If you are not sure about how a duo of guitar and drums, may sound, let Chuck D'Aloia and Art Bernstein give you a unforgettable lesson. Not just because they are both educators with years of experience behind them, but simply because the result of their synergy and perfect coordination recorded on the three CDs they have released is amazing. For this duo, being a veteran doesn't imply losing the feeling and soul after hours and hours of gigs and recordings, anybody listening to their music will be impressed by the joyous, fresh and sincere atmosphere revealed by their excursion in the world of jazz, blues and rock. The pure sound of Chuck D'Aloia's guitar(he also plays bass) and the energy of Art Bernstein's drumming will last for many time in your ears. As for technique, any student should have this collection! More info

New York City based AfroMantra latest release, "Uplifting Spirit" is a superb recording rich in surprising improvisations built around afro latin themes, high energetic rhytms and experimental sonorities, everything played with extreme clarity and emotion by drummer/composer Alex Garcia and his bandmates.This is not Latin fusion "as usual", but another brilliant work of greatest creativity from this extraordinary band. More info

An atmospheric, yet joyful sound courtesy of Atmos Trio, masters of tasteful elegance. Memorable melodies played with the heart. Sometimes you may think Bill Frisell is one of them! Not necessary though, all these three fine musicians work in perfect unison to create little unpredictable masterpieces.
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A brilliant composer and guitar player, Al Garcia released what we can call an excelent example of jazz rock oriented fusion although the material on the CD goes beyond narrow classifications. Unexpected and stimulating, the music on "Alternate Realities" is a journey through the universe of jazz rock and progressive fusion blended by a master musician. From monumental compositions, lighting guitar solos, latin percussion interventions to sophisticated ethereal textures, this album has everything to delight fusion fans.

[sic] is the latest release from guitarist Alex Mahacek, a CD full of vitality, originality and suspense! Placed somewhere between freeform experimental playing and jazz rock, this album is a wonderful combination of skills, imagination and...humour that Frank Zappa would have appreciated for sure! Alex Mahacek's scorching guitar is amazingly blended in a perfect match with a volcanic colourful rhytm section(one of the drummers is Terry Bozzio himself). Feel the high power of a great visionary guitarist!
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Ancient Future is THE World Music itself. Listening to their recordings is like travelling through all the cultures of the planet. Their latest CD is a beautiful collection of Nepalese, African, Cuban, Celtic, Arabic, Palestinian, Jewish, Indonesian, Chinese, Eastern European and American tunes. No less than very talented 19 musicians contributed to this rare performance.

Bémol Jean Telfort
(Haiti/USA)
Composer, guitar

There's a remarkable clarity in his playing that gives a fresh feeling to all compositions. Throughout the album the music evokes a land of joy and harmony captured in beautiful improvisations blended with authentic lyricism. Listen to his music of this virtuoso, it will bring the sun in your heart! More info

A master composer and arranger of an eclectic mix of styles C-Will drumming is just one of the highlights of his album "Frustrated". The whole set of songs reveals a multifaceted wizard musician who is moving freely from jazz to nu-jazz and rock, from soul to an original electro-pop-funk and...reggae! Although the rhytms are intense and deep C-Will has an evident flair for fine melodies and catchy orchestrations. Press "Play" and you'll find yourself dancing!

Dean Brown
Composer, guitar

After listening to his two albums, you will understand why along his career Dean Brown played with musicians including Bill Evans, Michael Brecker, George Duke, Billy Cobham, Marcus Miller(+many many others). A solid mastery of various genres from rock to soul, from blues to jazz, gives him the skills and the freedom to play HIS music as he likes it. The result can hardly be categorized although its ingredients can be recognized. These two albums showcase a so dense, broad selection of musical expressions mixed with superb arrangements, new ideas, that makes you think that Dean has material left for at least 6-7 albums! More info

Mixing creatively melodies from around Mediterranean Sea with jazz themes this classy ensemble of four fine musicians lead by accordionist, pianist and composer Uri Sharlin, captures the beauty of musical treasures of Middle Eastern, Turkish and Gipsy cultures.
Their enjoyable CD "Reflections of The Road" is a rich melodic set of 10 compositions where classical, folk elements and jazz are blended with elegance and originality.

