Take a step into the past with these eight tracks from contemporary jazz releases that came out in the year 1989! Listen to classics from the Rippingtons, Miles Davis, and Hiroshima. Also, who put the meat in my bed?! It’s the second mix I’ve published on 8tracks. If you like this blast from the past, [...]

If you have an iPad, I recommend downloading the free Sting 25 app. Sting is celebrating 25 years as a solo artist. Among the cool things in the app are clips from his 60th birthday concert, from early October, in which he teamed with other artists. On “Consider Me Gone,” we’re treated to Sting with [...]

Check out the nu-jazz/acid jazz feel of the track “Swim” by Fujimoto Tetsuro. It’s from the producer’s new EP Reflections, which I found in Amazon’s MP3 Store (it’s not on iTunes). Swim by Fujimoto Tetsuro

I’ve been listening to A Prayer for the Planet, the new recording by the jazz/electronica/world collective Global Noize. I can’t imagine why a fan of contemporary jazz wouldn’t want to sample this. It doesn’t follow any formulaic smooth jazz style. It’s got the duo of Jason Miles and DJ Logic leading a cast of talented [...]

Hip hop/jazz collective Us3 returns with their eighth studio recording, Lie, Cheat & Steal next month. The first of the 13 tracks, “Ghost,” leans on the jazz side, telling a story of abuse and revenge. It’s the first of the messages relating to the theme of the title. Leader Geoff Wilkinson explains  ”I’ve become increasingly disillusioned by the [...]

Take a step into the past with these eight tracks from contemporary jazz releases that came out in the year 1988! Hear music from Kim Pensyl’s first series of sketches, Al Jarreau feeling so good, David Benoit taking every step along the way, and David Sanborn missing someone so far away. It’s one of a [...]

Ramsey Lewis has pulled out his Fender Rhodes and enlisted his Electric Band for his 80th recording. Ramsey, Taking Another Look features Lewis’ favorite tunes including a new edit of the original “Sun Goddess” recording featuring Earth, Wind & Fire and a new rendition of the Stevie Wonder penned “Living for the City”.

Here’s the top-selling contemporary jazz albums, according to Billboard magazine, in mid-July of years past. 25 years ago: Larry Carlton, Alone/But Never Alone 15 years ago: Quincy Jones, Q’s Jook Joint 10 years ago: Brian Culbertson, Nice and Slow 5 years ago: Wayman Tisdale, Way Up Amazon.com Widgets

The ContemporaryJazz.com group on Facebook has been upgraded! Come join the community and discuss the music you love, post pictures, add links, and more. Today’s topic, the always popular: what are you listening to right now?

There seems to be a higher-than-usual number of contemporary jazz recordings coming out this month. Here’s a quick breakdown of what the latest music costs at iTunes vs. the Amazon MP3 shop.   Amazon iTunes Pat Metheny What’s It All About $8.99 $11.99 Michael Franks Time Together $6.99 $9.99 Corea, Clarke & White Forever $15.00 [...]