Author's posts
New Music Monday for May 12, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and SpotifyKnown for his rich, full tone and polished improvisations, saxophonist and composer Jed Levy has earned the sobriquet of modern master. A mainstay on the New York City jazz scene for 40 years, he has played with a who’s who of jazz, including long standing working relationships with Jaki …
New Music Monday for May 5, 2025
Jazz journalist Bill Milkowski has described singer Nancy Kelly as “…a world-class jazz singer” with “…superb phrasing, excellent time, great intonation and tons of chops…” Rekindling the vibes of her early 1980s, 5-year run at Philly’s famed Jewell’s Jazz Club, Ms. Kelly gathers her musical family—saxophonist Jerry Weldon, guitarist Dave Stryker, drummer Carmen Intorre and …
New Music Monday for April 28, 2025
Internationally acclaimed jazzniks Shuffle Demons are celebrating their 40th anniversary in style, recently signing with one of Canada’s leading jazz labels, Alma Records. The first fruit of that union is the band’s eleventh album, “Are You Really Real.” All five members contribute compositions to the disc, with Juno-winning co-founder and primary composer Richard Underhill writing …
New Music Monday for April 21, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Born and raised in the vibrant streets of Caracas, Venezuela, Silvano Monasterios is a virtuoso pianist and composer, celebrated for his intricate technique, soulful improvisations, and innovative compositions. Over a career spanning three decades, he’s captivated audiences worldwide, carving a distinctive musical voice that blends harmonic sophistication with …
New Music Monday for April 14, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify The members of the all-star family band the 3 Cohens—with siblings Anat on clarinet, Avishai on trumpet and Yuval on soprano sax—have always taken time out from their individual careers to reconvene for music-making together. They developed a deep musical bond while growing up in Tel Aviv, with …
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 …