Chromatica

CHROMATICA(Ric DelNero (guitar), Dave "Ike" Eisenhower (drums, percussion) and Dave Sabo (bass guitar) ) is getting ready to release their long awaited debut CD in early spring 2007. The CD is titled Out Of Bounds and consists of 11 amazing tracks. It was produced by Ric DelNero & CHROMATICA and recorded and engineered by Richard Rupert at Green Valley Recording. Two tracks from the album, "Songo" and "Vices" are featured in our streaming programs.

On his latest CD, guitarist Clint Smith joined by Marco Panascia (bass) Jordan Young (drums) experiments with various melodic jazz fusion textures, inspired improvisational passages and subtle ethno jazz echoes.

Craig Pilo
Composer, drummer

A highly dynamic jazz fusion atmosphere filled with positive energy. "Just Play" showcases the work of an experimented musician whose bold personality is evident throughout the album. There are many wonderful sequences of vigorous, colorful jamming not to mention the excelelent bass and organ grooves that make the music float around. Among the highlights "Early Cynical Mystery" one of the originals, brings a breeze from the "Return to Forever" years and Coltrane's "Miles Mode" here cleverly arranged by Craig Pilo. An entertaining album of great clarity and power for fusion enthusiasts. More info

David Mora's "Conga Love" album is a great work of subtle and balanced Latin and jazz fusion where the melodies, rhytm and improvizations are blended in the most beautiful, natural way. The drumming and percussion of David Mora, is definitely the soul of the party. Each tune on the CD is so well crafted and his virtuosic presence is so well weaved together with the other instruments in the band that it gives you the impression of a perfect and melodic symbiosis

A high energetic quintet from Virginia mixing different styles of modern music in a robust, distinctive way. Their power of innovation is impressive and the result is fascinating: the sound is dense, complex yet fluid and full of passion.

A highly artistic expression of jazz fusion, the group's first CD is a delightful blend of Brazilian and African rhytms with improvisational jazz elements. Built around an explosive Afro-Latin rhytm section directed by veteran drummer, John Densmore, the band plays throughout this memorable album with iresistible joy and energy. One of the tunes is a jazz powered version of "Riders on the Storm" infused with obsesive ritual rhytms, mysterious voices and the sensual sound of flute.

From fast-paced adventurous funkscapes to flowing colorful grooves. Steve Clarke's music is a delightful journey through the land of jazz fusion. Surrounded by a selection of fine musicians his gentle bass sound is the one that creates that warm fun, exciting atmosphere you'll enjoy listening to this wonderful album.

The fact that Stan Toval can play horns, guitar, bass, drums, percussions, keyboards, synthesizers and he's a composer of jazz, R&B, hip hop music doesn't mean that he's "just" a talented musician, although this is enough to realize that he is in fact one of a kind. Listening to his latest album there's no need to read the liner notes first. Just pop the CD into your player and enjoy the ride. One filled with a so human and warm ambience that will captivate even superficial listeners. Because Stan doesn't play background music but a fluid musical story about places, people, emotions, experiences and sentiments performed in a beautiful personal manner by an artist who understands that music and soul come together.

An important force in the world music universe, Vince Delgado was an early pioneer of this genre. He gained recognition as a specialist in Middle Eastern percussion. His latest recording "Beginnings" (2005) is a wonderful fusion of colorful and innovative Eastern and Western themes. More info

Listen and dance to the mistery of Senegalese ethnic rhytms intertwined with funk, reggae, jazz and Afrobeat themes mixed audaciously by master percussionist Lamine Touré and his original band. An unique and imaginative recording rich in polyphonies and joyful rhytms.
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Released in 2007 "Tugging at the infinite" released, is another excellent record from keyboardist and composer Neil Alexander. The eight compositions cover a multitude of influences and sonorities blended and balanced with that refined good taste characteristic to Neil Alexander. "There is no electric guitar on this record", is written on the CD cover but after listening to "Starlight Casts No Shadow" you realize the "secret" meaning of this "warning". In fact, no need for guitar, Neil Alexander is clearly the master of his keyboard and he knows how to get the maximum of beauty out of it. For some rock loving listeners the hit of the album may be the superb composition "Everyman (The Flight Of The Falcon)" while the keyboards and sax dialog on "The One That Got Away" will delight jazz fusion fans. Each piece is different, arranged with artistry and care for a rich, bold and warm sound. An excellent record.
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Lovers of avant-garde jazz will be delighted with "Torque" - trumpeter Brian Groder's recent release, an audacious series of swirling sensations, experiences, instantaneous feelings, experimental grooves and surprising sonic explorations. On this album Brian Groder is joined by legendary Sam Rivers and his trio and the result is an unique performance that fuse trumpet, flugelhorn, saxophone and flute in minimal to complex sequences charged with an expressive inner energy. A volcano of well forged collective improvisations of impressive depth and creativity.
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People of the Ninth/New Orleans and the Hurricane 2005 is the result of the encounter between two master musicians and improvisers well known in the world of free jazz: Kali Z. Fasteau and Kidd Jordan, joined by drummer Michael T. A. Thompson. Prepare to hear a music of volcanic energy, charged with emotion and spontaneity yet organically structured enough to keep the listener curious wanting to hear the next song. In this intimate laboratory populated with a genuine festival of natural sounds and echoes, a borderless music fueled by intensity and passion is being reinvented.
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David Wright
Composer, guitar player

