Born in Kansas City and now based in the Pacific Northwest, veteran jazz saxophonist Kenney Polson is a true musical citizen of the world, having visited and/or performed in over 50 countries (including tours of Japan, Korea, Hawaii, France, Colombia, Brazil and the Caribbean) and developing a cosmopolitan style that fuses urban contemporary jazz, Latin, classical, [...]
One of the most interesting aspects of checking out new artists making waves on the contemporary jazz scene is realizing that in many cases, they've been with us all along. So as we allow ourselves to be seduced by and groove along to Kevin Stevenson's infectious new single "Talk to Me," we can read up [...]
When the great Duke Ellington wanted to praise someone, he would grant that person his signature phrase “Beyond Category.” Well, Mr. Ellington’s expression, comes the closest in describing bass and synthesizer artist Tony Saunders. Yes most definitely, Mr. Saunders is truly “Beyond Category.” Tony Saunders is a master artist in Rock, Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Pop and World [...]
We were all eagerly waiting for a new album by contemporary jazz guitarist Les Sabler, and once again Sabler and his musical colleagues delivered. The album on New Vista Records is called “Tranquility.” This record is quite appropriately titled, for listening to it gives us a peaceful contentment, an inner calm, and a feeling that “all is [...]
A graduate of Kent State University where he studied music, tenor-saxophonist Matthew Alec was a founding member of the soul and funk band Winslow, playing with the group for 12 years. In 2017 he formed Matthew Alec and the Soul Electric, a sextet which also includes keyboardist-singer Brian Woods, guitarist-singer Steven Forrest Sanders, bassist Jared [...]
Evan Carydakis’ infectious, multi-faceted five track EP Groove House is more than his high impact debut in the funky and soulful realms of the smooth jazz genre. For the Melbourne, Australia born and raised, University of New England educated, Tasmania based saxophonist, it’s a full on celebration created to commemorate 25 years since he first [...]
“Make Me The One,” the ultra-emotional, mystically ambient and super sultry lead single from Karmacoda’s upcoming provocatively titled full length album Slow Down, Melt and Catch Fire, marks a special anniversary for the San Francisco based trio. Twenty years ago, vocalist Brett Crockett (who is also the group’s producer, engineer, arranger and mixer) launched an [...]
Though he has been a multi-faced independent force in the smooth jazz realm since his 2007 debut album Par For the Course, saxophonist Vann Burchfield has for the last two decades also been known for a unique earlier musical accomplishment. Back in 2000, the Alabama bred artist caused a stir in the sax world by [...]