Category: Essentials

Essentials: Infinite Possibilities, by Amel Larrieux

Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com Amel Larrieux won most of our hearts as one half of a duo that went by the name of Groove Theory. That voice was hers and most of the music was that of the other half of the duo, Bryce Wilson. Their eponymous debut album (in 1995) produced several … Continue reading Essentials: Infinite Possibilities, by Amel Larrieux →

Essentials: Wildflower, by Keiko Matsui

Photo by Nguyen Trung Hieu on Pexels.com Keiko Matsui was born in 1961 in Tokyo, Japan. Her mother took Keiko to her first music lesson after her fifth birthday. In her early years, she studied piano and focused on classical music. In junior high school, she found herself interested in jazz. When I think of … Continue reading Essentials: Wildflower, by Keiko Matsui →

Essentials: Gentle Warrior, by Tim Warfield

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Tim Warfield was born in York, PA, in 1965. At an early age, he started playing saxophone, first with the alto sax, then on to the tenor sax. He has worked with a number of prominent musicians throughout his career, including Jimmy Smith, Christian McBride, Dizzy Gillespie, Donald Byrd, Isaac … Continue reading Essentials: Gentle Warrior, by Tim Warfield →

Essentials: The Real McCoy, by McCoy Tyner

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com If you want to get a feel for what jazz is all about, start with a classic, must-have, essential recording. The right one, even if it's not a "live" recording, will immediately transport you to a smoke-filled, rowdy but respectful jazz club. Essential recordings give you a taste of jazz … Continue reading Essentials: The Real McCoy, by McCoy Tyner →

Essentials: 07/07/21 A trio of trios!

Photo by Matthias Groeneveld on Pexels.com Editor’s picks for this week: Scott Hamilton & Jeff Hamilton Trio While the recording is titled Live In Bern (2015), it is far from a ‘concert recording’ – it was recorded in a club , minus an audience.  And Scott (tenor sax) and Jeff (drummer) are not brothers.  One … Continue reading Essentials: 07/07/21 A trio of trios! →

Essentials 06/30/21: Coffee (Deluxe) by Artaska

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com Take it from me, when Artaska gave us a cup of Coffee (2018), it instantly qualified as an essential offering of our time. Her classical training often takes the spotlight, but her jazz compositions never fail to step to the forefront. And, she's not 'just another pretty tune', which … Continue reading Essentials 06/30/21: Coffee (Deluxe) by Artaska →