Guitarist David Wright's debut recording, Dajinosaurus, (July 2006 - Dinosaurus Records DR 001) let us discover a gifted sound craftsman. There is a lot of variety on this album: soaring guitar solos, dynamic improvisations reminiscent of McLaughlin, lyrical melodic effects, aerial textures fused with more dense, passionate, rockish progressive sonorities. The overall concept is perfect balanced keeping the listener curious until the end of the album.

"With a haunting alto of suggestiveness and controlled force, Elisabeth Lohninger ...combines intimations of sensuality with poetic observation, artistic sensibility with the compression of meaning within the songs. With subtlety and grace, [she] has developed her own persona as a singer, unlike that of any other..." (Bill Donaldson, Jazz Improv Magazine)

Fabiana Passoni
(Brazil/USA)
Singer

What is remarkable on "E Minha Vez", Fabiana Passoni's first album is her distinctive rich voice and the wonderful orchestral arrangement and performance of all the songs. From modern to traditional themes, blending with warmth and emotion jazz, sambas, bossa novas, with a hint of pop-rock, this well crafted album has everything to enchant the listener. A special highlight, the title track: a passionate song composed by Fabiana Passoni. More info

Brothers Jared and Jason Zanowski have their unique way of performing a powerful mix of high energy acid-jazz-rock improvisations. Behind the music, their virtuosity and solid musical background is quite evident: adventurous guitar grooves performed with clarity and care to maintain a harmonic integrated approach throughout the song, intelligent alternance of various tempos that keeps the listener involved until the end. Worth going see these guys live!

Gino Foti
Composer, arranger, bass and keyboard player

"The Noble Soul"
Playing world music fusion demands understanding and respect of the cultures involved in the creational process. Capturing the essence of the various musical heritages, is another challenge. And here comes Gino Foti! He is one of the rare musicians whose sensitivity to spiritual and magical is mixed with unparalleled musical skills. His profound understanding of cultures and world's main philosophies is embedded in his compositions rewarding the listener with an amazing palette of melodies, sounds and rhytms. More info

Jam Camp

Get thrilled with a bright shiny piece of jazz rock music that...rocks. Rich in virtuosic guitar solos interplayed with bold saxophone grooves, "Live" is a collection of memorable hits such as: "Mr. Bliss", "West 8" or "Groove Monkey". "Live" it’s also a sample of effective arrangements able to capture the individuality and crystal clear sound of each instrument(no rough surfaces here!) but also the seamless fusion between all these brilliant musicians.More info

James Stapleton
Tenor & soprano saxophones, flute

A beautiful collection of less known Bosa-Novas performed with elegance and freshness by a fine musician and his band. James Stapleton's contemporary free playing takes us to a beautiful and soothing Brazilian journey without losing the seductive clarity of the melody. Although the overall atmosphere is warm and relaxed, the compositions are touched by that intense joy of the Brazilian sonorities. More info

If you didn't listen to some great jazz-rock lately, it's the right time to listen to Jim Weider's last recording. One doesn't have to know that the artist is one of the masters of the guitar who played with The Band, Graham Parker, Dr John or other big names. The album is simply a world class piece of power-jazz-progrock-funk fusion rich in high intensity guitar solos mixed with tumultuous drumming, organ textures and bold bass playing. The sound is complex and well crafted, built on imaginative layers of dynamics and tempos that make the whole album fluid and atttractive.
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Paul Jackson
Composer, bass

