jazz2love

  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:  Live at Blue Llama from the David Janeway Trio Label: Steeplechase Release Date: May 4, 2026 Artist Website: davidjaneway.com Label Website: steeplechase.dk Recorded live on June 15, 2024 at the Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the David Janeway Trio demonstrates a collaborative engagement on their release Live at Blue Llama that is nimble, spontaneous, and lyrical.  Featuring David Janeway on piano, Robert Hurst on bass, and Billy Hart on drums, the album showcases a handful of jazz standards mixed in with a number of original compositions.   Their original work “Sweet and Lovely” draws from Latin influences in the rhythmic grooves, in addition to traces of bop in the melodic phrasing of Janeway's cantoring keys.  The trio's respond and exchange creates a dynamic dialogue.  The reflective mood of Gary Peacock's piece "Gardenia" is comfortably paced, displaying a warm interplay between Janeway's languid keys and Hurst's slo...

  New Release:  Girl Talk from Jennifer Madsen Label: SingBaby Productions, LLC Release Date: June 26, 2026 Website:  https://www.jennifermadsen.com A sleek and beguiling crooner, Jennifer Madsen radiates a lively persona on her latest project Girl Talk .   Sowing big band zest with the opulence of swing, Madsen is a galvanizing storyteller, illustrating an intimacy with her audience that is entrancing.  The classic orchestration honors jazz tradition while tweaking the tunes with Madsen's own personalized touch.  Her rendition of Cy Coleman's sultry number "You Turn Me On, Baby" enlivens the romantic ambience while her nuanced vocals throb with anticipation, promising an enchanting interlude along "You and the Night and the Music," anchored by a slow burning mambo rhythm.  "Misty" accentuates her smooth, crooning vocalese, highlighting the emotional depth of the lyrics as she purrs wistfully, "Look at me / I'm as helpless as a kitten up a...

  Album:  Strange Meadowlark Artist:   Mark Christian Miller Label:   Self-Released Release Date:   February 6, 2026 Website:   www.markchristianmiller.com   Jazz vocalist and Los Angeles native Mark Christian Miller releases his fourth album as a bandleader Strange Meadowlark .   In true crooner fashion, Miller blends vintage swing with modern sensibilities, engaging listeners by directing the lyrics to his audience, creating an intimacy that is magnetic.   His re-iterations of jazz standards display an amore for swing.   His phrasing is stylized and charming.   His delivery is upbeat and lyrical, in sync with the rhythmic swells.   His resonance is nuanced and animated, demonstrated in his rendition of "Mister Kicks."   A whistling flute embellishes "You Make Me Feel So Young" with elegant furls, turning reflective through the title track, accentuating the warm serenade.   The wandering ruminations of the saxophone ...

  Agua Con Gas from Dave Schumacher and Cubeye Label:   Cubeye Music Release Date:   April 17, 2026 Website:   cubeyemusic.com   Baritone saxophonist and Chicago native Dave Schumacher leads his jazz ensemble Cubeye along a whirlwind ride on Agua Con Gas.   A mix of Schumacher's originals sprinkled with jazz standards, Schumacher entwines Latin jazz with swing, bop, and improvisation.  Their tailored creations are finely detailed and seamlessly threaded.  Schumacher's original tune "Al Rosé" is harnessed in a bopping strut as he performs a series of dynamic acrobatics on the sax while Alex Norris carves out a path of spiraling toots on the trumpet.  Their embellishments on B. Reid's softly ambient "The Gypsy" demonstrates Schumacher's nimble playing, threading sprightly curlicues along Silvano Monasterios's lightly stroking keys, followed by the billowy ruffles of Jesus Ricardo's trumpet.  "Amosaya,"composed and arranged by Schumach...

  Multi-lingual jazz vocalist Sacha Boutros reimagines 100 years of popular music by French and American composers on her 2025 effort Paris After Dark .   Demonstrating her flare for jazz, blues, soul, adult pop, and swing, Boutros shares her interpretation of tunes taken from the Great American Songbook as well as from classic French pop catalogs, singing alternately in French and English with a little Italian.  The 10-track collection is Boutros's fifth full-length album and the second in a series of After Dark recordings, initiated by New York After Dark in 2013, and soon to be followed by Las Vegas After Dark and Mexico After Dark .  Each recording shows her fondness for these cities, representing their spirit at night with music heard in the cafés, clubs, taxis, and on the streets.  This latest addition to the series gives the listener an impression of Paris at night with its smooth cocktail-imbued ambiences and the refined textures of Boutros's voca...

  Reimagine from Jennifer Madsen Label: SingBaby Productions, LLC Release Date: August 1, 2025 Website: https://www.jennifermadsen.com Reimagine , the 2025 recording from vocalist Jennifer Madsen sees her performing with pianist and arranger Brent Edstrom.  Her rhythm section features Clipper Anderson on bass and Mark Ivester on drums.  Also on the roster are GRAMMY-winning guests Sean Jones (trumpet) and Howard Levy (harmonica).  Endowed with a classically feminine compass, her vocal register is rooted in smooth blues hues.  Tender in character and harnessing a bond with tunes that express soul and human vulnerabilities.  She tweaks iconic jazz standards, crafting vocal phrasings that shine light on new facets to familiar tunes, showcasing a classic repertoire with her own melodic sensibilities.  Delivering Fats Waller's fan favorite "Honeysuckle Rose" with a fiery slant, and flooding "Beyond the Sea" with a sentimental longing that tugs at the listen...

