Alex Maguire Sextet - Brewed In Belgium (Moonjune Records/City Hall )
Alps - III (Type )
Ambrose - Legendary 1929 Sessions (Sounds Of Yesteryear )
Anne Paceo - Triphase (Pid )
Arnold Cheatham - Thing (PORTER )
Art Ensemble Of Chicago - Tribute To Lester (Ecm Import )
Artie Shaw & His Gramercy Five - Six Star Treats (Jasmine Music )
Ashley Thomas - Tale Of Two Cities (Pid )
Bailey / Stevens / Watts - Dynamics Of The Impromptu (Entropy Stereo Recordings )  read more »

On Heard That, his Peak Records debut, Lorber keeps the soulful momentum going, collaborating brilliantly on pop, jazz, R&B and blues-influenced tracks--and even harkening back a bit to his early 80s Fusion heyday--with one of urban jazzs top hit makers and sonic architects, Rex Rideout. Over three decades after breaking ground as leader of the pioneering Jeff Lorber Fusion, the Philly-born and bred composer, producer and keyboard legend is still keeping the vibes fresh and the grooves funky. Highlighted by the first single, a swinging, bluesy-brass twist on Amy Winehouses Grammy winning Rehab, Heard That features a typically vibrant Lorber all-star guest list, including trumpet great Rick Braun, guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr., saxman Gary Meek, bassist Alex Al, trumpeter Ron King, guitarist Darrell Crooks and Peak labelmates, saxman Gerald Albright. Lorber has been touring all throughout 2008 as part of Guitars & Saxes with Albright, Peak labelmate Jessy J, Jeff Golub and Peter White. As high charting, pop-jazz oriented releases like West Side Stories (1994), State of Grace (1996) and Midnight (1998) were establishing him as one of the genres top artists, Lorber also became an in demand producer. Every artist looking for a hit melody and groove, from Albright to Eric Marienthal, Richard Elliot and David Benoit, tapped his behind the board talents.  read more »

The best-selling chart-topping American jazz trumpeter and composer Chris Botti will join Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops on stage at Boston's historic Symphony Hall for two extraordinary concerts on Thursday, September 18 and Friday, September 19 at 7:30pm (both nights).

Both Sting and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler will be appearing with Botti and the Boston Pops each night, performing a wide range of songs from Botti's recorded repertoire as well as a host of unexpected musical delights. In addition to appearances by Josh Groban, slated for Thursday's concert, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, scheduled for Friday's show, Chris has invited some of the top names in contemporary music, a secret roster of very special surprise guests to help make these concerts the year's most memorable.  read more »

Several of my female colleagues -- who I believe have only a casual interest in jazz -- have expressed interest in attending a Chris Botti show with the NAC Orchestra either tonight or Saturday. One said words to the effect that he plays well, and his...(read more)