by Chris Rizik, Soul Tracks Brandee Younger does something that is unusual but compelling: She takes her harp to places where few others go, including jazz, soul and hip-hop, and is celebrated for the results. Brandee is now releasing her new disc, Soul Awakening, a surprising six years after she recorded it. This collection of recently unearthed … Read More
Sébastien Hélary, NextBop Drummer, social justice advocate, and NYC jazz staple Curtis Nowosad has a monumental new album, his third has a leader, coming June 14th to the Sessionheads United label. The eponymous release, unapologetically focused on social justice, features five originals, four of which are named after notable activists of the past and present, … Read More
Stephanie Jones, Downbeat Harpist and composer Brandee Younger often faces a curiously inexhaustible question: What kind of music do you play? And she’s given it a lot of thought: “I dislike [genre labels] for a number of reasons. [What I play is] such a combination of different things and styles that are mixed together. It … Read More
By: Jerome Wilson, All About Jazz Tadd Dameron is regarded as the great romantic of bebop-era jazz composers, a writer with a talent for creating smooth, memorable melodies that could evoke real emotion. Most of his works are known mainly as instrumentals but Vanessa Rubin has compiled lyrics written for some of his tunes, had … Read More
By Howard Dukes and Chris Rizik, SoulTracks (April 26, 2019) Music is the family business for vocalist Vivian Sessoms. Her mother Sharmaine Sessoms worked as a jingle and session singer in the 1960s and 70s, and her father, Lemuel Smith, served as flutist and percussionist for James Brown. Oh, and the late, great Nancy Wilson was … Read More
Anthony Dean-Harris, Nextbop Vocalist Vivian Sessoms is preparing to release the second part of her debut album, Life, a project that started out as a jazz album and found new threads of genres to fit in along the way. What results from the Chris Parks co-produced album is a different sort of covers album that finds … Read More
Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ Israeli-born keyboardist, producer and composer Kenner will release his debut album, 8Ball City, on May 23. Born out of a difficult time in Kenner’s life, one in which he experienced the painful end of an important relationship and the death of his grandfather, the album took several years to make, and while it was … Read More
Josean Jacobo & Tumbao Integrate Afro-Descendant Folkloric Idioms on New Jazz Album, Cimarrón Out May 31, 2019 Stream Lead Single “Mind Reset” on Latin Jazz Network Hailed as “The Ambassador of Afro-Dominican Jazz”, pianist, composer and arranger Josean Jacobo is proud to announce the May 31st release of Cimarrón on E7 Studios– a 10-track collection of compositions brought … Read More
Matt Micucci, Jazziz Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini, “Lenga Lenga” Setting Rays of Summer, out April 5, is the new duo project from trombonist and singer-songwriter Natalie Cressman, and Brazilian composer, guitarist and vocalist Ian Faquini. It draws inspiration from impressionism, jazz and the great Brazilian songwriting tradition. Cressman tells JAZZIZ that “Lenga Lenga” is … Read More
Sivan Arbel Shows New Sides on Sophomore Album Change Of Light Due Out on April 2, 2019 “Sivan Arbel is negotiating the veritable minefield of music in New York with brazen confidence and appears likely to make more interesting and ever wonderful music as a result.” – Raul da Gama, World Music Report Israeli born … Read More
