube video of Nandi playing all four horns in a saxophone quartet covering the TV theme from "The Simpsons." She also sings and plays keyboards, guitar and bass. Here’s to youth…

Béla Fleck & Edmar Castañeda: Live at Big Ears Festival 2019

Bela Fleck
Duration: 44:04
506 views

Strike a victory for #alt-instrument-jazz ! This video features two absolute masters of their instruments, Béla Fleck on banjo and Edmar Castañeda on harp. Among the elements that might blow you away are: the opening groove established without percussion instruments; how the duo is locked in together across up-tempo lead lines and arpeggios (never having played together before); their ability to generate musical and emotional dynamics from instruments with limited volume range; and "watch me fly!" solos; Enjoy just the first song, "No Fear", through 08:15, or more pieces from “Live at Big Ears Festival 2019.”

Live at Notsolatin

Julius Rodriguez
Duration: 44:04
438 views

Julius Rodriguez emerged as a prodigy (on piano as well as drums and bass) with his critically acclaimed first album, Sound Tell All (Verve Records, 2022). Certainly, his arpeggiated piano runs, distinctive turns of linear phrases, and waves of sound are ear-catching. Moreso, audiences cherish his performances because of the infectious energy he and his band bring to a combination of straight-ahead, New Orleans/gospel, and R&B styles. To experience this phenomenon, start with the video above: “Julius Rodriguez | Live at Notsolatin” for straight-ahead. Next, search for the generally more accessible “Julius Rodriguez | Tiny Desk Concert,” also on YouTube. With both videos, you can enjoy just the first song or kick back with the complete mini-concerts.