Interviews

As an individual and musician, Goapele continues to live up to the definition of her birth name which means “to move forward” in the Southern African Setswana language. With the recent release of the 14-track deluxe edition of Break of Dawn, she showcases her perseverance and invites listeners to move …

Percussionist, producer and composer Jaimeo Brown began his musical career with his father bassist, Dartanyan Brown, his mother Marcia Miget, a pianist and woodwind specialist as well as his drum teacher Sly Randolph at the tender age of sixteen. The California native studied at William Paterson University where he received …

Jazz artist Marcus Miller gives the term ‘renaissance man’ an innovative definition in the music world. The multi-instrumentalist and two-time Grammy Award winner holds over 500 recording credits as both a sideman and a composer. His masterpieces and productions showcase his talents over a broad scale of music of more …

Fresh off the release of her critically acclaimed album Weather, Meshell Ndegeocello is celebrating a new release, Pour une âme souveraine (“For a sovereign soul”). The album, the tenth studio project for Ndegeocello, is a dedication to fellow musician Nina Simone. Guests on the album include Sinead O’Connor, Lizz Wright, …

Atlanta native Alexandra Jackson is a singer, songwriter, musician, and arranger. At the tender age of four, she began what would become twelve years of classical piano lessons. As the youngest daughter of Atlanta’s first African-American mayor and civil rights activist, Maynard Jackson, and Valerie Jackson, and one of the …

Christian McBride is a trailblazer. Having been in the music game for over 20 years he has played alongside legendary greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Sting and has arranged for Chaka Khan, Lalah Hathaway, Natalie Cole and a host of other artists and musicians. …

Most musicians start off small and work their way up to a few big names. However, master bassist Darryl Jones began his career with one of the greatest in jazz and has continued to work with musical giants for over thirty years. After touring with the legendary Miles Davis, Jones …

In a career that includes ten Grammy-Awards, multiple platinum albums, and an influence immeasurable in scope, all I can think about is “Be Bop Medley.” It seems strange, I know. Here we are celebrating four decades of Chaka Khan and for whatever reason my mind is fixated on this solitary …

Ray Charles. Miles Davis. Duke Ellington. Donna Summer. Michael Jackson. George Benson. Chaka Khan. Frank Sinatra. Lena Horne. These are some of the greatest, most famous recording artists of the 20th century, all of them linked by a common component: Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. The legendary impresario (calling him a …

Jeremy Pelt, Berklee School of Music graduate and trumpeter extraordinaire offers a physically powerful yet seductive approach within his style of playing. Reminiscent of horn players of yesteryear this new-school cool cat makes you stand and take notice. From his debut CD Profile in 2001 to his latest project Water …

Cheili Minucci represents the second of three generations of musicians. Like his father, Ulpio Minucci, Chieli is a composer and musician. This guitarist and bandleader has been nominated for ten Emmy Awards and has won three. He follows his heart as a musician and is influenced by The Beatles, Duke Ellington, Peter Gabriel, and Glenn …

For over two decades multi-talented guitarist, Norman Brown has been captivating his audiences. This musical innovator is also a composer and singer. Discovered by, the renowned musician and producer, Norman Connors, Brown has remained relevant beyond the years of his 1992 debut album Just Between Us. In 2002 he won …