jazz2love

  Bulgarian-born and naturalized Canadian, Gergana Velinova has a vocal resonance that invites listeners to come towards her.  Her talent for shining a light on introspective thoughts intimate experiences that audiences can relate to on a human level.  Her 2026 release Free: A Soulful Journey from Cellar Music Group integrates Bulgarian folk, bossa nova, blues, soul, and smooth jazz with all original material written by Velinova.  The recording is produced by Kristian Alexandrov, co-produced by Gergana Velinova and Shannon Gaye, and features an orchestra that molds around Velinova's vocals.   She punctuates, "Freedom is a very powerful word, and for many people around the world right now.  It carries deep meaning."   "The composition 'Free' itself was intentionally written as a soaring vocal piece," she explains, "with my voice rising above the band as a literal cry for freedom. When we long for freedom, we don't whisper it—we shout it. In thi...

  New Release:  Eklektika from Carolyn Lee Jones Label:  Catn’round Sound Release Date: June 15, 2025 Website: www.carolynleejones.com Singer-songwriter Carolyn Lee Jones showcases a vocal swagger that exudes confidence and total command of the progression of the melodies in her performance, emblematic of the elegant charisma of Jane Monheit and the sentimental persuasion of Wayne Newton.  Her 2026 release Eklektika presents a complementing range of material from Broadway standards like George and Ira Gershwin's "Embraceble You" to the uplifting narration of "That’s What Being in Love Is All About," written by Roger Boykin and propelled by a swinging rhythm and balmy embers.  The classic bopping tremors of "Out of Nowhere,” by Johnny Green and Edward Heyman, features a sizzling saxophone solo from Shelley Carrol and a striking piano vamp played by Peter Rioux.  The cushiony bossa nova ambience of Michael Franks's ruminating tune "Tell Me All About...

  New Release:  Colors of Time from Sergio Pereira Label:  Sergio Pereira Music Release Date:  May 15, 2026 Website:  www.sergiopereira.world A fusion of R&B/soul, smooth jazz, and Brazilian rhythms, guitarist, vocalist, percussionist, composer, and bandleader Sergio Pereira stylizes a feel-good repertoire on his 2026 release Colors of Time .  Containing original material written by Pereira, his music conjures images of balmy summer days strolling leisurely across beach sand, lounging listlessly on the deck of a sailboat cruising around a picturesque island, or enjoying an outdoor samba dance party.  His music puts a smile on the listener's face, loaded with pleasing aesthetics, enjoyable tones, and attractive rhythms.  Bossa nova swells put listeners at ease through the title track, drifting into the soothing ambience of "Brightness of You," and the shimmying grooves of "Up the Hill," augmented by the gentle flutter of Oriente Lopez's flute....

Christmas is a holiday that is oftentimes geared for kids.  Designed to encourage children to create a list of gifts they would like Santa Claus to give them on Christmas day.  It is a special time of the year that inspires hope and good cheer towards one another.  Stoking the belief in the legendary tales of the patron saint of children St. Nicholas and the birth of the baby Jesus Christ.   American vocalist Jonathan Karrant, however, illustrates Christmas as a time of year for grown ups, choosing songs for his album Christmas Wish that appeal to a sophisticated palate.  Portraying the holiday as a period of maturity that enables adults to look in retrospect at what transpired in the past year, and finding hope in the year to come.   It is no wonder that David Foster's 1989 tune "Grown Up Christmas List" is the first song Karrant had in mind for the setlist on his Christmas album.  He recalls, "I've wanted to make a holiday album for years...

  Carnaval from Antonio Adolfo Label:  AAM Music (Cat# AAM 0719) Release Date:  July 11, 2025 Website:  https://antonioadolfomusic.com Pianist, composer, and Brazilian jazz artist Antonio Adolfo garnered international acclaim for his reharmonization of both jazz standards and Brazilian songs.  He has reimagined Milton Nascimento, Antonio Carlos Jobim, bossa nova, samba, choro, and baião compositions with a jazz framework and bop-inspired improvisations, as well as finessing works by Cole Porter and Wayne Shorter with Brazilian-tinged interpretations. On his newest album, Carnaval, Adolfo once again applies his artistry for making sauve and debonair harmonies that lighten a room's mood and elevates its community.  The festive vibrations of “Vassourinhas” (Vassourinhas Carnaval Club) is a frevo, a vibrant Brazilian dance and music style that is performed at carnivals throughout Brazil.  Composed by Matias da Rocha and Joana Batista Ramos in 1909 as a tr...

