jazz2love

    New Release:  Let's Take A Trip from Anthony Caceres Release Date:  February 27, 2026 Label:  Jig In G Website:  www.anthonycaceres.com Jazz crooner, bass player and leader Anthony Caceres serenades audiences with a vocal prowess reminiscent of Wayne Newton and a swinging strut reflective of Michael Feinstein.  His 2026 release Let's Take A Trip shows his affinity for swing.  Accompanied by Tamir Hendelman on piano, Jostein Gulbrandsen on guitar and Joe Farnsworth on drums, Caceres's vocals drive the melodies while his performance on the upright bass subtly brushes across the tracks.  "A Slow Hot Wind," written by Henry Mancini and Norman Gimbel, displays Caceres's sensitive vocalese as a penetrative narrator.  His poignant vocal inflections along "I Just Dropped By To Say Hello," a Johnny Hartman gem, is laden with emotional depth.  Caceres's retooling of Depeche Mode's hit song "Strange Love" is refashioned with swing jazz tr...

  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:  My Universe from Maria Puga Lareo Release Date: October 18, 2024 Label: My Keter Records/Outside In Music Website:  https://www.mariapugalareo.com Pensive and palliative, Maria Puga Lareo's vocals are very soothing on the aural senses, which she demonstrates prolifically on her third release My Universe .  Co-produced by her husband Bob Sheppard, whom she wrote two original tracks with for the recording, Lareo performs 8 tracks as interpretations of jazz standards.  Backed up a litany of Los Angeles based musicians, including pianist Josh Nelson, bassist Mike Valerio, drummer Christian Euman and guitarist Leo Amuedo, in addition to her husband on saxophone and woodwinds, the album has an easy flow that embraces the charming attributes of classic jazz.  From Lareo's soaring vocals driving "Depois de Tanto Tempo" to the sleeky flutters of Sheppard's sax splayed across "The Song Is You," the album puts listeners in a dreamy state of mind. ...

  New Release:  Long As You're Living from Lisa Rich Label:  Tritone Records Release Date:  June 21, 2024 Website:  www.lisarich.com Bequeath with character, class and panache, vocalist Lisa Rich gives listeners the best she has to offer on her disc Long As You're Livin g , a collection of originals and jazz standards that share reflections about life's trials and tribulations.  Co-produced by Bob Dawson and the late Jay Clayton, the swinging tunes are fraught with lively vocal embellishments and a resiliency in her delivery that is penetrative.  Her thoughtful rendering of Abbey Lincoln's timeless melody "Throw It Away" hears Rich's glinting voice delving deeply into her register, resurfacing with the words held firmly by a clenching fist when she ruminates, "You can never lose a thing, if it belongs to you."  The haunting tone of Marc Copland's keys rustling tenderly across "When I Look Into Your Eyes" bathe Rich's lingering v...

  Mood Ellington from Paul Marinaro Label:  Origin Records Release Date:  November 21, 2025  Website:  http://paulmarinaro.com Endowed with a clarion vocalese reflective of Michael Feinstein and a daydreamy sonorous liken to Johnny Mathis, singer and vocal stylist Paul Marinaro presents his fifth album Mood Ellington .  Compacted into a setlist of 25 songs written by Duke Ellington in addition to Billy Strayhorn, Marinaro packs vintage swing with a modern perspective for a tribute that revamps a period of nostalgic jazz.  Performing with Marinaro is a 12-piece violin section along with Tom Vaitsas on piano, Mike Allemana on guitar, John Tate on bass, Neil Hemphill on drums, Rich Moore on alto sax, clarinet and flute, John Wojciechowski on tenor and soprano saxophones and flute, Ted Hogarth on baritone sax and bass clarinet, Eric Jacobson on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Raphael Crawford on trombone.  Marinaro shapes vocal nuances and swagger with hi...

  Newcomer from Emma Hedrick Label:  Self-Released Release Date:  August 1, 2025 Website:  https://emmahedrick.com Produced by Peter Eldridge A native of Indianapolis, singer-songwriter Emma Hedrick has graced stages across the US and abroad.  Making her debut with her solo project Newcomer , she forges a path as a comely jazz vocalist, part vintage blues, part modern soul, and part sparkling adult pop.  Produced by Peter Eldridge, Hedrick's warm timbres are brought to the forefront, shaping the tracks progressions and speed, cradled by instrumentation that reflects the mood she means to project.  The wistful ambience of the title track, the waltzing phrases of "The Idea of Love," the spirited vibes of "Dreamscapes," and the bopping pulse and Latin shimmies of  "In the Warmth," all original numbers by Hedrick, bring the listener into her world.  A world loaded with a vast array of melodic expressions and emotionally driven messages. Straddlin...

