Kamasi Washington was born in Los Angeles at the start of the 80s into a family where music was akin to breathing. His mother, an accomplished flutist, taught chemistry in high school, and his father, who plays with him in some concerts, was a professional saxophonist by night and high school music teacher by day. By two years old, Kamasi had already started playing the drums and the piano, and by seven he started playing the clarinet.

I had the good fortune to watch three legends perform together at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood, CA, on May 15, 2012. They were drummer Jack DeJohnette, bassist Stanley Clarke, and pianist Chick Corea; and they were in concert celebrating Jack DeJohnette’s 70th birthday. The sounds coming from Catalina’s stage that evening could send a jazz lover straight to heaven.

“The point is there’s so much going on; and if you only had a chance to experience it and taste it, you may to have the opportunity to—not convert—but become more open to what else is out there.” —Esperanza Spaulding

Watch the Esperanza Spaulding interview from iRock Jazz.

From Nancy Wilson (Vino Jazz Festival), to Barbara Morrison (Pips), to Oleta Adams and Poncho Sanchez (Barclay Theater) Jay Jackson has performed in shows with some of the biggest names in jazz. But no matter who he’s singing with, his soulful, rich jazz voice is unique and special. Jay trained at the prestigious LoDuca Brothers Music Academy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Performing in venues such as The Vino Jazz Festival, NOLA’s, Red, White and Bluezz, and the Hollywood Studio Bar and Grille, Jay’s voice is becoming a familiar treat for LA jazz fans.

Grammy Nominee Gregory Porter wooed fans during a recent performance at Mayne Stage in Chicago. An amazing musical treat, especially during Jazz Appreciation Month, Porter performed several selections from both his Water and Be Good albums, including favorites like “Illusion,” “1960 What?” “Lonely One,” “On My Way to Harlem,” “Be Good (The Lion’s Song),” and “Real Good Hands.” There aren’t as many male jazz vocalists around today as fans would like, but Gregory Porter is one to make up for what the jazz world has […]

When examining the arc of one’s artistry, what must be considered above that individual’s personal aptitude of his respective skill is the fact that you are a product of your environment. Terence Blanchard is an arc type for this principle, extracting the rich spirit of his New Orleans upbringing from his trumpet onto everything he’s touched: from his teenage stint with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers to his stature as one of the most respected film composers of the last two decades.

René Marie was awarded a coronet ranking by the “Penguin Guide to Jazz” for her album Vertigo, a distinction only given to 84 other jazz recordings. So, who is this woman whose soulful interpretations and mesmerizing performances make people shake and shiver like they’ve been placed under a spell?