Jazz News

Guitarist Kyle Walz Exhilarates With Collection Of Jazz And R&B Covers

Source: Graham Taylor
February 15, 2012

There is a double meaning in the title of guitarist Kyle Walz's latest album, Lifted Standards. On one hand, it's a reference to the fact that the record is a collection of covers; in other words, these songs are 'lifted' from other artists. But in a subjective sense the music can really lift the spirits. Until spring rolls along, Lifted Standards delivers exhilarating waves of pure sunshine, much of it beaming from Walz's incandescent playing. Walz looks not only to ...

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Jazz vocalist Janelle Donovan pays homage to Valentine's Day with new EP

Source: Graham Taylor
February 13, 2012

Love is in full bloom on jazz vocalist Janelle Donovan's latest EP, Valentine Special. True to its title, the two tracks on this release celebrate romance in its purest form, reflecting the unrestrained, sweetly-scented confessions of affection that are associated with the 14th of February. But Donovan delivers more than just carve straight-shooting arrows for Cupid's bow; these are love songs that can be savored at any time of the year, with or without a bouquet of roses and a ...

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Belgium-based guitarist Fabien Degryse showcases fingerstyle mastery on new CD

Source: Graham Taylor
February 11, 2012

For Fabien Degryse, the guitar is an extension of himself. On his latest album Fingerswingin', Degryse uses the guitar to convey his various moods and feelings, from the snappy jubilation of “Bock to Bock" to the sun-drenched contentment of “(In My) Solitude" to the rain-swept infatuation of “Fly Me to the Moon." Each track is sculpted in Degryse's trademark fingerstyle playing. Each string of Degryse's acoustic guitar has a sensuous chime; throughout the album it produces a calming, hypnotic effect ...

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An interview with New York-based saxophonist Mark Lopeman

Source: Graham Taylor
January 16, 2012

It's fitting that the cover of saxophonist Mark Lopeman's latest album, Nice Work If You Can Get It, is a watercolor portrait from his daughter Rosie. After all, Lopeman approaches his instrument like a painter himself, utterly spellbinding in his ability to illustrate various moods from the unbridled joy of “My Reverie" to the warm caress of “I'm a Fool to Want You" to the gentle introspection of “Everything Happens to Me." Stellar musicians such as the New York-based Lopeman ...

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Stanley Clarke veteran produces immaculate new holiday single from L.A.-based artist Sean Patrick

Source: Graham Taylor
December 19, 2011

The shimmering beauty and soulful warmth of Sean Patrick's holiday single, “A Gift of Christmas," are the hallmarks of a timeless classic. Amidst overplayed staples and cookie-cutter newcomers, “A Gift of Christmas" is the real deal. Opening with cozy piano, Patrick's heartfelt croon opens the door to sparkling sleigh bells and lush synths; when his velvety smooth voice begins to ascend, it's a breathtaking moment, capturing the season's childlike sense of wonder and spiritual depth.

Born in Santa Maria, California, ...

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Stunning covers of Johnny Mercer and Freddie Hubbard among highlights of new album

Source: Graham Taylor
December 8, 2011

Trumpet, meet master. In the hands of Steve Klenke, the trumpet becomes a paintbrush in which he can render stunningly beautiful imagery, from the playful innocence of a “Little Sunflower" to the awe-inspiring majesty of an “Evening Star." With or without words, the songs on Klenke's latest album, Tangerine, bloom in Technicolor. They are brightly lit and are brimming with good vibrations; combining jazz standards with his own timeless compositions, Klenke offers the best of the past and present with ...

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Debut album from Canada's Jenny James glows with slick craftsmanship and authentic soul

Source: Graham Taylor
December 4, 2011

She has just caught the ears of the U.K. radio airwaves, and her producer is a Juno award winner. The stars are aligning for Canadian singer/songwriter Jenny James, whose recently released debut album Aspiring 2 B Me glows with the slick craftsmanship and authentic soul of a veteran performer, which she actually is. James has been entertaining audiences since the age of five, singing and playing piano and guitar. Produced by Eddie Bullen, Aspiring 2 B Me is a mature, ...

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"Weird Al" Yankovic guitarist Jim Kimo West pays homage to Hawaii with sublime slack-key instrumentals

Source: Graham Taylor
December 1, 2011

As the longtime guitarist for Grammy-winning satirist "Weird Al" Yankovic, Jim Kimo West has heard a lifetime of good-natured laughter. However, West's own discography is light years apart from Yankovic's inventive and often hilarious pop-music parodies. In fact, West's latest solo record, Na Lani O Maui-Maui Skies, is even miles away from the mainland as he pays homage to the awe-inspiring beauty of Hawaii. But West's decision to beam the spotlight on Hawaii is not for superficial reasons; this isn't ...

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