  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 ...

Lizzy  Shaps, the founder, lead singer, and frontwoman of Lizzy and the Triggermen, was infatuated with Swing Era music and its glamorous artists while growing up.  What she did not realize is how swing music has become a global phenomenon in present day circles.  Serendipitously, she is relishing being a part of it. She reveals, "I have always enjoyed listening to music from the Swing Era - but I had no idea that swing music was so alive and well in modern times until I was putting together my band." "In search of an arranger," she recalls, "I went to hear a band play at a little dive bar in Burbank that hosted swing music every Monday.  As I pulled up to what looked like a sports bar, I was shocked to find inside a room full of young people in vintage outfits dancing their hearts out to a super swinging band. It felt like being transported to another time."  "Turns out," she illuminates, "there is this whole vibrant scene of swing dancers,...

  Album:  New Jazz Standards Vol 7:  The Music of Carl Saunders  Artist:  Marina Pacowski Label:  Summit Records Release Date:  May 9, 2025 Website:  https://marinapacowski.com French vocalist-pianist Marina Pacowski pays tribute to her friend, composer and trumpet player Carl Saunders on her 2025 recording New Jazz Standards Vol. 7:  The Music of Carl Saunders.   Performing Saunder's material with Pacowski on vocals are:  Roy McCurdy on drums, John Clayton on bass,  Josh Nelson on piano, Rickey Woodard on saxophones, Ron Stout on trumpet, Larry Koonse on guitar, Ken Wild on bass, Scott Whitfield on trombone, and special guests: John Proulx on vocals and Ken Peplowski on clarinet.   A classic jazz crooner and scat improviser, Pacowski keeps the melodies focused and palliative, projecting a consolatory voicing, particularly prevalent in "Feels Like Home" as her vocals rise and fall congruent with the palpitating beats ...

  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...

  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...

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...

  Album:   Simply ‘S Wonderful-The Magic of Gershwin Artist:   Juliet Ewing Label:   HoneyDiva Music/Lexicon Classics Website: www.julietewing.com INSTAGRAM @thejulietset Facebook #thejulietset Juliet Ewing, a former Broadway theater performer, reveals her affinity for swing jazz in her 2025 release Simply 'S Wonderful, a collection of standard favorites written by George and Ira Gershwin.  From the sashaying samba beats of "Oh, Lady Be Good" to the sauntering stride of "But Not For Me" and the thoughtful mood of "The Man I Love," Ewing reminds audiences what makes the Gershwin tunes relatable to the human spirit and heart.   Her elongation of poignant notes along "The Man I Love" keeps the listener on tenterhooks, solicited to share in the hopeful aspirations expressed in the lyrics. "A Foggy Day" ensconces Ewing's upbeat vocals in a swinging rhythm while the candlelight ambience of "The Lorelei" kindles a ragtime rh...

Album:  I Guess We're Not Alone Artist:  The Beveled Edges Label Name: Detrallas Records Website: https://thebevelededges.com Endowed with a voice that can lull audiences into a blissful respite and equally lure them onto the dancefloor, singer-songwriter Shelly Bhushan is partnered with 7-string guitarist Anthony Lanni whose playing wraps delicate embellishments around Bhushan's vocal melodies.  Together, they form The Beveled Edges, a multi-faceted duo who integrate Parisian soul with Latin swing, prairieland folk, classic orchestral pop, and bluesy torchlight vocalese.    Their debut recording I Guess We're Not Alone is comprised of 10 original tunes, featuring an accompaniment that includes:  Arei Sekiguchi on drums and percussion, Haruna Fukazawa on flute, Tosh Sheridan on piano, Brad Whitely on organ, Garry ianco on strings, Alejandro Berti Delgado on trumpet, Ric Becker on trombone, Jeremy Powell on saxophone, and Will Holshouser on accordion. ...

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...