This is the second part of a three-part series reminiscing on how I got started with contemporary jazz 20 years ago. Part one is here. KBIA-FM, one of the top NPR stations in the country, had an evening contemporary jazz program that would have a life-altering affect. One night, I won a GRP sampler in [...]

My contemporary jazz journey began 20 years ago, in college. In 1989, I was dating a girl who listened to contemporary jazz. She had cassettes of Spyro Gyra’s Point of View and David Sanborn’s A Change of Heart in her blue Honda. I was a bit familiar with modern jazz (a high school classmate had [...]

Earlier this month, I posted some of the new contemporary jazz and jazz-related videos that have come out this year. Below are some of the new CDs that came out this month. On the carousel to order the latest from Diana Krall, Gregg Karukas, Chris Botti, the Rippingtons, Sean Jones, Chuck Loeb, Return To Forever, [...]

Try It Out Tuesdays offers a free full MP3 of an artist. Today’s artist is Miles Stiebel. I don’t get a lot of jazz violin in my mailbox and it’s always good to hear something other than another guitar or saxophone recording. The cut is a cover of the Stevie Wonder classic from Stiebel’s just-released [...]

Diana Krall’s next recording, Quiet Nights, is a Brazilian jazz album coming out on March 31. After marrying Elvis Costello and giving birth, Diana says, “I feel more womanly, I guess, and I think this record is a love letter but very sensual, more on the erotic side. It’s definitely late night.” Diana isn’t the [...]

ContemporaryJazz.com Radio plays nu jazz, acid jazz, remixed jazz, jazzy house, dancefloor jazz, and other groove jazz styles. It’s online all the time and is free (with ads) or you can purchase a VIP package for commercial free listening and other benefits. In the last three weeks, I added over two dozen new selections to [...]

One constant in the contemporary jazz world is the planning and reliable execution of Heads Up recordings. I just got the list for 2009 and it’s another winner for contemporary jazz fans. I’ll elaborate more in later posts but here’s what’s on the schedule: January Incognito – More Tales Remixed – remixes of songs from [...]

I began looking up the various jazz seasonal recordings when I first learned about the new Christmas recording from Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. I’ve gotten a good number and am breaking them into separate posts. Here are some of the singers who have new holiday recordings out this year. Al Jarreau – Christmas. An [...]

Marcus Johnson is presenting three new recordings under the brand FLO – For the Love Of. FLO: Standards covers classics like “On Green Dolphin Street,” “Body and Soul,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Goodbye Port Pie Hat” and features Johnson, Bobby Lyle, Michael Price, and drummer Lenny Robinson. Like FLO: Standards, the title of FLO: Romance [...]

Jeff Lorber – Heard ThatSome nice pop-jazz gems; guests include Rex Rideout, trumpeters Rick Braun and Ron King, and Gerald Albright. Buy the CD or DRM-free download at Amazon Buy the download from iTunes Will Bernard – Blue Plate Special Buy the CD at Amazon Buy the download from iTunes Take 6 – The StandardA [...]