Results for "Contemporary Jazz"

Akiyoshi Shimizu

Born: March 6, 1985

Born in 1985 in Fukui, Japan.

Akiyoshi Shimizu’s musical journey began in childhood with a fascination for composition. At 14, he picked up the electric bass, and a transformative encounter with the music of Jaco Pastorius led him toward the world of jazz. Upon entering university, he transitioned to the double bass, mastering the instrument through self-study. Since beginning his professional career in Tokyo in 2006, he has earned profound trust and acclaim from a wide range of musicians across generations.

In tandem with his performance career, Shimizu has independently pursued the art of composition and arrangement. In 2020, he released his debut leader album, Satya. In 2022, his original composition "Room106" from the album was named a Finalist in the Jazz category of the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the U.S., earning him international recognition as a composer.

Vanessa Tagliabue Yorke

Enrico Rava says of her, "Vanessa. An extraordinary artist. Painter, sculptor, composer, and above all, a singer with a unique voice capable of touching us directly to the heart. Her expressiveness and ability to convey her emotions are extremely rare qualities that make her a great performer."

In 2012, Vanessa Tagliabue was the sole international guest at the American festival "A Tribute to Bix" in Wisconsin (USA), performing a series of concerts with Dalton Ridenhour (piano, New York) and Andy Schumm (cornet, Chicago). This collaboration resulted in the album "Racine Connection," released by Rivermont Records (Indiana, USA) in 2012 thanks to record producer Bryan Wright.

Todd Bordonaro

Born: December 29

Todd B is an exceptionally talented guitarist and composer known for his captivating musical expression and innovative approach to composition. With a diverse musical background and an insatiable passion for exploring new genres, Todd has garnered widespread acclaim for his unique sound and distinctive style.

Todd B’s formal musical education solidified his technical proficiency and honed his artistic vision. He has studied jazz at The Frost School of Music (UVM), The Mannes School, Berklee College of Music and The New York Jazz Academy.  His time at school has provided him with invaluable opportunities to collaborate with fellow musicians and showcase his talents in various performance settings. Todd has studied privately with renowned teachers Peter Prisco, Jack Wilkins and Steve Rochinski.

Chenxi Pan

Born: June 21

Chenxi Pan is a vocalist and composer whose work reflects a distinctive personal style and musical language, blending poetry, song, and contemporary instrumental music. Rooted in jazz, her music explores the voice as both a narrative and instrumental force, positioning her as an emerging and original voice within today’s jazz landscape.

Born and raised in China, Chenxi grew up influenced by a wide range of musical traditions. Her path shifted from literature to music during her early studies, eventually leading her to pursue jazz in New York City. Following her passion, she moved to NYC in 2021, where she worked closely with mentors including Sam Yahel and Sara Serpa, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music from The New School. During this time, she performed alongside musicians such as Steve Cardenas, Dave Glasser, Cyrus Chestnut, Armen Donelian, and Fred Hersch.

Barak Mori

Born: 1975

Barak Mori (ברק מורי) is a bassist of rare gravity and grace, known for a sound that is as earthy as it is sophisticated. While his resume is vast, his musical identity was forged in the fires of the New York jazz scene, where he spent nearly two decades not just performing, but helping to shape the sound of a generation.

Mori's career is defined by deep, enduring musical brotherhoods. He is best known as the rhythmic anchor for his closest contemporaries: trumpeter Avishai Cohen and saxophonist Eli Degibri. Far more than a sideman, Mori has been a core partner in their artistic evolution, recording seminal albums and touring the world's major festivals as part of their inner circles.

Milos Bosnic

Miloš Bosnić is a Serbian bassist, composer, and bandleader based in Belgrade. He is the founder of Bosque Sound Community (BSC), a jazz-fusion/world-jazz ensemble recognized for blending modern jazz language with cinematic storytelling, strong rhythmic identity, and genre-crossing arrangements.

He studied double bass at the Faculty of Music Arts in Belgrade, completed a Higher National Diploma in Jazz Bass Guitar & Music Production at the London Centre of Contemporary Music (LCCM), and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Audio & Video Design at the School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science in Belgrade.

The Inter Section

Active since: 2024

The Inter Section is a collective of musicians from around the world recording contemporary jazz that is melodic and easily approachable. The songs meld the sounds and rhythms of Pop, R&B, Soul, Latin and World music and presents them in a jazz context.

The Inter Section's music is written and produced by Steve Ehrlich from his (necessary) sofa as he suffers from Chronic Lyme Disease. He offers an example for others with similar limitations of what is possible even when their everyday lives have been turned upside down.

Proceeds from the sale of The Inter Section's music are donated to lymedisease.org and Bay Area Lyme Foundation.

Victor Prado

Born: May 11, 1992

Victor Prado is considered a pioneer for jazz horn in Brazil and has established himself as a sought after performer, composer and arranger both in Brazil and abroad having recently been invited as a featured artist to the 55th International Horn Symposium held in Montreal in 2023. Victor has contributed with orchestras and artists such as Rogério Bottermaio, Os Amanticidas, Timeline Trio, Élio Camalle, BrisaFlow, KDC Guild, Progjazz do Absurdo, Coletivo Imaginário, Orquestra Jovem Tom Jobim, Camerata Paulistana, Orquestra Sinfônica de Mogi das Cruzes, Orquestra Jovem de Guarulhos, and has participated in music festivals in South America, North America and Europe

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.