  Playing Favorites from Chris Rottmayer Label: Pilars Jazz Release Date: October 17, 2025 Website: https://chrisrottmayer.com Playing Favorites is composer-pianist Chris Rottmayer's sixth album as a leader. His choice of material embraces American adult contemporary and jazz standards by such luminaries as Frank Loesser and Kenny Barron to name a few.  Backed by vocalist Kelsey Wallner along with Clark Sommers on bass and Matt Endres on drums, the recording is gilded in straight-ahead jazz trimmings accented by flecks of Latin shimmer as Wallner contributes a handful of her own original tunes to the assortment.  Wallner's soul-studded bluesy vocalese shapes "On The Street Where You Live" into an memorable arrangement as the sauntering pace of the bass and drums cling to her rhythmic strokes.  The shuffling pace of Rottmayer's keys imbue "Firm Roots" with a straight-ahead jazz revving, turning to a candlelight glow through "Sail Away".  Wallne...

  The Road to Trantor from Carl Schultz Label: Origin Records Release Date: November 21, 2025 Website:  https://carlschultzmusic.com Like a smooth, quenching claret, The Road to Trantor is saxophonist Carl Schultz's vision of something that audiences will find aurally scrumptious.  He refers to his creation of all original material as "a soundtrack to a science fiction movie that only exists in my head."  The compilation is more comparable to classic 1950's ballroom dance meets whimsical 2020's symbiotic parlance. The rapport among the musicians sizzles and tranquilizes, schmoozing freely in a social club-style setting.  There is a capricious flare in the playing, a sleek chirping nestled in sophisticated banter that recalls of jazz masters like Oscar Peterson and Charlie Parker.  Led by Schultz on saxophone and flute, his ensemble consists of Adam Benjamin on piano and Rhodes, Tim Wendel on guitar, Zack Teran on bass, and Alwyn Robinson on drums. Their me...

  Love Makes the Changes from Maria Corsaro Label: Lola Records Release Date: November 21, 2025 Website: https://www.mariacorsaro.com Showcasing vocalist Maria Corsaro's affinity for "combining the intimacy of cabaret with the spontaneity of jazz," her 2025 recording Love Makes the Changes suspends listeners over the clouds, above temporal worries.  Her narrations are personalized, delivered with expressive messaging that ensconces her in the role of a family member to listeners.  Track after track, Corsaro steers an intimate relationship with listeners, singing to them directly and privately.  Her treatment of "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" is beautifully done, exuding a strong and penetrative voicing that grabs the listener by the collar, as she emotes from her core, underscoring her magnetism as a stirring storyteller. Produced by David Friedman and arranged by Gregory Toroian, the recording canvasses a wide spectrum of human conditions from the celebr...

  New Release:  Cactus Sessions from Bijan Taghavi Label:  Self-Released Release Date:  January 9, 2026 Website: www.BijanTaghavi.com Pianist and music stylist Bijan Taghavi is fluent in the language of classical piano, displaying a penchant for lithesome expressions and charting engaging expeditions throughout his 2026 effort Cactus Sessions.   A collection of covers, the album is a testament to the spellbinding components of jazz standards.  As a solo pianist, he single-handedly charts the melodic and harmonic forms, in addition to honing the rhythm, range, textures, and chord dynamics, holding audiences engulfed in the movements and transitions. The one-man performance is starkly transparent, amplifying every note and twists in the phrasing. His thoughtful ramblings brightening Horace Silver's memorable "Peace" are profound and softly intense, alternating between bristling sharply and echoing softly, fermenting a misty and dreamy atmosphere.  There ...

  About Time from John Clay Label: ClayTone Music Release Date: January 23, 2026 Website: www.johnclaymusic.com The compositions that drummer and  bandleader John Clay selected to reimagine for his 2026 project About Time are written by some very recognizable names like Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter.  He also chose works written by some lesser known composers like Billy Drummond, Fred Hersch, and Alan Pasqua.  In essence, Clay has aspired to put together a recording that celebrates the great voices of straight-ahead jazz.  A collaborative effort with his band, which comprises of Shunzo Ohno on trumpet and flugelhorn, Matt Garrison on tenor and soprano saxophones, Enrique Haneine on piano, Sean Conly on bass, and vocalist Ruby Pucillo, Clay takes listeners for a wondrous ride, varying in style, rhythm, texture, and interplay, liken to the multiple facets of a kaleidoscope.  The billowing ruptures of Billy Drummond's "Dubai" contrast the bluesy vocalese and ...

