Artists + Icons

With multiple albums, awards and Grammy nominations under his belt in just a few years, jazz pianist and composer Gerald Clayton has made his mark as an authoritative presence in the next generation of jazz artists. As the son of bassist John Clayton, Gerald Clayton has gained a wealth of …

Jazz vocalist, song writer and Broadway actor Gregory Porter’s voice is considered a major instrument in the art of jazz. He is a regular performer at Jazz at Lincoln Center. His debut album Water, received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Jazz Vocal and his sophomore album “Be Good” was …

Music education in American schools has steadily declined over the past few years. No one form of music has suffered more than that of jazz. In this interview with iRock Jazz, master trumpeter and award winning composer Roy Hargrove discusses the state of jazz education and the importance of jazz …

Trumpeter Wallace Roney studied with the best. The former member of the Jazz Messengers took lessons from Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. The album, “A Tribute to Miles”, in which he recorded with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, and Ron Carter, earned the group a Grammy Award.

Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt is an up and coming force in the art of jazz. Pelt’s style of play is being compared to jazz giants, Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard. The Berklee College of Music graduate has played with high profile artists such as Roy Hargrove, Cassandra Wilson, Ravi Coltrane and …

Jazz trumpeter and composer Etienne Charles is yet another powerful presence in next generation class of jazz artists. The native Trinidadian has released two albums, “Culture Shock” and “Folklore”, both to critical acclaim. An alumnus of the Julliard School and the Henry Mancini Institute, he currently serves as Assistant Professor …

Master trumpeter, composer, teacher and producer Wynton Marsalis is a living icon in the music industry. The Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City has won 9 Grammy Awards and was the first ever to win a Pulitzer Prize for a jazz recording, “Blood on the Fields”-in …

Five-time Grammy Award winner Terence Blanchard’s career is a wish list for many artists. The master trumpeter, composer, and arranger is a leading voice in the entire music industry.The former Jazz Messenger was the Artistic Director at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. He currently serves as the Artistic Director …

Jazz pianist and composer Benny Green began studying classic piano at the age of seven. He began working with some of the genre’s greats like Betty Carter, while he was still in his teens. After working with Carter for four years, Green had the opportunity to play with the late-great …

Contemporary jazz guitarist and composer Russell Malone began playing at the age of 5. The self taught virtuoso began his professional career with the late-great jazz organist, Jimmy Smith. From there, Malone has worked with a host of jazz greats. In this interview with iRock Jazz, Russell Malone shares some …

Child prodigy Esperanza Spalding taught herself how to play the violin at the tender age of 5. The Grammy Award winning bassist began playing the bass violin in clubs as a teenager. At the age of 20, she became the youngest instructor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. …

Saxophonist, composer, producer, and educator Bobby Watson currently serves as Director of Jazz at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. In his 30 plus years in the music industry, Watson has recorded more than 100 original compositions. He began his professional career as the musical director …