Results for "Video"

Video

'Round Midnight

Featuring the music of Richie Beirach
Duration: 05:06
March 1, 2026

Much praise has been offered about Richie Beirach, the iconic pianist who passed away on January 26, 2026. Emerging as a trio leader and soloist in the early 1970s, he immersed the listener in stunning harmonic improvisations, bursts of dense lines and voicings, and modern classical music’s use of dynamics and flexible tempo to create an effect that was concerto-like. On "’Round Midnight," listen for these draw-droppers: an ominous, recurring trill to establish the piece as "furioso;" reharmonization from 0:22 to 0:48 that explodes Monk’s already unusual chord changes; a blindingly fast, punctuated solo (2:10 – 3:41) that would give Oscar Peterson a run for his money; and an impromptu switch to tango feel at 3:57. The overall effect leaves one breathless. For deeper exposure, search YouTube for “Transcription Richie Beirach Round Midnight” and also read his AAJ interview {{a: Richie Beirach: Indelible Memories and Thought-Provoking Reflections on a Life in Jazz, Part 1 = 567522}}.

Video

Noble Rise

Featuring the music of Lakecia Benjamin
Duration: 06:14
February 22, 2026

Break-through alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin was a nominee for the 2026 "Best Jazz Performance" Grammy Award. This nod for her single release, "Noble Rise," is a testament to the band she assembled for the song and the chemistry they generated through the arrangement and natural stylings. Benjamin paired herself with a second alto, Immanuel Wilkins, for the lead line. Together they blend Coltrane-esque resonance with bop fire. The rhythm section is made full and propulsive by the inclusion of organ and percussion with piano, bass and kit. Finally, guitarist Mark Whitfield provides the perfect link between riffs, harmony and rhythm. "Noble Rise" kicks off a new direction for her music -- one driven by feeling powerful and in command rather than overcoming hurt (she earlier suffered a serious car accident). We’ll have to see what emerges as her next album but, based on the single, one should be eager to go along for the ride.

Video

Bill Anschell | KNKX Studio Session

Featuring the music of Bill Anschell
Duration: 19:01
February 15, 2026

Bill Anschell is steadily gaining a following for his book Benched. It's filled with clever jazz jokes and satirical commentary. Regardless of his joyful sense of humor, listeners should take his live performances on piano quite seriously. They feature striking chord voicings, a sensitive touch across the keys, subtle interplay with his collaborators, and a pristine recorded sound. Traditional jazz fans may find Anschell and his trio’s interpretations of ballad standards to be especially engaging. Once you’ve enjoyed that sound,explore his more adventurous work, which incorporates funky solos and electronic/guitar swells, for a futuristic sound that still swings. Three samples are: the jagged "Ambulator," the yearning "Gentle Persuasion" (starting at 5:53) and the gritty "Faster Than the Speed of Mildew" (12:42). For more conversation with Anschell, stream the interview {{a: Bill Anschell: Unearthing Jazz's Improbable Solutions = 581791}}

Video

Just the Two of Us

Featuring the music of Joel August
Duration: 4:08
February 9, 2026

A smooth jazz version of the classic Bill Wither's "Just the Two of Us." The feel and tempo of this song really inspired me and capturing the feel of a marimba live on a guitar was a highlight.

Video

The Nearness of You

Featuring the music of Highline Vocal Jazz
Duration: 04:55
February 8, 2026

There's nothing like an a capella group performing in scarves and flannel shirts to make you feel warm about forthcoming Valentine’s Day. Here, {{m: Highline Vocal Jazz = 168747}} creates a special glow with a rendition of "The Nearness of You." Highline is a quintet formed in 2017 by friends living in NYC. In 2022, they were selected as national champions of the prestigious Harmony Sweepstakes a capella festival. In "Nearness," their lush vocal blend gives the impression of one unified instrument, with a preference for sweet harmonizations using 2nds, 6ths and major 7ths. They further display their musicality with the dramatic "wildest dreams" climax at 2:18 and pitch-perfect close arrangement at 2:40. If you’re looking for more up-tempo pieces, search YouTube for Highline’s renditions of "How High the Moon" and "Mas Que Nada." Enjoy, and remember to buy some chocolates for your loved one(s).

