Author's posts
New Music Monday for April 7, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify While growing up in Oklahoma, one album that became saxophonist Sharel Cassity’s personal guiding light was Christian McBride’s “Getting’ To It.” After moving to New York City in 2000, she worked her way up in the performing scene and eventually came to play alongside each member of the …
New Music Monday for March 31, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Nnenna Freelon’s voice is a reflection of life, filled with personal stories, deep emotion, and quiet wisdom. Since her 1992 debut, the seven-time Grammy nominee has used her unique perspective to tell familiar stories—from reimagining Billie Holiday to paying tribute to Stevie Wonder. On “Beneath the Skin,” she …
New Music Monday for March 24, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Step into a world of extraordinary talent and unrivaled creativity with Steve Allee’s latest endeavor, “Naptown Sound.” Celebrating the rich musical heritage of Indianapolis, or Naptown as locals affectionately call it, the disc pays tribute to legendary Indy musicians such as Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, Slide …
New Music Monday for March 17, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify “Brighter Days” finds saxophonist and composer Jarod Bufe back at the helm of his seasoned quartet, comprised of some of the most in-demand musicians on the contemporary Chicago jazz scene, each a leader in their own right: Matt Ulery on bass, Jon Deitemyer on drums and Tim Stine …
New Music Monday for March 10, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify To mark the 40th anniversary of his debut recording as a bandleader in 1984, alto saxophonist Jim Snidero set out to create something special with his 28th album—and his second trio project to date with jazz masters Peter Washington on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. Snidero felt …
New Music Monday for March 3, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Lillian “Lil” Hardin Armstrong is a name most jazz aficionados recognize. She was the second wife of jazz icon Louis Armstrong and is often credited with spurring him forward to greatness. But not only did Lil’s music become the staple foundation of her husband’s career, but she went …
New Music Monday for February 24, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify In his prolific career, Benjie Porecki has played keyboards in wide variety of genres. A professional since the age of 15, the keyboardist has worked with such notables as Tom Scott, Kirk Whalum, Nnenna Freelon, Buddy Guy, and Carlos Santana among many others. He’s also led his own …
New Music Monday for February 17, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s latest project, “Woven,” is a fascinating album that fuses more traditional aspects of 21st-century jazz with the myriad possibilities of electronic synthesized sound. The full range of contemporary jazz can be found here, from neo-bop, hard-driving rhythms to touching intimate ballad utterances. But Pelt’s trumpet …