George Duke

Found deep in the DNA of Cava Menzies is a long line of musical talents. Her grandmother was a dancer at the legendary Cotton Club, and her father, Eddie Henderson, was a jazz trumpeter and member of the Herbie Hancock sextet. Also, her mother was a classically trained flutist. Menzies, …

Calming, gentle, tranquil, and relaxing, are a few words that describe the sound of the soon to be released album titled “Moment to Moment” by Nick Phillips and Cava Menzies. The musical creativity that resonates the collaborative union between these two artists can be heard with the ears, and also …

Bay area native Cava Menzies hails from a long line of musical talents; her grandmother, a pioneer in the New York Jazz scene as a dancer at the Cotton Club, her father, Eddie Henderson, an accomplished jazz trumpeter and early member of the Herbie Hancock sextet, and her mother a …

Trumpeter Farnell Newton is one of the most versatile musicians & educators in the Northwest, playing straight ahead jazz, smooth jazz, Latin music, soul, hip hop, and more. When he is not teaching at Portland State University’s Jazz Department or working with his youth jazz group, PDX Jazz Project, he …

Jessy J is a Latina saxophone player who broke onto the scene in 2008 with her chart-topping debut album Tequila Moon, which combined influences of jazz as well as Latin rhythms. Jessy earned the Radio & Records ‘Debut Artist of The Year’ Award and Contemporary Jazz ‘Song of the Year’ …

Jon Faddis has had a long and illustrious career. At the tender age of  18, he joined Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra, then was lead trumpet in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra. He also had stints with Charles Mingus. Renowned as a trumpeter with masterful command of an unparalleled range on the …

Savion Glover honors the art form of tap. This dancer, choreographer, and teacher has had the highest regard for the dancers that have paved the way for him and many other tap dancers. In addition, Glover has had the privilege to work with many great Jazz musicians. Glover’s Broadway debut …

Born in California, Sheila E. is the daughter of Juanita (Gardere), a dairy factory worker, and percussionist Pete Escovedo, with whom she frequently performs. Sheila E’s uncle is Alejandro Escovedo. Tito Puente was Escovedo’s godfather. She is also niece to Javier Escovedo, founder of seminal San Diego punk act, The …

I remember hearing Bitches Brew for the first time. I was new to the Jazz scene and it seemed appropriate to first navigate Miles Davis. Up to this point in my travels, I had made stops at Kind of Blue, ‘Around Midnight,’ and Sketches of Spain, but the moment I …

Esperanza Spalding – We Are America from ESP Media on Vimeo. “We Are America” shines a light on human rights and calls for closing the detention camp. Esperanza Spalding says she was motivated by nagging concerns that grew as she was on tour with her band. “It was the first time …

The diatonic harmonica has long been associated with the Blues styles of artists such as Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Williamson. However, Frederic Yonnet defies expectations and brings the harmonic into new roles and settings within diverse styles of urban jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. His philosophy is one of challenging …

Talk to any Atlantan of a certain age and they inevitably wax nostalgic about the mid-to-late 1990s – with good reason.  The city was simmering with soulful possibilities, creative verve overflowed and iconoclasts seemed to dwell on every block.   Jason Orr tapped into this energy and created the preeminent showcase …