Feature Interviews

‘Daddy’s Country Gold’: Melissa Carper on her new record, Nashville’s love affair with jazz and being gay in traditional country music

Leaving behind a landscape of shuttered venues, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Melissa Carper and her partner/bandmate Rebecca Patek, both of Sad Daddy and Buffalo Gals, fled Nashville in September of 2020 for more modest digs on a vegetable farm in Texas. There, the pair of sometimes-Arkansans have weathered the last [...]

Chicago’s Queen of Guitar Joanna Connor: ‘I Never Let Anyone Stop Me From Playing and Doing it the Way I Envisioned’

Joanna Connor is s a mother, a lover, a singer, a guitarist, a songwriter, an actress, and a badass blueswoman who can’t be subdued. In the words of the songstress herself, she loves how she wants, thinks and feels how she wants, and she also plays her guitar with [...]

An Interview with Dave Koz on His Latest Project “A New Day”

In a recording career that spans nearly three decades, saxophonist Dave Koz has racked up an astoundingly impressive array of honors and achievements: nine GRAMMY® nominations, 11 No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Current Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, numerous world tours, 13 sold-out Dave Koz & [...]

Dennis Van Aarssen – The Newest Addition to the Iconic Crooners’ List

After hearing Robbie Williams’ album Swing "When You’re Winning" as a young boy, Dennis Van Aarssen fell in love with Swing and Jazz-music. Dennis, born in The Netherlands, started piano lessons at five and then moved on to singing lessons. He decided to participate in various talent programs on TV. In addition, [...]

The Endless Ability and Talent of Heather Pierson

We here at JazzMonthly.com would like to thank Dave Wilkes(www.davewilkes.com), an icon in the music business for introducing us to Heather Pierson. Heather Pierson is a rare artist that has essentially mastered all Genres of Music. From beautifully improvised Musical Meditations on piano, to being #1 on the Folk radio charts. Exciting live Jazz performances one [...]

Rich Baron – Creating Memorable Melodies

Rich Baron excels at creating memorable melodies that satisfy the most sophisticated music fan as well as the casual listener. His recordings embody his ongoing search for new ways to express himself through his eclectic songwriting and incredible vocal range. Listeners will immediately understand where he’s coming from as [...]

Impressing Musicians & Fans Every Time He steps Out on the Stage, Alex Bird Talks about His New Release “The Way She Moves”

It is my pleasure to welcome to JazzMonthly.com an incredible singer, songwriter, performer and actor. With his trademark look, he is impressing musicians and fans alike every time he steps out on the stage. Alex has just released his debut single titled "The Way She Moves" and is currently working on his soon to be [...]

Jo Harman’s “People We Become,” a testimony to her International Appeal

Raised in Southwest England, Harman found success on her own terms with her debut, Dirt On My Tongue. The album was released independently in 2013 and supported by a touring schedule that found Harman sharing the stage with icons like Patti Smith, Joan Baez and Sinead O’Connor. Wildly successful for [...]

GIDEON KING – A Mélange of Rock, Jazz & Pop

In 2015, Gideon King & City Blog(GKCB) released a full length CD, City Blog. The music was met with wide critical acclaim, with the Huffington Post calling King a "musical genius." Having worked for years in establishing a reputation as a rising force in the New York Jazz scene, King [...]

Interview: Grace Brancale, Emerging Global Artist

With singles featured on local and global smooth jazz radio stations, Grace Brancale has grown her audience across 216 countries. Considering that her first release was just in August 2017, and almost 20 releases since, many across the US and around the world have reached out to her to let her [...]

MICHAEL LINGTON – Silver Lining

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" MICHAEL LINGTON -Silver Lining- Michael Lington grew up in Copenhagen and decided to move to America and pursue a music career. Since that move, he has recorded multiple albums and is recognized worldwide as one of the premier solo recording artists covering diverse musical genres [...]

JAMES TORMÉ – Strange Little Planet

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" JAMES TORMÉ -Strange Little Planet- "Strange Little Planet" is a new project by James Tormé, son of the legendary jazz singer, composer, drummer and actor…Mel Tormé. James Tormé, an extraordinary singer with immense talent and energy has once again, created a standout CD that is [...]

More Feature Interviews

MARIEA ANTOINETTE – Feature Interview

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" MARIEA ANTOINETTE Mariea Antoinette, a native of San Diego, has transformed the Harp from a classical background instrument into an electrifying lead instrument in today’s [...]

VANN BURCHFIELD – Feature Interview

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" VANN BURCHFIELD From his victorious saxophone Longest-Note-Guinness-Record over Kenny G, to multiple performances at the White House, Vann Burchfield raises the threshold on the genre. [...]

