Results for "Contemporary Jazz"

Lynda Murray

Born: July, 1953

​www.lyndamurraymusic.co.uk. Lynda met jazz photographer Jak Kilby in 1977 they were married in 1980 and had two children, Naomi Kilby (opera singer and artistic director of Opera Alegria) and Zak Kilby (photographic illustrator). She became immersed in the London jazz scene in the late 70’s and 80’s and switched from studying classical piano at music college to saxophone and started to play jazz. Lynda has been on that journey ever since. Lynda is mainly self-taught but along the way has had some coaching on the saxophone and in jazz harmony with an array of great exponents of the genre. She joined John Steven’s Community Music Search and Reflect project in 1984 first as a trainee workshop leader then was kept on as a workshop leader until she left in 1987 due to moving to the South Coast. Since living in East Sussex Lynda has had the opportunity to work with some great musicians and has developed her music writing skills. She has a collection of material that has not been released on CD yet and there are two live recordings on YouTube of three of her compositions Sound Heart, Serenade and Heron.

Ronald Scott

Nubian Pearl Band is a contemporary Smooth Jazz and Neo-Soul ensemble delivering rich melodies, deep grooves, and sophisticated musicianship rooted in soul, jazz, and urban culture. Known for their warm sound and emotionally engaging performances, the band blends silky saxophone lines, lush keys, tasteful guitar, a tight rhythm section, and expressive vocals into a polished, modern jazz experience.

Drawing inspiration from classic and contemporary smooth jazz traditions while maintaining a strong connection to R&B and soul, Nubian Pearl Band creates music that is both relaxing and deeply expressive—perfect for concert stages, jazz festivals, cultural events, and upscale venues. Their sound balances groove and elegance, offering audiences music that feels intimate, uplifting, and timeless.

Chris Cody

Born: December 21, 1964

Chris Cody is an internationally renowned pianist, composer and producer. In a career spanning over 40 years, he has headlined at numerous international festivals including Paris Quartiers d’Eté, London, Rome, Brussels Jazz Marathon, Stockholm, Munich, Marciac, Geneva, Ascona, Derry, Dar Es Salaam and Algiers and at a vast array of concert venues throughout the USA, Europe, Africa and Australasia, from the Village Gate NYC to the Munich Staatsoper. 

He has worked with many outstanding international musicians including Roy Hargrove, Carla Bruni, Herb Geller, Tina Arena, Annie Whitehead, Rhoda Scott, Rick Margitza, Michel Jonaz, Sunny Murray, Marcel Azzola, Jason Marsalis, Sandy Evans, James Morrison and many more.

Gorkem Ozalp

Born: June 23, 1985

Gorkem Ozalp is a London-based guitarist, composer, and bandleader whose music bridges jazz, contemporary improvisation, and global influences.

Born and raised in Turkey, Ozalp completed his musical education in Istanbul, performing in many of the city’s prominent venues and gaining recognition within its vibrant jazz community. In 2023, he moved to London to pursue a Master’s degree in Music and Performance at Kingston University, where he began developing new projects and recording his original compositions.

Earlier this year, Ozalp released his debut EP Addresses, a collection of works reflecting his journey between Istanbul and London. The EP is available on all major streaming platforms and has been accompanied by live performances across London, including appearances with his trio at cultural venues and festivals.

Kevin Brown

Born: December 26, 1985

Canadian born guitarist Kevin Brown is an accomplished classical and jazz guitarist.  Studying guitar from a young age under his uncle Peter Ulrich and later being inspired by his high school band director Jeff Kula, he has gone on to study and perform with many world-class musicians. 

Brown has a BM in guitar performance from Wheaton College where he studied under Steve Ramsdell, Nicole Mitchell and Audrey Morrison.  Brown also has a MM in Jazz Composition from DePaul University where he studied with Bob Palmieri, Tom Matta, Mark Colby, Ron Perillo and Bob Lark.  Other notable teachers include Canadian guitarists Larry Roy, David Letkemann and Willie Wiebe; additional studies with Chicago guitarists Mike Allemana, Scott Hesse and Fareed Haque; and additional masterclasses with John Patitucci, Steve Coleman, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Rez Abbasi, Gary Smulyan, Gene Bertoncini, Xuefei Yang, Oscar Ghiglia, Anne Waller and Mark Maxwell. 

Mark Barnett

Born: October 6, 1978

Mark Barnett is an independent smooth jazz artist from California whose music blends soulful melodies, modern grooves, and timeless jazz tones. His latest single, “That’s Just The Way It Is,” captures a relaxing, emotional energy designed for listeners who appreciate expressive, feel-good jazz.

Drawing inspiration from greats like George Benson, Grover Washington Jr., Boney James, and Norman Brown, Mark brings warmth, melody, and atmosphere to every track.

His work is released under his label, MBUniversal Productions, and distributed worldwide through RouteNote

Anders Lønne Grønseth

Born: February 21, 1979

Saxophonist, reed doubler (clarinet, flute) and composer born in 1979, resident in Oslo, Norway. Anders studied to a master degree in performing arts at Göteborg University (Academy of music and drama) after completing his bachelor at the Norwegian academy of music in Oslo. With roots in the jazz tradition, Anders seeks out a broad span of influences which come to display both in his playing and writing. Studies of classical composition of the 20th century, Indian classical music and Maqam tradition of the Middle-East continue to make way for explorations in playing techniques, composing and theoretical development.

Aseo Friesacher

Born: June 5, 1996

Aseo Friesacher is a pianist and composer born in Vienna, Austria. Since an early age he was very interested in music and he was able to pick up melodies and rhythms easily. It was soon clear to him that a music career is the only thing he wants to pursue. Aseo started to play the piano at an age of 6. He was also member of the famous Vienna Boy’s Choir and got the chance to tour around the world and sing in big concert halls like the Carnegie Hall in New York or the Tokyo Opera City Hall.

At the age of fourteen Aseo found his love to jazz music by listening to songs of Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck and Didier Squiban. Eventually he formed his own jazz trio, became very active in the jazz scene and got the chance to perform in prestigious places such as the United Nations, Porgy & Bess in Vienna, as well as renowned venues in the Netherlands such as LantarenVenster and the Bimhuis. The half Japanese/Austrian talent has been awarded with multiple awards: 1st price of the Podium.Jazz Competition in Austria 2014, Finalist of the Leiden Jazz Award 2021 and 2nd prize at the Gexto Jazz Competition in 2022 with Loek van den Berg Quintet.

Lorenzo Ditta

Lorenzo Ditta is an Italian jazz pianist whose music balances tradition and contemporary exploration. After nearly ten years in the Netherlands, he has developed a personal language that merges a deep understanding of jazz roots with a continuous search for new forms of improvisation, always keeping communication and dialogue at the forefront.

Through original compositions and spontaneous improvisations, Lorenzo has performed across the globe, leaving a mark with his sensitivity and distinctive musical voice. From Rome to Amsterdam, with cities like New Orleans, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Macau and many others in between, his style has evolved through rich cultural encounters that have shaped a profound and self-aware artistic vision.

WAKAN

South-Korean pianist Francesca Han, French double bassist Pierre Fenichel, and drummer Fred Pasqua combine their unique talents and worlds in WAKAN.

*In the culture of the Achuars of the Amazon, but also shared by other Amerindian cultures, WAKAN is a spiritual principle attributed to humans as well as to plants and objects, representing, mysteriously, both their soul and their energy.