Video

Fahey

Featuring the music of Aaron Irwin
Duration: 6:03
February 3, 2026

"Fahey" is Track 4 on the latest Aaron Irwin Trio album SPARK On SPARK, saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Aaron Irwin presents a meaningful statement by his long-running trio, featuring guitarist Mike Baggetta and drummer Bill Campbell. Released on Adhyâropa Records, the album draws from blues and folk-rooted language while resisting the pull of genre, offering music that feels grounded, melodic, and quietly expansive.

Video

Cherokee

Featuring the music of Wynton Marsalis
Duration: 11:10
February 1, 2026

Up-tempo "Cherokee" has long served as a proving ground for jazzers who claim to have serious chops. In this rendition, soloists Wynton Marsalis, Walter Blanding Jr. and Véronica Swift show definitively how it’s done, each taking several choruses. Long lines of 16th notes, then sixteenth triplets, then squeals spew forth from Marsalis’s trumpet. Blanding (starting at 3:47) keeps up the pace while introducing fresh motifs, yet maintaining his gritty sound. Finally, Swift (at 5:37) resurrects the sound of classic vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Anita O'Day, displaying robust air support, bell-tone vibrato, elastic time and blues-bending notes and some of the best scat vocalization in jazz today.

Video

Full Moon (featuring New York Voices, Mark Egan & Danny Gottlieb)

Featuring the music of Luiz Millan
Duration: 04:17
January 27, 2026

The new single by Brazil's foremost contemporary composer, Luiz Millan, featuring the fabulous vocal quartet New York Voices plus two legendary musicians who were founding members of the Pat Metheny Group: fretless bass master Mark Egan (who also recorded with Gil Evans, Sting, David Sanborn, Michael Franks, Mark Murphy, Stan Getz, Mike Stern) and visionary drummer Danny Gottlieb (Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, Hubert Laws, Sting etc). "Full Moon" is produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro for the JSR label, and arranged by Michel Freidenson & Darmon Meader. "Full Moon" written by Jorge Pinheiro, Luiz Millan & Peter Eldridge.

Video

Lady Bird

Featuring the music of Dexter Gordon
Duration: 05:41
January 25, 2026

It’s rare for the New York Times to give space to a jazz icon, so when they printed "5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Dexter Gordon" in January 2026 (with song links), it felt time to revisit this tenor sax legend. Dexter Gordon’s sound beautifully bridged the swing feel of straight-ahead jazz with dexterity of bop. As can be heard on "Lady Bird," the sax player uniquely balanced the elements of his sound. Often, he would play a hair behind the beat, with a syncopation that was closer to straight 8ths than a swung triplet feel and using a full breath supporting each note’s tone but never over-blowing. One of the finest moments in jazz film is Round Midnight (1986, Warner Bros.), in which Gordon acted and played songs live, while portraying a poor, drug-addicted musician who gave his soul to play jazz.

Video

Hit the Ground Running

Featuring the music of Gordon Goodwin
Duration: 06:32
January 18, 2026

Listening to Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band is like opening a cool birthday gift – it’s wrapped shiny on the outside, with just enough rattle when you shake it, and you want to play with it for hours. In terms of "shiny," Goodwin’s 18-piece big band tends to explode from beat one. They combine traditional, up-tempo swing feels with funk, R&B and rock beats. The "rattling" inside comprises the technically demanding runs and sweet solos highlighted in his pieces. Finally, the band’s four Grammy awards and 20 nominations testify to the lasting power of the big phat sound. Goodwin was also known for collaboration with many giants in jazz, his efforts in jazz education, scores for film and daytime animation TV, and his funky sound on keyboards and sax. He passed away on December 8, 2025.