Interviews

With a childhood that supported eccentricity, it was purely organic for Amel Larrieux to pursue the career of an artist and to reassure the same philosophy to her children. “This made it natural and normal for me, and gave me the foundation for what I wanted to do,” she admits. …

Singer Alicia Olatuja’s mix of jazz, classical, gospel and pop brought national recognition for her performance at the Presidential Inauguration ceremony. It’s the “breath taking” voice of a classically trained, mezzo-soprano who has drawn the most critically acclaim notice since the inauguration. Originally from St. Louis Missouri, Olatuja is a …

Soul music was conceived in a one-room tabernacle south of the Mason-Dixon. This moment was overseen by sweat-drenched Pentecostal souls losing themselves in the Holy Spirit. A natural birth, there was no central air in this house of God. It was a literal hell on Earth. Divine irony, I suppose. …

Algebra Blessett, a singer and songwriter began singing background vocals for artists such as Bilal and Monica. In 2006, she released her first single, “U Do It For Me” and in 2008 her debut album, Purpose was released. This Atlanta native has also collaborated with India.Arie and Esperanza Spalding and …

Alfredo Rodriguez photo by Anna Webber Oil and water. These are two items that do not mix. Some would say science and spirituality don’t mix either. Well, when listening to pianist Alfredo Rodriguez’s album Sounds of Space, it’s difficult to support the idea that barriers exist being the technological and …

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 …

Alex Bugnon photo by Nicola Stemmer Imagine growing up in Montreux, Switzerland, home of the great Montreux Jazz Festival, being the nephew of jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd or having other jazz legends such as Milton Jackson and Clark Terry hang out with you at your parent’s home. “I was in …

clas·sic  /klasik/ adjective 1. judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind. Synonym: Ahmad Jamal Playing the piano by the age of 3, composing at 10, and performing at Carnegie Hall with Duke Ellington at 22, Ahmad Jamal has proven that …

  The music industry attributes the decline of music sales to the Internet. With the click of a button, any web surfer can access millions of songs of any genre. However, are music labels and moguls taking into consideration the listening audience is not overjoyed with what they are hearing …

When one considers great jazz performers and pianists, names such as Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and Art Tatum, come to mind, and one day Wynton Marsalis’ young prodigy Aaron Diehl may be named among those greats. Born in Columbus Ohio, Diehl began his musical journey as a student and …

  And now I think the scene is as good as it has ever been. As far as musicians, we have a lot of great musicians; musicians have come here from other places. I am very proud of the musicians here in this city. – Willie Pickens [The following is …

  “You have to deal with your art. If you can go to bed at night and be happy with what you are doing, you’re on the right track.” – Ben Williams When the opportunity to play with a jazz legend was given to Ben Williams, he didn’t hesitate. The …