Photo by Nandhu Kumar on Pexels.com So, fifty (50) songs, for a total of five (5) hours and twenty (20) minutes!!! That's what you'll find on the album Ultimate Spa Musc (2014), by David Lyndon Huff. If I'm not mistaken, I downloaded the digital version of this awesome gem very soon after it was released. … Continue reading Essentials: Ultimate Spa Music, by David Lyndon Huff
The Mellow Mix: 05.15.23
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Weeks go by sometimes as quickly as lightning flashes. One ends and another begins - an apparently endless cycle. All that just to say that it's Monday . . . again. Relax - I've got you covered. Speaking of "endless", the mix today comes from the seemingly endless supply of … Continue reading The Mellow Mix: 05.15.23
The Weekend Mix: Places
Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) on Pexels.com I can see that look in your eyes! It's called "wanderlust". There's only one true cure for that - get out there and travel. If you can't do that, we can fake it together. I've put together a playlist of songs that have names of places in their … Continue reading The Weekend Mix: Places
Spotlight: Cindy Bradley
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Meet Cindy Bradley, trumpeter extraordinare. She was born in upstate NY in 1977. At nine (9), she was already playing piano, and that was also the age that she began playing the trumpet. She also plays Flugelhorn. She recorded her first album, Just A Little Bit (2007), on her own … Continue reading Spotlight: Cindy Bradley
Spotlight: Dave Koz
Photo by Caique Araujo on Pexels.com California-born and bred, Dave Koz, thus far, has had a very illustrious career. He has racked up nine (9) Grammy nominations, twelve (12) number-one albums, and has performed for multiple U.S. presidents, just to name a few of the feathers in his cap. And, yes - he even has … Continue reading Spotlight: Dave Koz
Spotlight: Ramsey Lewis
Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com Ramsey Lewis (May 27, 1935 - September 12, 2022) was a jazz pianist and composer born in Chicago, IL. Some of his greatest hits include The 'In' Crowd, Hang On Sloopy, and Wade In The Water. Those three barely even scratch the surface. They are, however, three of my … Continue reading Spotlight: Ramsey Lewis
Spotlight: Danny Grissett
Photo by Thuyen Vu on Pexels.com My first encounter with the music of Danny Grissett came with the first time that I heard Journey To The Stars, from trumpeter Tom Harrell's recording Number Five (2012). I was so thoroughly impressed by his expertise on the black & whites that I became his number-one fan. OK … Continue reading Spotlight: Danny Grissett
jblackstarr faves (one)
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pex I'm kickstarting your week with an olio of my favorite tunes, hoping all the while that they will rub off on you. Like I always say "Jazz, jazz, and nothing but jazz". Then, I backtrack and give you more options. You've got jazz choices, jazz(y) choices, chillout options, and … Continue reading jblackstarr faves (one)
The Weekend Mix: 05.06.23
Photo by Bri Schneiter on Pexels.com Is that . . . can't be . . . the weekend's here, already??!! Wow! Well, there's music just chompin' at the bit for a chance to help you chill. Bottle of red? Maybe a steaming, hot cup of java? I know what you're about to do, so go … Continue reading The Weekend Mix: 05.06.23
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
Smoothe 