Puttin' On The Ritz: Steve Ross was raised in Washington, DC, and heard a lot of music at home, some from his mother who played piano. In due course, he studied piano himself and by the time he had attended Georgetown University, spent a little time in a seminary, and served in the US Army, […]
Jack Freeman, a Houston native, is a talented singer-songwriter known for his soulful and authentic approach to music. Guided by his mantra to “make good music and tell the truth,” Freeman has built a loyal fanbase throughout his career. His latest album, NINA, produced by Bryan-Michael Cox, explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Through his heartfelt lyrics […]
Nduduzo Makhathini grew up in the lush and rugged hillscapes of umGungundlovu in South Africa, a peri-urban landscape in which music and ritual practices were symbiotically linked. The area is significant historically as the site of the Zulu king Dingane kingdom between 1828 and 1840. It is important to note that the Zulu, in fact the […]
Celebrating the release of their 2nd album, The Role Of The Rhythm Section, Vol. 2 Steven Feifke is a GRAMMY Award winning bandleader, composer, and arranger. A Yamaha Performing Artist, an Avid Sibelius Artist, and has appeared on over 45 albums to date. He has written music for hit TV shows like The Masked Singer, […]
Herrod, an alum of the Cornish College of the Arts and Portland State University, first came to worldwide prominence as a finalist on the NBC nationally broadcast television show, “America’s Got Talent,” earning the rare “Golden Buzzer” recognition from actress Sofia Vargara and returning the following year on the AGT All-Stars series. Traversing many musical […]
Pat Mallinger was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota and began playing the saxophone at 11 years of age. He received his Jazz Studies degree from North Texas State University on a “One O’clock Lab Band” Scholarship. He lived and performed in Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, and Japan, before establishing Chicago as his home in […]
Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. A recognized prodigy, Cohen began Suzuki method piano instruction at age three. He quickly became a mature player, melding musicality, technique, and concept. Downbeat observed that his “nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary indicate he’s above any convoluted technical […]
The Supergroup, formed by the first letters of their first names, as well as the term BPM stands for beats per minute, the definition of the tempo in music. Collectively they are responsible for over 80 Billboard Smooth Jazz Number 1 Hits and many hundreds of thousands of record sales. Now together as BPM, they […]
A exhilarating jazz filled collaboration with drummer Mike Clark, guitarist Dave Stryker, organist Mike LeDonne, and saxophonist Rob Dixon. A night with original and fan favorite compositions, this swinging ensemble will get your toes tappin' and fingers snappin' with exceptional musicianship and innovation. Mike Clark is a legendary drummer known for his innovative rhythmic approach and his contributions to jazz fusion and […]
Detroit soul jazz flutist & Billboard chart-topping sensation brings her red hot band back to the Rubber City in a sizzlin' return to BLU! Althea was born December 25th in Detroit, Michigan and began her musical journey at the tender age four. She studied classical music while attending Howard University in Washington D.C. and later […]
At the core of Firey String Sistas are three powerhouse women, Nioka Workman (founder),Marlene Rice and Mala Waldron. Together they infuse world, global funk, ‘head bopping’ soul and Jazz music to produce a unique sound for violin, cello, bass, piano and percussion. The Firey String Sistas extend from 3 to 5 members, featuring cutting edge […]
Unity Jazz presents trumpeter Longineu Parsons and his Ensemble featuring pianist Nat Adderley Jr. with special guest vocalist Myrna Clayton. The career of Longineu Parsons, with its many musical pieces and parts, serves as a metaphor for what he calls “the disorder of the human tribe.” The whole of Longineu Parsons is greater than the […]
Emmet Cohen is committed to the intergenerational transfer of artistic knowledge, history, and traditions. His signature professional undertaking is the "Masters Legacy Series," a celebratory set of recordings and interviews honoring legendary jazz musicians. He serves as both producer and pianist for each album in the series. The goal of this landmark, ongoing project is […]
The Texas State University Jazz Studies program prides itself on providing an intensive, nurturing environment that emphasizes student-faculty interaction and encourages its diverse student population to find their own voices as performers. Proximity to both Austin and San Antonio enables students to pursue external performance opportunities that enhance their education. The jazz faculty comprises first-call […]
Vocalist Malaya Sol breathes fresh life to Boleros and Sambas in her distinct sound described by Allen Foster on AXS.com as "...an incredible excursion that traveled both around the globe and through time...Her tone is a divine gossamer spun from opulent gold fibers, and her intimate style of delivery is utterly captivating." Lineup: Malaya Sol […]
Celebrating Sinatra! Charismatic crooner Bryan Anthony keeps the legacy of the Great Gentlemen of Song (especially Sinatra) alive and well in his immensely satisfying and sweetly nostalgic performances. A veteran vocalist of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Anthony provides stunning homages to the Swing Era for contemporary audiences. Parker […]
As lead vocalist, lyricist, and composer for internationally and critically acclaimed two-time Grammy Award-winning roots music group, Ranky Tanky, Quiana Parler spent weeks at #1 on several Billboard Jazz charts. Quiana has spent over 20 years as the most sought-after vocalist in the Lowcountry. Known locally for years prior, she rose to national prominence after […]
Acclaimed international Jazz vocalist Lori Williams has a most impressive resume as a performing artist, music educator, songwriter, producer, musical theater actress, radio host, business owner (PositiveMusicPM.org), and artist-in-residence with over 30 years of experience. Her annual vocal jazz tour and performance at music festivals have taken her to Europe (Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Russia, […]
Highly acclaimed musician Wycliffe Gordon enjoys an extraordinary career as a soloist, as well as performing and touring with some of the world’s most sought-after jazz musicians. His high-energy, traditional hard-swinging style captivates audiences across time–performing for dignitaries and heads- of-state to elementary school children. He is equally at home as a composer, arranger and […]
jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer and educator from New York City, his parents were Jamaican and Trinidadian, and he has used their Afro-Caribbean musical styles in his own work. He has worked with, among others, Don Cherry, Jayne Cortez, the South African pianist Dollar Brand (now Abdullah Ibrahim), Randy Weston, for whom he was musical director, Jimmy Scott and fronts a powerhouse band of his […]
Sy Smith has proven throughout her career that an R&B artist can be progressive while remaining firmly rooted in tradition. Foremost a singer with a vocal range spanning five octaves, Smith began an unending succession of background gigs with Whitney Houston in the late '90s, and has since worked closely with Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti […]
Atlanta native Joe Alterman has performed at venues from the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center to famed jazz clubs Birdland and Blue Note in New York as well as Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta. His skills and his joyful approach to music have been praised by such jazz greats as Les McCann, Ramsey Lewis, and Ahmad […]
Grammy-nominated, vocalist extraordinaire Debo Ray is an immersive musical and visual experience. She has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages: Newport and Monterey Jazz, Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl and more. Her versatility from neo-soul/R&B to jazz, pop, classical/opera and rock is unmatched. In a Boston Globe feature, music critic Jon Garelick asks: […]
As a leading voice in American popular music, the Grammy Award-winning trumpeter is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, producer, arranger, essayist, and social activist who defies musical and artistic categories. All the while, he honors the tradition of what he terms “postmodern New Orleans music,” as well as the spirit of Black American Music, of which […]