TONY SAUNDERS – Feature Interview

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" TONY SAUNDERS Tony Saunders’ life story could be the script to a hit movie. Son of legendary keyboardist and composer Merl Saunders, Tony’s life has been a musical adventure. As a [...]

B. CHRISTOPHER – Feature Interview

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" B. CHRISTOPHER B. Christopher, like most composers, is not a household name. However, if you own a television, you have probably heard his music. With [...]

PAUL TUVMAN – Riding The Jetstream

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" PAUL TUVMAN Almost all of us wanted to grow up to be an Airline Pilot or a Professional Musician. But most of the time we [...]

DAN BECK BAND – Feature Interview

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" Dan Beck of "Dan Beck Band" Expressive and soulful guitarist, vocalist, writer Dan Beck performs front and center with the Dan Beck Band. His new debut release All The [...]

SULTANS OF STRING – CHRISTMAS CARAVAN

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" Chris McKhool of "Sultans of String" Canada’s 3x JUNO (Canada’s Grammy) nominees/3x CFMA winning ambassadors of musical diversity, Sultans of String, have expanded the traditional [...]

INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION 2017

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" SHANE WHALEN International Songwriting Competition The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is an annual song contest whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring [...]

DAVE WILKES

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" DAVE WILKES When Jazz Monthly last interviewed music industry veteran David Wilkes, he was midway through his eight year tenure (2002-2010) as Vice President of A&R (Artists [...]

JIM BRUCE

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" JIM BRUCE Well, if you love multi-rhythmic fingerpicking blues guitar, coming from one man but sounds like three, you will really appreciate the ability of our [...]

LARRY ROSEN

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" LARRY ROSEN Thirty years ago, renowned jazz musicians, producers and entrepreneurs Larry Rosen and Dave Grusin made music history as co-founders of GRP Records. The groundbreaking jazz label became known [...]

GEORGE BENSON – Tribute To Nat King Cole

Nearly half a century after recording his debut album The New Boss Guitar of George Benson, the legendary, 10-time Grammy winning guitarist and vocalist at last pays homage to [...]

ARTURO SANDOVAL

A renowned Jazz and classical trumpeter, a brilliant pianist, a stellar composer and arranger – a fine vocalist in his own right, a bandleader, and a tenured university professor of [...]

ANDY WASSERMAN

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" ANDY WASSERMAN Our guest here today is Andy Wasserman, a gifted composer, arranger, musician who has received exceptional reviews by critics and the Jazz world [...]

JUMAANE SMITH – I Only Have Eyes For You

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" JUMAANE SMITH From traveling the world with Michael Bublé to playing the Grammy Awards show with Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers, Jumaane Smith has collaborated with [...]

CARMEN LUNDY – Soul To Soul

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" Carmen Lundy Since launching her career in New York with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra in the late 70s, Miami born vocalist and songwriter [...]

RICHARD LEO JOHNSON – Celeste

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" RICHARD LEO JOHNSON Richard Leo Johnson is a true pioneer in acoustic guitar. A passionate and spontaneous player, he is often compared to such masters as Bruce [...]

DENNIS ANGEL – On Track

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" DENNIS ANGEL Ask any 100 contemporary jazz trumpeters to name their chief influences, and it’s a good bet over 90 will mention the same two [...]

FREDA PAYNE – Come Back To Me Love

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" FREDA PAYNE While Freda Payne will always be associated with “Band of Gold,” the million selling 1970 hit single that established her as a major [...]

GREG CHAMBERS – Can’t Help Myself

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" GREG CHAMBERS Multi-instrumentalist Greg Chambers is a classical woodwind performer and instructor who is also highly versed in contemporary jazz. San Francisco Bay based Chambers plays various [...]

MOLLY RINGWALD

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" MOLLY RINGWALD In the midst of a recent performance before a packed house at the Los Angeles club Rockwell celebrating the release of her debut jazz [...]

Spencer Day – Interview

JazzMonthly.com feature interview SPENCER DAY Spencer Day’s emergence on the Billboard jazz charts with his 2009 Concord Records debut Vagabond reflects the expansive boundaries of the genre. Incorporating classic [...]

Steve Tyrell

JazzMonthly.com Feature Interview STEVE TYRELL Steve Tyrell conducted this interview from his room at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City, where he was staying during his nearly two [...]

Jazz Monthly Feature Interview Dominick Farinacci

Twelve years after Wynton Marsalis invited Julliard bound Cleveland high school student Dominick Farinacci to be a special guest on the PBS Broadcast “Live From Lincoln Center: A Tribute [...]

“Jazz Monthly Feature Interview” Gordon James

JazzMonthly.com feature interview Gordon James Jazz Monthly: Our guest here today here at JazzMonthly.com has recorded four highly acclaimed CD’s, and while the first three have received really excellent [...]

