Category: Great Jazz Performances

  • Benny Reid new album “Escaping Shadows”

    Benny Reid, 29, is an saxophonist, composer, teacher, and recording artist who studied at Indiana University and now resides in New York. (Find him on Twitter, All About Jazz, Myspace, or Youtube). He recently released his second album, Escaping Shadows, on the Concord Jazz label. It features Benny Reid (alto saxophone & keyboards), Richard Padron…

  • Song of the Week – Kurt Elling “Where I Belong”

    One of my all time favorite jazz vocalists is the inimitable Kurt Elling. He has been voted Male Vocalist of the Year for 10 years in a row by critics in Downbeat magazine and for 5 years by the Downbeat readers’ choice awards. Kurt Elling has done some really incredible recordings, and I am definitely…

  • Song of the Week: “Your Amazing Grace” by Marcus Miller feat Chaka Khan

    The JazzPianoCafe song of the week is “Your Amazing Grace” by Marcus Miller featuring Chaka Khan. It’s from Marcus’s 2001 album M2 (find Marcus Miller M² on Amazon.com). The song features a stellar cast of musicians: Marcus Miller Bass Clarinet, Bass Guitar, Bass Synth, Synths, Percussion Programming Chaka Khan Vocals Kenny Garrett Alto Saxophone solo…

  • Song of the Week: Stars by Kate McGarry

    I just discovered the music of jazz vocalist Kate McGarry (view her page on All About Jazz, her website, or her myspace). She has a really contemporary and modern sound, a bit similar to Bjork but with the passion and intensity of some of the classic “old school” vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.…

  • Video: Jamie Cullum performs “Just One of Those Things”

    Here is a video of young British jazz sensation Jamie Cullum performing the Cole Porter tune “Just One of Those Things” on July 7th 2009 at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Watch on Youtube or use the player below. I really like his piano solo!

  • Three Little Bops – awesome jazz cartoon

    I stumbled upon a wonderfully jazzy and funny Looney Tunes cartoon video, thanks to my Facebook friend and jazz singer Jennifer Scott! From the Wikipedia article on this cartoon (click here to view): Three Little Bops is a 1957 Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Friz Freleng, with voices by Stan Freberg and music by jazz…

  • Live Concert Recording: Phil Dwyer Trio at the Jazz Cellar

    Here’s a treat for jazz piano lovers. I’m really excited to share a live recording of the Phil Dwyer Trio, featuring Phil Dwyer (piano), Ken Lister (bass), and Jesse Cahill (drums) performing at the Jazz Cellar in Vancouver BC Canada on May 15th 2009. Here is a little bit more about the musicians (from their…

  • Ambrose Akinmusire – Trapped in a Dream

    I discovered an amazing track entitled Trapped in a Dream by jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. In this article on San Francisco Bay Area jazz musicians, David Rubien writes: Akinmusire – a graduate of Berkeley High School’s renowned jazz program with degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, the University of Southern California and the Monk…

  • Piano Practice on Lee Morgan’s Ceora (and the original Lee Morgan recording)

    On of the tracks that I have been listening to on my cell phone lately is Lee Morgan‘s tune Ceora (you can listen to the recording on Imeem by clicking here or by using the player below). Jazztrumpetsolos.com has a transcription of Lee Morgan’s solo on Ceora. Ceora – Lee Morgan Anyways, tonight I practiced…

  • Chick Corea and Hiromi play Windows

    Found a nice recording of Chick Corea and Hiromi Uehara playing Chick Corea’s wonderful tune, Windows. Click here to listen on Imeem or feel free to use the player below. Windows – Chick Corea & Hiromi