  My America 3: My Country from Jim Self Label:  Basset Hound Music Release Date:  June 13, 2025 Website:  https://www.bassethoundmusic.com Tuba player and fluba (part tuba, part flugelhorn) practitioner Jim Self presents his 24th album My America 3: My Country with arrangements by Kim Scharnberg.  A collection of jazz-izfied country tunes that pay respect to their Americana roots, coalesce square dance meters with Dixieland decor, swing-themed embellishments, southern rock riffs, synth pop glitter, and big band swells.  Opening with Self's original work “Chomping at the Bit,”  the track is tethered to a country-folk shuffle supporting Self's meandering toots on the fluba, with guitar inserts countered by intervals of a slinking fiddle and puffing horns.  “Wabashed” is a mash up of the hillbilly anthem “Wabash Cannonball” and Ervin T. Rouse's “Orange Blossom Special,” two songs about trains with the percussive beats and chugging fiddle loops allu...

  New Release:  Glimpse from Jennifer Lee Label:  SBE Records Release Date:  June 6, 2025 Website:  https://www.jenniferlee.xyz Singer-songwriter Jennifer Lee teams up with her guitarist Peter Sprague for her 4th release Glimpse .  A montage of original songs and jazz standards that showcase her prowess as a blues vocalist, the music travels between the suave sonorous of swing, the plush serenity of bossa nova, and the comfy aesthetics of adult pop, bound together by Lee's scintillating vocals.   The recording features jazz musicians from California, including:  Adam Shulman on piano and Rhodes, Gunnar Biggs, Doug Pohorski, and John Wiitala on acoustic bass, Duncan Moore and Vince Lateano on drums, Tommy Aros on percussion, Derek Cannon on trumpet, Tripp Sprague and Anton Schwartz on saxophone, Rich Kuhns on accordion, Justin Grinnell on electric bass, and East Coast flugelhornist Randy Brecker.  "Vivid Technicolor Love" echoes an adult ...

  Album:   Alice Blue Artist:   Ravita Jazz Label:   Ravita Music Website:   https://www.baltimorebass.com/   Ravita Jazz is a jazz sextet led by bass player Phil Ravita and includes: percussionist Mark Leppo, saxophonist Paul Carr, pianist Greg Small, drummer Nucleo Vega, and vocalist Deidre Jennings.  Their 2025 release Alice Blue canvasses a wide breadth across the adult contemporary jazz spectrum, intersecting swaying bossa nova swells with bebop trimmings, torchlight atmospheres, and straight-ahead jazz harmonies.  Ravita Jazz's sonic representations are reflective of the adult contemporary jazz culture, featuring five originals by Ravita, two compositions by Small and three covers. Diving in, the dreamy atmosphere of "Almost Blue" is blanketed in ruminating keys, traveling along plush rhythmic beats, creating a tranquilizing vibe. The soothing timbres of Jennings's vocals caress the lyrics tenderly with a deep reverence in "From the Start," ...

Album:   Love on the Tyrrhenian Artist:   CeCe Gable Label: CCGableLLC Website:   https://cecegable.com   Love on the Tyrrhenian , the sixth full-length recording from vocalist CeCe Gable blends American swing with Latin influences and easy listening/contemporary adult pop serenity.   Track after track weaves a melodious tapestry of picturesque tunage, sweeping listeners away along a blissful cruise. A lounging samba rhythm transports the title track and "Little Boat" into a balmy, paradise-imbued realm with the keys twinkling softly as Gable's warm vocals blanket the listener in succor-rich vibrations.   There is a nostalgic slant in the music reminiscent of the alluring escapes penned by Antonio Carlos Jobim.      Gable continues serenading the listener with the luxurious atmospherics of "The Riviera," a staple of Cy Coleman and Joseph Allen McCarthy .   The arrangement is given an elevating boost by pianist-arranger John Shipley, en...

