Pianist Dave Brubeck Biography | Teen Jazz Legend

Pianist Dave Brubeck has been lauded as one of the most influential jazz artists of the 1950s and 60s. As cool jazz began to reach its prime, Brubeck succeeded in finding an audience for his more complex music (both tonally and time signature-wise). Born in Concord, California, on December 6, 1920, David Warren Brubeck was …

Patrick Bradley Can You Hear Me Review

Patrick Bradley released his latest and third album, Can You Hear Me, in September of 2014. With guests like Dave Koz, Jimmy Haslip, Rick Braun, and Eric Marienthal, the album is a collection of ten smooth and contemporary jazz tracks produced and arranged by Patrick Bradley and fellow keyboardist, Jeff Lorber. The opening cut, “All …

A Review of Indigo by Dan Siegel

Pianist Dan Siegel’s latest solo release, Indigo, was released fall 2014. It includes a collection of ten original compositions in the jazz style. Accompanied by Yellowjackets veteran Will Kennedy on drums, Bob Sheppard on sax, guitarists Allen Hinds and Mike Miller, percussionist Lenny Castro, vibraphone player Craig Fundyga, and bassist Brian Bromberg, Siegel takes listeners …

Composer Cole Porter | Teen Jazz Legend

Best know for his work as an American composer and songwriter, pianist Cole Porter led a life filled with both scandal and luxury amidst his successful career as a musician. Born into a wealthy family on June 9, 1891, Cole was doted on by his mother. He began the violin at 6 and the piano …

The Biography of George Gershwin | Teen Jazz Legends

Known as the American composer who bridged the gap between popular and classical musics, George Gershwin is an award winning composer and musician who got his start playing in a resort during his free time and as a song plugger for Tin Pan Alley. George Gershwin was born Jacob Gershovitz in Brooklyn, New York, to …

Review of Brian Culbertson’s Album Another Long Night Out

More and more artists are shifting from the traditional album release model, opting to go the independent route rather than work with a label, turning to crowd funding as a viable way to fund and produce an album. So it’s no surprise that Brian Culberston chose to do just that with his latest release “Another …

Pianist Cedar Walton | Biography of a Jazz Legend

This past August, we lost Cedar Walton, a great keyboardist who got his start as a member of Art Blakey’s band. I had the distinct privilege of seeing Mr. Walton perform on several occasions and it was always an inspiring display of musical virtuosity by both him and the members of his band. Cedar Walton …

Review of Nicholas Cole’s Album Endless Possibilities

A new generation of smooth jazz performers have begun to carve their place in the genre, sharing their energetic performance and youthful take on the style. We introduced you to keyboardist Jonathan Fritzén in an earlier review on Teen Jazz, and now we’d like to share the music of yet another up and coming keyboardist, …

A Review of George Duke’s Dreamweaver

On July 16, 2013 Grammy Award Winning keyboardist and producer George Duke released Dreamweaver, a project that celebrates the life of his wife Corine. The album was released through Heads Up and it features 15 tracks that focus on Duke’s strengths as an instrumentalist, taking listeners on a tour of his diverse musical background. The …

Count Basie Biography | Teen Jazz Legend and Bandleader

Born to parents who were both musicians in 1904, William James Basie was constantly surrounded by music. He began piano lessons with his mother, but he also studied with stride pianists such as Fats Waller. He began his career in music as an accompanist for Vaudeville performers which took him to Kansas City where he …