The question, of course, is whether any more feeling can be wrung from these age-old standards, so many times have they been done. John Nowak’s answer on Once More with Feeling? Absolutely. You May Also Like: Frank Sinatra, “Only the Lonely” from Ultimate Sinatra (2015): One Track Mind Bill LloydRead More

A New Jersey native living in Mexico, Bobby Kapp brings a sense of humor and fun to older classics and new originals that begins with the album’s title – “blue white boy” in Spanish. You May Also Like: Bobby Kapp + Matthew Shipp – Cactus (2016) Ivo Perelman, Matthew Shipp,Read More

George Benson’s chart successes in the 1970s and ’80s as a breezy R&B crooner have largely obscured his initial promise as a boss jazz guitarist with a intelligent, liquid tone — an heir to Wes Montgomery’s throne. You May Also Like: Harry Benson – ‘Paul’ (2022): Books Paula Cole –Read More

If there’s any question as to how off-the-cuff, how gloriously in the moment, this ultra-rare one-off concert collaboration in fact was, one need only hear the lead tune — a fizzy, improv-filled take on “Lullaby of Birdland.” You May Also Like: Jazz Reedist Daniel Bennett on How Musicians Can ThriveRead More

The wonder is how much Eliane Elias, the Brazalian-born pianist and singer, has in common with the doomed American romantic Chet Baker. You May Also Like: Eliane Elias, “Brasil” from Made in Brazil (2015): One Track Mind Eliane Elias Confidently Expanded Her Main Influences on ‘Bossa Nova Stories’ Digging IntoRead More

Don’t cry, indeed. For Ben Sidran — producer of Van Morrison and Rickie Lee Jones, co-writer of “Space Cowboy” with Steve Miller, sessions man with the Rolling Stones, NPR radio voice — being a hipster seems like such an effortless thing. You May Also Like: Jeff Berlin, Ben Sidran, JeffRead More

The pairing of legendary pianist Dick Hyman and wondrous vocalist Heather Masse takes flight on Lock My Heart, a charming and easygoing record. You May Also Like: David Gilmour, “Rattle That Lock” (2015): One Track Mind Kansas, “With This Heart” from The Prelude Implicit (2016): One Track Mind Steve KuhnRead More

Jazz vocalists don’t typically give me the same charge I get from jazz instrumentalists, but there are always a few exceptions to the rule. You May Also Like: Xander and the Peace Pirates, “Soul Sailing” (2016): One Track Mind Rich Halley and Carson Halley – The Wild (2017)

One of the best jazz vocal groups to emerge from the 1990s, New York Voices is marking their 25th anniversary with a live CD, Live with the WDR Big Band Cologne. You May Also Like: Garage A Trois – ‘Calm Down Cologne’ (2021) Maceo Parker’s Roots and Grooves was halfRead More

Even during the height of her early-1970s singer-songwriter successes, when the radio was shag-carpeted with Carole King songs, I never could get past the idea that another singer would have done better by those lyrics. You May Also Like: Brecker Brothers – ‘Live and Unreleased’ (2020) Boston’s Tom Scholz gotRead More