Album: Next Gen Artist:  John Stein Label:  Tiger Turn Artist Website:  Johnstein.com A mix of jazz standards and originals, guitarist-composer John Stein's 2025 offering Next Gen features music inspired by his five grandchildren.  Making the tunes personal for him while appealing to listeners on a broad scale, Stein's 19th project displays the flexibility and the sonorous lilt of the guitar, riffing with his band mates Ed Lucie on bass and Mike Connors on drums in splendid synchronicity. Opening with "AJ," a track Stein wrote for one of his granddaughters, the arrangement synchronizes puffy rivulets from Stein's guitar perched on the calming knolls of Lucie's bass.  The track is followed by the lounging grooves of the jazz standard "Lover Man," brandishing a soft simmering ether that jumps into the bouncy rhythm of "Kai," named after Stein's oldest grandson. Another jazz standard, "Star Eyes," is illuminated in pixilated gui...

Album:  It's Hard To Say Goodbye Artist:  Enrico Granafei Label:  CAP Records Website:  www.enricogranafei.com http://Facebook..com/enrico.granafei]Facebook.com/enrico.granafei YouTube channel: Youtube.com/@johnmeixner1809 IG: @granafei Jazzbeat.com/project/enrico-granafei It's Hard To Say Goodbye , the fourth US release from harmonica virtuoso, classical guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and composer Enrico Granafei, is a compilation of Latin-infused jazz rhythms sauté ed in Granafei's soulful playing.  Inspired by harmonica master Toots Thielemans, Granafei illustrates the potency of the reed instrument to helm the melodic direction of arrangements as its wind-imbued texture intensifies the make-up of the scores.  Composing six of the 11 tracks, Granafei's delivery affects the listener profoundly. He titled the album It's Hard To Say Goodbye in memory of three people who were very special to him:  Toots Thielemanns, and two musicians who pla...

Album:  Christmastime in Rio Artists:  Romero Lubambo and Pamela Driggs Label:  Sunnyside Records Website:  https://www.romerolubambo.com Ringing in the holiday season, vocalist Pamela Driggs and her husband, guitarist Romero Lubambo, present Christmastime in Rio to audiences.  The 12-track holiday special is a selection of ambient, fireside melodies that will enliven spirits and elicit good cheer.  Joining the couple is their daughter Luisa on vocals in addition to Peter Martin on piano, Vitor Gonçalves on accordion, Joe Locke on vibraphone, Itaiguara Brandão on bass, and Rafael Barata on drums. Lubambo's breezy guitar strokes illuminating "Christmas Love Song" encircle Driggs's vocals in whispery flutters like sparkles radiating from tinsel on a tree.  Driggs cradles the lyrics with a perceptive regard for family ties, emblematic of a nightingale.  Her phrasing displays a sentimentality with warm timbres that are magnetic.  She expresses a...

Album:  World Traveler Artist:  Aleksi Glick Label:  Pinch Records Website:  https://www.aleksiglick.com World Traveler, the new recording from guitarist and composer Aleksi Glick fuses jazz guitar hooks with R&B/soul grooves and bossa nova trimmings, offering a listening experience filled with feel good vibrations from start to finish.  Featuring vocalist Laureana on a handful of tracks, Glick opens the listener's mind to picturesque soundscapes and aurally pleasing explorations. The bossa nova wavelets traveling along "Guitar and Me" are steered by Glick's shimmering chords, producing an atmospheric sonorous that suspends the listener, keeping one in blissful flight.  Laureana's soulful vocals sweep sensually across the bluesy terrain of "She Told Me," moves rhythmically along the bubbly R&B traction of "Leaving LA." and coasts smoothly through the soothing Latin tremors found in "Nordic Bossa."  Musical influences of jazz ...

