While there's no shortage of Glenn Miller collections, there aren't many that rival Bluebird/Legacy's THE ESSENTIAL GLENN MILLER. This two-disc, 38-track compilation covers the peak years of the iconic bandleader/trombonist's career, and includes a welcome handful of numbers recorded with ...

Unfortunately, Atlantic's A Donny Hathaway Collection, one of the few career retrospectives available (and basically the only one in print), isn't quite definitive; it presents a version of Hathaway's career inordinately focused on his commercially successful duets with Roberta Flack, ...

All tracks have been digitally remastered using 20-Bit technology. The Benny Goodman Orchestra was in top form when this concert was performed on January 16th, 1938. But this is more than just a concert; this date is significant because it represents ...

When guitarist Al DiMeola left Return to Forever (again) after their 2008 reunion tour, Chick Corea solicited the help of the band's original axeman, Bill Connors, to rejoin the band for another tour. He did. While he rehearsed with Corea, ...

Esperanza Spalding's Chamber Music Society reached the number one spot on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart and netted her a Best New Artist Grammy. Radio Music Society is a companion piece to its predecessor. In addition to her regular band featuring ...

Boney James comes back from car accident injuries that jeopardized his embouchure and makes his label debut with Contact on Verve Forecast Records. But, really, it's just steady-as-she-goes musically, as the contemporary jazz saxophonist turns in a typical set of ...

For his tenth full-length album, Playin' Favourites, British smooth jazz giant Peter White decided to, as the title suggests, turn to some of his favorite tracks from the '60s, '70s, and '80s, giving each of them his own interpretation (he ...

Najee's 2012 release The Smooth Side of Soul features more of the saxophonist and flute player's laid-back, romantic, and funky contemporary jazz. Included are such stand-out cuts as Najee's collaboration with R&B vocalist Phil Perry on the club-ready "Just to ...

This ten-track session marks French guitarist Marc Antoine's 11th release. Mixing smooth jazz with light new age flourishes, Guitar Destiny is inspired by Antoine's joy of traveling, especially on trains. Listeners who enjoy his diverse, yet laid-back arrangements will enjoy ...

On Bromberg Plays Hendrix, bassist Brian Bromberg doesn't utilize the electric guitar at all, but it's hard to tell. A tribute to one of the world's most inventive guitarists could only be honored by doing something completely different from what ...

It's hard not to hear Brenton Wood's biggest hit, "Gimme Little Sign," and not be convinced that it very well might be the greatest single ever cut. It relies on no one thing -- the song is slinky, surprising, and ...

Although the most popular contemporary jazz tends to fall into the "lite" category, trumpeter Chris Botti avoids painting himself into this corner by sticking with an approach more reminiscent of Chet Baker. For his 2004 album, WHEN I FALL IN ...

Recording information: Ben-Jamin' Studios, Murfreesboro, TN. Arranger: Ben Tankard. Personnel: Ben Tankard (vocals, keyboards). Audio Mixer: Ben Tankard.

The Sirens is Chris Potter's debut as a leader for ECM but he's no stranger to the label. He recorded as a member of Dave Holland's band, and collaborated with Paul Motian and Jason Moran on Lost in a Dream. ...

Also available in a 3-pack with MILES DAVIS' GREATEST HITS and THELONIOUS MONK'S GREATEST HITS. Recorded between April 18, 1956 and July 15, 1964. Includes liner notes by George T. Simon. Digitally remastered by Mark Wilder and Rob Schwarz (Sony Music Studios, ...

Diana Krall, the wildly popular jazz singer, takes her sultry voice to the Paris Olympia for this Dec. 1, 2001 performance. Mixing material from her first five albums with her favorite standards, this performance captures Ms. Krall in fine form. Recorded ...

The late Oliver Nelson had such a successful career as a composer of film and TV music ("Theme From the Six Million Dollar Man") and arranger that it often overshadowed his abilities as a jazz musician. In 1961, Nelson assembled ...

Jus' Sangin is 2011 solo album from Tower of Power singer, Larry Braggs, features interpretations of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready", Marvin Gaye's "I Want You", Delfonic's "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind)", Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle", Stylistics' "You ...

This 34-track collection features a quality sampling of Herb Alpert's most sought-after tracks from the '60s to the '80s. Highlights include the original versions of "What Now My Love," "This Guys in Love with You," "Spanish Flea," and "Rise." Recommended ...

Liner Note Author: Beegie Adair. Recording information: Wildwood Recording, Brentwood, TN. Personnel: Beegie Adair (piano); Chris Brown (drums). Audio Mixer: Brendan Harkin.

Without a Net is Wayne Shorter's first Blue Note recording date since August 26, 1970, when he recorded Moto Grosso Feio and Odyssey of Iska. That's nearly 43 years. Shorter has pursued many paths since then, as a member of ...

When Wayman Tisdale died in 2009, the urban-influenced smooth jazz genre lost one of its most popular artists and vibrant personalities -- and the uniqueness of the melodic funk he brought to the electric bass, a rare lead instrument in ...

Although the plaudits for Melody Gardot's debut album, WORRISOME HEART, were entirely justified, it sometimes seemed as if the young singer-songwriter's compelling personal story--hit by a car and severely injured at the age of 19, the aspiring fashion designer began ...

All tracks have been digitally remastered using 20-bit technology. For an artist of Sinatra's stature, an artistic peak is a thing of no uncertain majesty. Such a peak was reached on ONLY THE LONELY, with the invaluable assistant of arranger Nelson ...

Jazz singer/songwriter Michael Franks is an artist most jazz fans feel strongly about one way or another. His unique, romantic poet-cum-laid-back hipster approach to jazz signing is breezy, light, and languid. It's also uniquely his own, though deeply influenced by ...