Featured Jazz Videos

Song to an Old Friend

Jakob Bro
Duration: 05:56
668 views

All About Jazz writer Robert Middleton has published a thoroughly researched and affectionate article entitled Saxophone Meets Guitar: The Dynamic Duo of Jazz In addition to his playlist of 463 inspiring songs from the genre, consider also “Song to an Old Friend" by Danish guitarist Jakob Bro with legendary tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano. This piece takes down the tempo to “ECM label chill," allowing the listener to appreciate how complementary the sounds of these two instruments can be. Sax vibrato begets guitar with chorus; sax grit from the throat is matched with guitar distortion from an effects box. With the audio released on a tribute recording to drummer Paul Motian called Once Around the Room, this video captures the performers' subtle chemistry in the studio.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Bob Holz In Concert 2023

Bob Holz
Duration: 8:16
655 views

Bob Holz live at Catalina Bar in Hollywood, California with Ralphe Armstrong (bass), Brandon Fields (saxophone), Billy Steinway (keyboards) and Alex Machacek (guitar).

The Secret Rhodes Piano Room: A Deep Dive

Jeff Lorber
Duration: 75:13
984 views

We published an article highlighting Ten Supreme Fender Rhodes Albums. Zawinul, Hancock and Corea are among the honored keyboardists. To immerse yourself further in the Rhodes sound, watch the video documentary “The Secret Rhodes Piano Room: A Deep Dive.” It features jazz fusion pioneer, keyboardist Jeff Lorber sitting down at vintage instrument restoration specialist Ben Bove’s Rhodes collection. There’s over an hour of jamming, instrument comparisons and sound adjustments—but if you only have a few minutes, check out the grooves from [14:31] to [20:52].

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Why (Am I Treated So Bad)

Cannonball Adderley
Duration: 7:59
918 views

Highlighting Joe Zawinul's Fender Rhodes work on Cannonball Adderley and the Nat Adderley Sextet's “Why" from Walk Tall: The David Axelrod Years. Related: Ten Supreme Fender Rhodes Albums.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Imagine the Sound

Cecil Taylor
Duration: 06:25
1,078 views

Those exploring the evolution of jazz need to appreciate the genius of pianist Cecil Taylor. From the '60s to the '90s, he invented treatments of free jazz that demonstrated it could be liberated from traditional forms of harmony and melody while retaining a classical composition’s structure. Pounding out flurries of sound, he also reminded us that a piano is both a string and a percussive instrument. This segment, from the 1981 free jazz documentary Imagine the Sound, presents Taylor’s solo performance powers at their pinnacle. For further study of free jazz, the entire documentary can be searched for by title on YouTube.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

It's Donny Time

Matt Dwonszyk
Duration: 7:26
938 views

Donny Time: The Music of Don DePalma is a tribute album shining light on the legendary pianist from Hartford, Connecticut. The majority of the album was recorded after Don’s passing due to Covid in May of 2021. It features an all-star line up, all former band mates of Don, playing their hearts out on Don’s original compositions and arrangements.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Matteo Mancuso: The Chicken

Matteo Mancuso
Duration: 4:38
2,227 views

Let's play a game of Chicken! Namely, which musician or band has recorded the most exciting version of the funk/soul song “The Chicken"? One candidate is bassist and sometimes big band leader, the late, great Jaco Pastorius. However, a strong case can be made that the most chops-intensive version comes from guitarist Matteo Mancuso with bassist Riccardo Oliva and drummer Salvatore Lima. They open at a blazing tempo of 150 bpm, upon which Mancuso ignites a 16th-note running solo, which he picks with his fingers. Oliva and Lima follow suit with their own solos. Mancuso's first viral video, featuring this song when he was age 20, would have been enough to garner raves from Al DiMeola and Steve Vai, but the Italian guitarist continues to develop. Also, look for his recording of the original composition “Paul Position" on YouTube.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

In the Autumn Years

Greg Nathan
Duration: 5:36
721 views

The title track from the album In the Autumn Years was released worldwide on July 15th, 2024. That title track is the music used for the above lyric video.

The song “In the Autumn Years" has music and lyrics written by Charles Nathan (1921-2012), who was recognized by BMI in 1953 with a Certificate of Achievement for the “great national popularity" of the melody he wrote for “Say You're Mine Again," one of Perry Como's greatest hits.

Here, then, is the solo jazz-piano presentation of another well-written melody by Charles, including words and majestic fall images (SMP's first lyric video).

Make sure to click on the “Buy Now" button below to see the download sale for the album “In the Autumn Years." This incredible sale is this weekend only, so don't miss it!

Enjoy!

Esperanza Spalding: Jazz Ain't Nothin' But Soul

Esperanza Spalding
Duration: 6:00
1,037 views

Bassist, singer and composer Esperanza Spalding is a jazz wunderkind. After initially proving her chops with scat vocals and walking bass line, she steadily added punctuations of voices on top of horns a la neo-big band music, funk, electronics, art rock, odd meters, song poems, chanting, chamber music and more. By combining a palette of these elements on a thematic recording project, Spalding now simply “does Esperanza." Still, there is tremendous joy to be realized in listening to her early, live, hard swinging performances, such as “Jazz Ain't Nothin' But Soul." For more pleasure, compare this to Betty Carter's popular version from the '60s and the highly experimental remix by Melanie Charles.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Wasn't It Wonderful

Amber Weekes
Duration: 3:16
664 views

Inspired by a rich personal journey rooted in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem, Amber’s latest album features 13 soulful tracks celebrating the legendary Nancy Wilson. Expect an album brimming with the sounds of romance and whispers of magic, punctuated by captivating tales showcasing the multitude of moods and stylistic range of Nancy Wilson’s storied career, from the sassy swing and romp to the sensuality of the bossa nova groove; from the sound and energy of the orchestrated big band energy to the tender, pointed ballad. It all comes together as Amber plays homage to Nancy Wilson’s brilliant, socially conscious, and often comical storytelling.