Album:  A Window Within Artist: Olivia Foschi Label: Self-Released Website: OliviaFoschi.com Coalescing impressions of bossa nova, swing, scat, and smooth jazz, vocalist-composer Olivia Foschi's latest release A Window Within expresses an array of moods from festive to reflective and convalescing, as the listener follows her personal journey from her marriage to the loss of her grandmother.  The recording is a collaborative effort from Foschi and her drummer Mauricio Zottarelli in the the heart of the arrangements.  The tracks are further defined by pianist Matt King, bassist Marco Panascìa and guitarist Vinicius Gomes, giving Foschi’s compositions distinctive features and dimension. “Caught Me By Surprise” captures the memorable moment of Olivia’s first encounter with her future husband, Joel Kretschman. The piece is clad in percussive vocals that amplify raw emotion.  Shifting gears to the mollifying melody of “Pieces of Central Park,” Foschi creates a cozy and co...

Album:  Making It Up As We Go Along Artist:  Lauren White Label:  Café Pacific Records Website:  Laurenwhitejazz.com Making It Up As We Go Along is vocalist Lauren White's fifth album and showcases her refined vocal style.  Her voice shines on the ballads, demonstrating an easy command of the soft vocal inflections in her register and a penetrating tenderness when she cradles the lyrics as though she lived through the stories she describes.  Working with producer Barbara Brighton, White exhibits a leaning to sing love songs that delve into the complex entanglements bound to surface while consumed in a mature affair. The jazz romp “Unlikely Valentine," penned by Ron Boustead, is a poignant example of White's attraction for songs that delve into the complexity of love, portraying two people who like to play the field and are surprised when they fall in love. The swinging horns performed by Brian Swartz on trumpet and Katisse Buckingham on saxophone brim with...

Album:  Dreams Lost and Found Artist:  Halie Loren Label:  Nettwerk / Justin Time Records Website:  https://halieloren.com/ Jazz vocalist Halie Loren approached her 2024 release, Dreams Lost and Found, focusing on songs that speak to the listener about "finding new visions for love and life, allowing some dreams to die to make space for new dreams to be born," according to the press release.  Finding what she was looking in the classic folk pop repertoire and jazz vocals catalogs, Loren offers a delightful array of tunes that entice her audience to release entanglements of the past and leap into the present.  Well versed in soul pop, torchlight jazz, and coffeehouse folk, Loren provides her audience with an enthralling fare. Jumping out at the listener is Loren's rendition of "C'est Le Printemps," written by Jean Sablon, Jean Geiringer, Richard Rodgers, and Oscar Hammerstein.  Her nuanced vocals make the lyrics come alive, revealing a charming animat...

Album:  Wild Is Love Artis:  Naama Label:  La Reserve Records Website:  https://www.naamasings.com Naama sings and swings majestically on her latest release Wild Is Love .  On close inspection, her vocal inflections spur exhilarating sensations and the clarion tone in her vocal nuances cause listeners to pause and take notice.  Her sultry purring is reminiscent of the late Lena Horne, and her creamy crooning is akin to vintage Lainie Kazan.   The recording is elegant and refined like a gold reserve wine that equally satisfies the soul's need to be engulfed in a succor-rich escape. Naama's music is solace for the soul and mind.  Her sleek phrasing through "I Cried For You" intimates a vulnerability that audiences relate to instantly as she asserts, "Every road has a turning / that's one thing you're learning / now I cried for you / what a fool I used to be / my brown two eyes are a little bluer / I found a heart a little bit truer / I cried fo...

Album:  Islands Artist:  Dan Bonsanti and 14 Jazz Orchestra Label:  Self-Released Website:  https://www.14jazzorchestra.com/new-release---islands.html Islands , the 2023 release from composer and arranger Dan Bonsanti and his band, the 14 Jazz Orchestra, is a collection of swinging, big band jazz arrangements with 11 straight-ahead jazz tunes that merge big band bubbles with adult contemporary easiness, nuanced in jazz-imbued elegance.  Textured in jaunty keys liaised with smooth horns and cruising rhythmic beats, the recording fills the listener with pleasurable sensations that last from start to finish. A feel good recording,  Bonsanti and his orchestra attain a state of enjoyment achieved by the likes of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Guy Lombardo Big Band.  The warm aesthetics emanating from the horns along "Part of Me" bathe the listener in cozy atmospherics, then traverse into a bossa nova shimmy across "Carmencita," written by Mike Levine, B...