LATEST JAZZ ALBUM

The Richard Shulman Group, “In Between Blue and Green,” from Turned Into Lemonade The Richard Shulman Group’s Turned Into Lemonade is a blend of melody, fire, water, groove, mutual exploration and beauty.  Pianist and composer Shulman’s sixth jazz title is described “highly inventive original jazz” and rated “Most Highly Recommended” by ... read more

“The Christmas Song” is also commonly referred as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” due to its famous opening lyrics and has been spreading Yuletide spirit since 1945, when it was written by pianist Mel Tormé and lyricist Bob Wells. While this beloved tune has been recorded by numerous artists ... read more

Vocalist Nancy Wilson, whose supple voice, natural ability as a storyteller and willingness to cross musical boundaries made her a sensation in the jazz and pop worlds, died at her home in Pioneertown, California, on December 13 after a long illness. She was 81. Born in Ohio in 1937, Wilson ... read more

Trumpeter Clark Terry, who was born December 14, 1920, in St. Louis, Missouri, was widely known for his role in the Tonight Show Band in the ’60s and ’70s (he was the band’s first black member), as well as for his longtime associations with bandleaders Count Basie and Duke Ellington. A brilliant ... read more

You probably know keyboardist Jon Batiste as the bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where, from his seat on the piano bench, he’s been bringing his unique brand of smart, inspiring jazz to the masses. The sheer number of eyes and ears tuning in to catch this imaginative musician ... read more

Maggie Herron, “Red Hot Jazz,” from A Ton of Trouble Maggie Herron has twice won Hawaii’s Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Jazz Album of the Year. On this, her fourth self-released album, she sounds fully complete and mature as a singer, songwriter, and pianist. With several songs penned by daughter Dawn ... read more

The Voice, Ol’ Blue Eyes, The Sultan of Swoon, The Chairman of the Board — whatever you want to call him, Frank Albert Sinatra was on this day (December 12) in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1915. Here’s the opening cut from his timeless 1966 live album Sinatra at the Sands featuring the ... read more

When it came to album releases, 2018 was anything but business as usual.  This year saw a slew of new releases that continued to expand the borders of jazz to its ever-increasing margins. These albums crossed genres, pushed envelopes and in some cases, rewrote history. At JAZZIZ, we were fortunate ... read more

Saxophonist, composer and bandleader Kamasi Washington has announced that he will be premiering a highly-anticipated new short film at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, which takes place in Park City, Utah, on January 24-February 3. The short film, titled As Told to G/D Thyself, was inspired by and features the ... read more

Vocalist Diane Schuur — nicknamed “Deedles” for her impressive scatting ability — was born December 10, 1953, in Tacoma, Washington.  A longtime creative partner to saxophonist Stan Getz, Schuur found early success under the GRP label, winning Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Performance in 1986 (for Timeless) and 1987 (for Diane ... read more

Looking for some Monday Motivation? We’ve got you covered. From a jazzy “reimagining” John Lennon’s timeless signature piece to the debut of an exciting new French/Cuban ensemble, here are five new songs that you can listen to right now to help you start your week the right way. Que Vola?, ... read more

Nominees for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards were announced this Friday, and in the jazz category, established heavyweights and ascendant newcomers were represented in strong numbers. Below is a complete list of the nominees. The official Grammy Awards ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on ... read more

Herbie Hancock received the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Medal from the Royal Society for the Arts on December 4 at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The multi-Grammy Award-winner was recognized for his long lifetime of creative achievements and humanitarian efforts. “It’s a great privilege to be ... read more

For jazz fans, Friday is more than just a stepping stone to the weekend. It’s the day when new albums are released and new music fills the air. If you’re wondering just which albums will catch your ear, we’re here to help. We’ve combed through the list of albums coming ... read more

Chet Baker & Stan Getz, “Winter Wonderland,” from West Coast Live (Pacific Jazz) Trumpeter Chet Baker and saxophonist Stan Getz were a match made in jazz heaven. Their styles were similar —laid back, elegant, yet smoldering from the inside — which is why their numerous albums together made for such gratifying listening. ... read more