jazz2love

  Album:  I'll Be Around Artists:  Jennifer Roberts and Tedd Firth Label:  One Man Band Music Release Date:  October 16, 2026 Website:  www.jennifergroberts.com Acclaimed vocalist Jennifer Roberts gives old fashioned, cabaret jazz a modern glint on her recording I'll Be Around .  Collaborating with Tedd Firth in the role as her pianist, arranger and Musical Director, the pair lull the listener into a blissful state of mind with their iteration of jazz standards like Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Alfie" and Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk and Irving Berlin's "I'll Get By, Count Your Blessings," switching to inspiring an uplifting vibe in their rendition of classic pop tunes like Carole King's "You've Got A Friend" and Blossom Dearie and Mahriah Blackwolf's "I Like You, You're Nice."  Their sense of synchronicity is impeccable, keeping the melodies flowing with refinement and aplomb. The duo demonstrate a visceral sensit...

Imagine one hundred years ago in America when tunes performed by Rudy Vallee, the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Gene Krupa, and Bix Biederbecke, to name a few, could be heard on mainstream free radio stations, in vaudeville shows and during silent pictures in theaters.  Serendipitously, saxophonist, composer and bandleader Chad Smith became enamored of the jazz music of the 1920's, and one hundred years later, he shows that the music of the Golden Age of Jazz remains relevant to modern audiences. Smith's 2026 recording Saxophobia presents a new spin on the compositions of saxophonist Rudy Wiedoeft,, S whose recordings through the Roaring '20s are noted for popularizing the saxophone.  The inspiration for the album's title is Wiedoeft's track "Saxophobia." Smith admits, "The title of the album was difficult to choose.  I didn’t want it to be historical or boring in any way.  'Saxophobia' is one of the trademark pieces that Wiedoeft wrote and perfo...

  Album:  Quartet Vol. II Artist:   Takeshi Asai Label:   Fono Bono Records Release Date:   November 20, 2026 Website:   https://www.takeshiasai.com/index.html https://takeshiasai.com/QuartetVol2_Album.html   The esteemed Takeshi Asai, a New York City-based jazz pianist, composer and bandleader releases his 24th album Quartet Vol. II, featuring Hashem Assadullahi on alto saxophone, Mark Wade on bass, and John Clay on drums.   The quartet fuses bop, swing, blues, and straight-ahead jazz into a sonic consortium that balances melodic motifs with improvised musings.   At times, the quartet ventures into organic conversations among themselves, but now and then, they immerse their audience in spellbinding storylines that speak to the listener.   "Fillet Mignon" is one such track that speaks to the audience.   The whispery swells of Asai's keys scroll intense musings that cause the listener to pause and take a moment to reflect.   The...