Featured Jazz Videos

Blues with Brandon Goldberg

Brandon Goldberg
Duration: 04:38
3,782 views

When it comes to stylistic range, inventiveness and technique, Emmet Cohen (born 1990) has few equals in in his cohort of jazz pianists. In pianist Brandon Goldberg (born 2006), however, Cohen may have found a worthy peer. Goldberg is the youngest semifinalist in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition and youngest recipient of the 2022 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award. In this video, Goldberg and Cohen play four hands on one piano and obliterate a 12-bar blues. Listen for how they can take a fast solo and modulate it by whole or half tones; respond to each other’s riffs; remain true to the lineage of blues piano; and share joy with the audience.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Estate

Till Bronner
Duration: 06:51
1,266 views

Here’s an international treat: the Italian-composed, bossa nova-arranged standard “Estate" is given luxurious treatment by German trumpeter/flugelhornist Till Brönner with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. While the piece (whose title in Italian is pronounced eh-stah'-tay), is played at a “chill" 100 bpm, it warms up the listener through several mesmerizing elements. First, conductor Magnus Lindgren has arranged for the big band beautifully with close, modern harmonic shifts in the introduction. Next, starting at 1:05, Brönner delivers the melody and first solo with choice pauses and flourishes, demonstrating why he's Germany’s biggest selling jazz artist. An added surprise is Fausto Beccalossi's accordion solo starting at 3:57 on which he vocalizes. Finally, when is the last time you heard flugelhorn and accordion trade fours?

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Blue Curtain Presents Eddie Palmieri

Eddie Palmieri
Duration: 83:67
1,700 views

Eddie Palmieri was a highly influential American pianist, bandleader, and composer known for his fusion of Latin music sub-genres, particularly salsa and Latin jazz. Over six decades, Palmieri had been a driving force in the evolution of this style, performing and educating and earning him the nickname “The Sun of Latin Music." His complex arrangements and high energy stand out on most of his recordings, where his punchy piano style matches the percussion and horns for musical leadership. On this video, one can feel the sensitive interplay of his sextet. Palmieri recorded over 40 albums and won multiple Grammy awards. He passed away August 6, 2025.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Ya Lach Nafshi

Yosef Gutman Levitt
Duration: 3:40
1,996 views

A stirring Moroccan melody featuring intimate conversations between piano (Yonathan Avishai) and multi-instrumentalist Yagel Harush playing Oud, Ney and Kamanche.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Feels So Good

Chuck Mangione
Duration: 04:11
1,539 views

Chuck Mangione was an iconic flugelhorn player and composer who recorded over 30 albums and reached tremendous heights of popularity in the ‘70s. His song “Feels So Good" reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 List--for all genres, not just jazz. This was followed by contemporary jazz hits such as “Children of Sanchez," “Bellavia" and “Chase the Clouds Away." His success was equal parts horn tone--warm, a bit breathy, with embellishments--catchy melodies, superlative band arrangements and obvious love of performance. All his talents blended together whenever he played “Feels So Good" live. Mangione passed away on July 22, 2025.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Celebrating the Guitar Playing of Charlie Christian

Charlie Christian
Duration: 11:00
2,171 views

Many know of guitarist Charlie Christian, but how many have studied his playing or even listened to one of his solos? Christian could be considered the most influential jazz guitarist ever. He demonstrated how a guitar with a pickup and amplifier could compete with horn players in playing fast, loud lead lines and solos. In addition, he contributed mightily to the vocabulary of bebop, including the insertion of upper chord extensions. This icon was born on July 29, 1916, became known for his work with Benny Goodman starting 1939, and died at the age of 25. Since there seem to be no video recordings of Christian, we here present a video of current teacher Nathan Borton explaining Christian's approach on “Grand Slam." If you’re looking for the real thing from the master, search YouTube for “Stompin’ at the Savoy (1941) - Charlie Christian."

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Quem Sabe (Who Knows)

Luiz Millan
Duration: 4:56
5,239 views

New single by Brazil's foremost contemporary composer Luiz Millan, “Quem Sabe" is a fiery Latin-Jazz song featuring stunning performances by Italian tenor sax virtuosi Ada Rovatti, 7-time Grammy winner North- American trumpet master Randy Brecker and Brazilian pianist Michel Freidenson plus Sylvio Mazzuca Jr (bass), Edu Ribeiro (drums), Camilo Carrara (acoustic guitar) and François de Lima (trombone). Produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro and arranged by Michel Freidenson. Already available on all streaming platforms.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Frisell Plays Lennon - NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Bill Frisell
Duration: 19:59
2,044 views

Among the many mellifluous jazz/fusion/ambient guitarists that have graced the scene, Bill Frisell has without doubt one of the most unique sounds. In this NPR (National Public Radio) “Tiny Desk" office concert, Frisell pays homage to John Lennon by interpreting classics like “Nowhere Man." Listen to this mini-set for inspiration on how to apply effects boxes to guitar sounds or simply to appreciate breath-taking beauty. For more technical insight into Frisell's sound, search Youtube for the video “Bill Frisell – Effects Pedal Demonstration."

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Make Someone Happy

Maria Puga Lareo
Duration: 3:17
2,482 views

Maria Puga Lareo opens her new album My Universe with a cinematic and deeply felt interpretation of this timeless standard. Her warm, expressive voice is beautifully framed by a masterfully crafted orchestral arrangement from GRAMMY-winner Nan Schwartz, whose artistic vision and nuanced pacing bring new emotional resonance to the song. Recorded with a Hollywood string section, this rendition is a celebration of love as life’s truest measure.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Empress Afternoon

Artemis
Duration: 05:07
1,480 views

Artemis is an all-star group that is brimming with musicality and technique. It happens that the group is all-female. The band members’ each are first-call performers: Renee Rosnes on piano, Ingrid Jensen on trumpet, Nicole Glover on tenor sax, Allison Miller on drums, Noriko Ueda on bass, and—in different time periods—Anat Cohen or Alexa Tarantino on additional woodwinds. Several members share compositional duties, but what connects their songs is an intense energy as well as appealing lead lines that are catchy while sounding outside-the-box. On “Empress Afternoon," Rosnes has rearranged her piece from the early 2000s to make the most of a robust horn section and set the tune alight.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.