Jazz Monthly Feature Interview Mark Isham

Jazz Monthly: To those of you who know the work of our special guest Mark Isham, no words are necessary. To the handful of you who might not know [...]

Rob Paparozzi – Feature Interview

JazzMonthly.com feature interview ROB PAPAROZZI Jazz Monthly: From the category of “What the Heck Took You So Long?” We here at Jazz Monthly.Com are so happy to announce that [...]

Jimmy Sommers – Interview

JazzMonthly.com Feature interview Jimmy Sommers Jazz Monthly: We here at Jazzmonthly.com are delighted to be chatting with a favorite of ours and we know a favorite of yours for [...]

La Tanya Hall – Feature Interview

"Jazz Monthly.com Feature Interview" La Tanya Hall Jazz Monthly: Just when you thought you’ve heard the zenith of classic voice and renditions, along comes my next guest here [...]

Jane Monheit – The Lovers, the Dreamers & Me

"Jazz Monthly.com Feature Interview" Jane Monheit Jazz Monthly: It is my ultimate pleasure to finally welcome to JazzMonthly.com an incredible singer. It seems she never takes a night [...]

Kim Pensyl – When Katie Smiles

"Jazz Monthly.com Feature Interview" Kim Pensyl Jazz Monthly: One of my alltime favorite musicians in the world joins me at JazzMonthly.com. I go way back with this cat. I [...]

Marilyn Scott – Every Time We Say Goodbye

"Jazz Monthly.com Feature Interview" Marilyn Scott Jazz Monthly: Well, I certainly am excited about my next guest here at JazzMonthly.com. One of the most incredible singers on the [...]

“Jazz Monthly.com Feature Interview” Justin Vasquez

JazzMonthly.com Feature Interview JUSTIN VASQUEZ Jazz Monthly: Our guest at JazzMonthly.com is a young man in his twenties who it seems that musically has come “full circle.” By that [...]

“Jazz Monthly Feature Interview” Mat Marucci

JazzMonthly.com Feature Interview Mat Marucci Jazz Monthly: Well, it is our extreme delight to welcome to Jazz Monthly.com a multi faceted artist. You know they throw that word around [...]

Luba Mason – Interview

"Jazz Monthly.com Feature Interview" Luba Mason Jazz Monthly: Well, if you want to be physically transported and emotionally moved, you must check out my next guest here at [...]

Nikki Yanofsky – Feature Interview

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" Nikki Yanofsky Jazz Monthly: I am just totally excited when there’s new music and a great new artist on the scene, and I am [...]

Jim Peterik – Interview

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" Jim Peterik Jazz Monthly: All right, it is my wonderful pleasure to welcome to JazzMonthly.com for the very first time an incredible singer, songwriter, guitarist, [...]

PATTI AUSTIN – For Ever, For Always, For Luther

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" PATTI AUSTIN Jazz Monthly: Well, I am so happy to have a wonderful singer and songwriter joining us at Jazz Monthly.com today. She possesses the effulgence of [...]

KEIKO MATSUI – Moyo

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" KEIKO MATSUI Keiko Matsui clearly defines the description of an international artist. Her music is definitely on another level in terms of inspiration, intensity, and overwhelming [...]

Lee Ritenour – Smoke n’ Mirrors

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" Lee Ritenour JazzMonthly: Our next guest is one of the monster guitarists, whose music seems to always have a very cool twist and his latest [...]

Nat King Cole – Jazz Pianist – Part 1

“Perhaps the first great crossover musician, Cole's evolution from dazzling pianist to luxuriant crooner has often caused the [...]

Notes and tones: Jazz Appreciation Month feels different this year

[Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on Jazz Appreciation Month. Part One is an overview; [...]

Glastonbury Favorite Grainne Duffy Gains Chart Success With Sensational ‘Voodoo Blues’ Album

What started out as a slow burning, blues-rocking CD release last October, Voodoo Blues is deservedly achieving acclaim [...]

Festivals

Jazz & Blues Festivals, Events [...]

Jaco Pastorius, An Introduction To The Jazz Legend

Jaco Pastorius often told people that he was the greatest bass player in the world. During his brief, [...]

‘The Pure Musical Grace of Self-Confidence’ — Professional Instructor and Internationally Celebrated Pianist Matthew Xiong Teaches Musicians How to Battle Through Performance Anxiety

ALLSTON, Mass., Concert Pianist Matthew Xiong announced he was currently teaching musicians of all levels, and specializes in the [...]

Brilliant Corners Jazz Festival to Take Place Online This Friday

Belfast jazz festival Brilliant Corners will take place online this week. The festival – which is coordinated by music [...]

Thinking in Jazz – “Seeing Out A Bit”

“It all goes from imitation to assimilation to innovation. You move from the imitation stage to the assimilation [...]

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