    Album: In the Wonder of the Night Artist:  Angela Verbrugge Label:  G2 Records & Publishing Website:  www.angelasjazz.com Animated, flirtatious, seductive, and soothing, Vancouver-based vocalist Angela Verbrugge can coax a smile out of the grumpiest audience member, impressing a positive effect on the most impervious listener.   Her voice is gently persuasive, penetrating the listener with an effortless touch.  Her latest release In the Wonder of the Night is a collection of Great American Songbook standards interspersed with original tunes by Verbrugge.  She is accompanied by New York City-based pianist Ray Gallon.  Their duets display a simple elegance, highlighting Verbrugge's vocal melodies and lively vocal hooks. Verbrugge projects confidence in her delivery and sharp instincts to communicate the story behind the lyrics she sings.  She is theatrical without being flamboyant, buoyant without being pretentious, authentic...

Album:  Live at Vic's Artist:   Nicole Zuraitis Label:   Self-Released Website:  www.nicolezmusic.com Warm and sensual, Nicole Zuraitis's vocals lure her audiences into an uplifting mood, lull them into a tranquil state, and leaves an indelible imprint in their minds.  Her 2025 release Live at Vic's was recorded in front of a live audience, giving the listener insight into her animated interactions with her band and personalized touch at a live performance.   A fusion of soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and adult contemporary, Zuraitis's vocals softly cradle the lyrics, as her purring timbres shape and refine the delicate nuances in her delivery of "Pure Imagination," making it an exceptional piece.  Turning her vocals shimmery and percussive through her reimagination of Dolly Parton's tune "Jolene," Zuraitis's vocals portray unbridled passion.  Her duet with bassist Samuel Weber cruises charmingly along "The Coffee Song," demonstratin...

Singer-songwriter Nancy Newman is oftentimes described as delivering heartfelt interpretations in her music.  Her most recent recording DREAM is evidence of this trademark quality.  In Vancouver, British Columbia, Newman fills a niche in jazz vocals for audiences who crave emotional connection and heartfelt resonance in their listening experience — qualities she delivers with exceptional depth.   She reveals, "I’ve always been fascinated by dreams—both the kind that fuel our hopes and ambitions, and the ones that emerge from our unconscious while we sleep." "With a background in counseling and therapeutic dream work," she cites, "I wanted to create an album that reflects both sides: the dreams that guide us, and the symbolic, often mysterious ones that speak to us in the night."   She sums up, "Each song on DREAM was chosen to explore these dual themes. My one guideline was simple: every song had to include the word 'dream' or 'dreaming...

Album:  Dream With Me Artist:  Naama Gheber Label:  La Reserve Records Website:  https://www.naamasings.com/ Endowed with a vocal depth reminiscent of CeCe Gable enhanced by a smooth vocalese reflective of Donna Singer topped in a sprightly youthfulness recalling of Fleur Seule, vocalist Naama Gheber's talent is vast and multi-layered.  She demonstrates an unwavering command of nuancing her phrasing with impromptu punctuation and interpolating poignant inflections, spiking the tracks on her latest recording Dream With Me with a liveliness that compels the listener's attention and holds each one spellbound. From the rhapsodic scatting she unleashes across "Weaver of Dreams" to the dulcet vocal swells wistfully ruminating through "Street of Dreams," Gheber keeps her audience enthralled.  Her focus to detail and staying true to the traditional swing ethos is applaudable.  Her talent to hold the listener magnetized makes her an alluring songstress, as her ...

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:  A Little Taste: A tribute to Dave Frishberg Artist:  Dave Frishberg Label:  Cherry Pie Music Website:  rebeccakilgore.com The female singers of jazz have a special place in audience's hearts, recalling Billie Holiday, Dianne Reeves, and Jane Monheit among others, each sharing the vibrancy discernible in vocalist Rebecca Kilgore.  In her fourth decade as a connoisseur of jazz vocals, Kilgore celebrates 9 works of Dave Frishberg on her recording, A Litte Taste: A Tribute To Dave Frishberg , with 2 additional songs that she and her husband, flugelhornist-trumpeter-arranger Dick Titterington, often performed in their long collaboration. From swinging showtunes-style trots like Frishberg and Johnny Mandel's upbeat tune "Brenda Starr" to the sonic symphonic billows of Frishberg and Mandel's caressing ballad "You Are There," Kilgore covers jazz from nostalgia to modern.  Ragtime embers sparkle across "Ah, So Pure," a 1848 melody by Friedrich v...

Album:  Jazz Passion & Satin Latin Artist:  Jimbo Ross Label:  Bodacious Records Website:  Bodaciousrecords.com/about-jimbo-ross Facebook.com/jimboross Jazz Passion & Satin Latin , the latest edition to violist Jimbo Ross's catalog takes audiences back to his jazz roots with selections from the Great American Songbook, jazz standards, and a few original compositions.  Partaking on this adventure with Ross are guitarist Joe Gaeta, pianist Stuart Elster, bassist Peter Marshall, and drummer Ron Wagner. The band recorded the 13 tracks at the Sonic Boom Room studio using minimal overdubbing and no track-stacking over a four-day period.  The press release supplies, "Ross plays a modified copy of a classic viola, reproduced on a 3-D printer, and dually upgraded with a 5th string to extend the upper range of the instrument, and an electronic pickup to allow it to be heard alongside the other instruments." Ross's viola is well pronounced on each track while ...