Bassist Paul Jackson is one of the legends of Funk. He was one of the founding member of the Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and he played with a long range of jazz masters.
His latest release "Funk on a Stick" is a hot piece of hard core funk at its highest power. The CD is in fact a wonderful musical meeting of master musicians whose contribution to the album is remarkable.
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Steve Weingart
Piano, Keyboards, Composer

Look for the Jazz Fusion hall of fame, and you'll find listed in the section keyboards an ex-Dave Weckl Band member, keyboardist (or better" key wizard") Steve Weingart.
His professional fine touch is everywhere on "Dark Blue Dream" his latest CD where he shares the "stage" with Frank Gambale, Tom Brechtlein, Ernie Watts. Although the word fusion may suggest a sort of amorphous mix, "Dark Blue Dream" is not just well balanced from an artistic point of view, but also a technical achievement. Keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and voice have each a clear expression: you can enjoy with the same pleasure the ensemble or the individual sonorities. Steve Weingart, is a colorist and quite an intuitive improviser and arranger. In dialog with Frank Gambale's frenetic guitar(memorable on Outside In (Part 1 and 2), or soloing on nuanced soundscapes he always puts the right color or tone at the right place, giving the album a subtle sensitivity warmth and coherence.
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Joe De Renzo
Composer, drummer

Although Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Bob Mintzer are featured on "Dante's View", the music of this album may surprise listeners: Joe De Renzo did not recreate the famous Yellowjackets, his first album released by German label ESC maybest be described as an imaginative contemporary jazz project rooted in the glorious fusion years. Along with originals the album contains a couple of intriguing versions of fusion masters. Giving a new life to Chick Corea's "Lenore" and to Joe Zawinul's "Second Sunday in August", Joe DeRenzo and his fellow musicians re arranged the songs infusing them with warmth and volume yet preserving thir original spirit. The extensive Umbria suite based on a Keith Jarrett performance it is quite an accomplishment for the quintet Mintzer, Ferrante, Hughes, Axt, De Renzo. Going beyond a respectful tribute to the master pianist, they added their personal touch to what it came out as a wonderful melodic work of jazz fusion. Other high points are the trio performances (Ferrante, Haslip, De Renzo), a combination of laid back grooves, smooth funky tones and more introspective improvisations also present on the atmospheric "Last Lovers". It would be simplistic to call "Dante's View", a drummer album; what it reveals is the work of a gifted musician who can synthesize musical sensibilities in a timeless jazz alchemy.
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Meg Okura evolved from a talented classical musician to a versatile artist increasingly active on the contemporary music international stage. She played and collaborated with musicians such as David Bowie, Michael Brecker, Philip Glass, Jesse Harris, Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, Sarah Brightman, Eric Friedlander, Heidi Grant-Murphy, Darryl Hall, Susie Ibarra, Ziggy Marley, Sam Newsome, Jeremy Pelt, Elliot Sharp, Dave Soldier, Steve Sacks and Diane Reeves.
Her latest recording featuring the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble contains eight original compositions where jazz improvisations, latin tempos and classical music are mixed with sensitivity and elegance. More info

Moving easily between lyrical themes to modern, dynamic grooves, Jon Lax is one of those inventive musicians who has the ability to mix with great taste various musical styles such as jazz, new age, classical, world music. His music captures the sounds of nature, converting them into beautiful melodies charged with emotion and spirit.

Mike Metheny
Composer, flügelhorn

Released in 2001 "Close Enough For Love" is a delightful recording crafted with grace and feeling by five great jazz musicians. At the heart of the music is the delicate sound of the flugelhorn beautifully performed by Mike Metheny. The lyrical intimacy of his compositions and playing is far from the "cookie cutter" jazz smoothies. Listening to the superb ballads included on this album you're not wrong if you think you hear echoes of Ennio Morricone! One of the highlights is an atmospheric duet played with his brother Pat and it's regrettable that these talented musicians don't have their duo-album yet!
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A beautiful debut CD with a distinctively modern Cuban jazz feel by percussionist Mayra Casales. The eleven songs speak for themselves about her incredible talent and versatility. Not that she plays with master technique a colorful selection of percussions:congas, djembe, quinto, timbales, guiro but also sings with a rich voice on two of the tracks. Woman On Fire ("Mujer Ardiente") is the remarkable result of a wonderful mix of talents. Mayra Casales is joined by Jon Lucien(excellent on his composition "Xiomara"), Robert Rodriguez(piano, keyboards), Regina Carter(violin) and Carmen Lundy(voice, Rhodes) to name just a few.
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