Featured Jazz Videos

Just the Two of Us

Joel August
Duration: 4:08
548 views

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.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

The Nearness of You

Highline Vocal Jazz
Duration: 04:55
608 views

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, Highline Vocal Jazz 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).

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Fahey

Aaron Irwin
Duration: 6:03
929 views

"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.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Cherokee

Wynton Marsalis
Duration: 11:10
229 views

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.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

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

Luiz Millan
Duration: 04:17
1,661 views

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.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Lady Bird

Dexter Gordon
Duration: 05:41
1,662 views

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.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Hit the Ground Running

Gordon Goodwin
Duration: 06:32
2,100 views

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.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Sonny Bird's Cage

Pierre Veniot
Duration: 2:37
2,557 views

With my albums Storias and Storias Too, I’ve been exploring music as storytelling. Too often, jazz risks becoming a showcase of technical prowess, where musicians compete to impress with complexity rather than connect with listeners. My work resists that trap. These albums are concept-driven, blending the sophistication of jazz with the clarity of pop structures. Improvisation appears not as ego-driven display, but as sparks of spontaneity within carefully composed narratives. Each track is crafted to balance accessibility with depth, inviting audiences into stories that value communication over exhibition. ~Pierre Veniot

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Don't Get Around Much Anymore

Harry Connick, Jr.
Duration: 04:23
2,600 views

The classic romantic comedy film When Harry Met Sally was arranged by singer, pianist, and composer Harry Connick, Jr. when he was just 22. Even for his young age, Connick already was combining recognizable styles to unique effect. His approach to piano combined Monk’s dissonant punctuations, Ellington’s playful interaction with the rest of the band, and Waller’s stride left hand. Connick’s vocals display an elastic sense of time, like Sinatra, but with even more confident delivery for this age. And, he refreshed big band’s sound with an array of runs and pops on many arrangements, such as the slow-build “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore."

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Funky Fête (Iko Iko/Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing)

Julie Benko
Duration: 90:00
3,371 views

During rehearsals for Funny Girl on Broadway, a moment of sheer panic unexpectedly led to a meaningful musical collaboration for Julie Benko. Faced with the daunting realization that tap dancing was part of the role, a breakdown in rehearsal turned into a breakthrough thanks to tap dance great John Manzari, whose generosity, encouragement, and impromptu coaching made all the difference. Now, the spotlight turns back to Manzari as a very special guest soloist on the first single from the forthcoming New Orleans–inspired jazz album Julie Benko 'Euphonic Gumbo'. Released on Twelfth Night to kick off the Mardi Gras season, “Funky Fête” is a joyous medley of “Iko Iko" and “Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing", capturing the spirit, rhythm, and communal energy of New Orleans. 'Euphonic Gumbo', which features pianist Jason Yeager, will be released on February 13 via Club44. Consider this your invitation to move: it’s impossible not to dance along. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Recommended by Michael Ricci.