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
Tag: jblackstarr
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
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
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
Chicken Noodle Soup.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com Here's a playlist that's good for all that ails you. Whether you're at the office, off location yet still working, or perhaps just in need of some music to get you over the hump wherever you may be working. That's right - Chicken Noodle Soup, ergo - good for … Continue reading Chicken Noodle Soup.
Spotlight: Marc Antoine
Photo by Nothing Ahead on Pexels.com Marc Antoine never fails to please. So, this "Deejay" will not be talking. Instead, hit the play button and be amazed. Jazz, jazz, and nothing but jazz. Mostly. Listen on SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/770VbyuZOPxA7LjxbEEfLc?si=a8df28f21f204a3b Listen on TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/10f74b36-f8d1-47e0-ad8e-fb58a3321328 copyright 2023 jblackstarr for SMOOTHE
The Weekend Mix: 04.29.23
Photo by Bernyce Hollingworth on Pexels.com Here it is - that elusive entity known as "the weekend". Here's a mix of jazz, jazz(y), Scandinavian, chill, and everything in between. Here's hoping that your weekend is all that you had hoped it would be and more. Now, pop the cork on that bottle of red (or … Continue reading The Weekend Mix: 04.29.23
ESSENTIALS: Modern Times by Steps Ahead
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Steps Ahead had clearly evolved into . . . . well, Steps Ahead by 1984 and should have had many more accolades by then. But Modern Times (1984), while not second-rate by any standard, was not as well-received as I thought it should have been. Enter "to each, their own". … Continue reading ESSENTIALS: Modern Times by Steps Ahead
Smoothe 