Keiko Matsui-Crystal Shadow

Fusion/new age keyboard player Keiko Matsui grew up in Tokyo and took her first piano lesson at the age of five. Influenced by Stevie Wonder and Rachmaninov as well as early fusion masters Maurice Jarre and Chick Corea. Matsui began composing while in junior high but studied children's culture at the Japan Women's University (Nihon Joshidaigaku). She moved to the Yamaha Music Foundation in Tokyo after graduation and formed Cosmos, recording four albums with the new age group.

Kirk Whalum-For You

Kirk Whalum (born July 11, 1958) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz.

*Wes Montgomery-Bumping on Sunset

John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily Remler, Kenny Burrell, Pat Metheny, and Jimi Hendrix. Digital Dream Door named Montgomery the greatest jazz guitarist of all time.

*Roy Hargrove

Roy A. Hargrove (born October 16, 1969) is an American jazz trumpeter. Hargrove was born in Dallas, Texas, and was discovered as a potential jazz talent when Wynton Marsalis visited his high school. One of his biggest influences was saxophone player David “Fathead” Newman, who played with the Ray Charles Band at Hargrove’s junior high school.

*Miles Davis

Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century,

Coltrane

John William Coltrane was born on September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. At the age of three his family moved to High Point, NC, where young Coltrane spent his early years. His father, John Robert Coltrane, died in 1939, leaving twelve year-old John and his mother on their own. His mother, Alice Blair Coltrane, moved to New Jersey to work as a domestic while John completed high school.

Neo-Soul (Brown Sugar Video)

Black music's neosoul movement has been on the upswing since the 90s. The lovechild of R&B and soul, the sub-genre was pinned by venerable talents such as Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and, of course, Musiq Soulchild, Kem, and Ledisi. Neo soul is a term coined during the late 1990s to market and describe a style of music that emerged from soul and contemporary R&B. Heavily based in soul music, neo soul is distinguished by a less conventional sound than its contemporary R&B counterpart, with incorporated elements ranging from jazz, funk, and hip hop to pop, fusion, and African music. It has been noted by music writers for its classicist influences, conscious-driven lyrics, and ...

Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. Throughout his explorations, he has transcended limitations and genres while still maintaining his unique, unmistakable voice.

The Classics

Keiko Matsui-Crystal Shadow

Fusion/new age keyboard player Keiko Matsui grew up in Tokyo and took her first piano lesson at the age of five. Influenced by Stevie Wonder and Rachmaninov...

Vanessa Williams- If There Were No Song

Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American R&B/pop/theatrical singer and actress. In 1983, Williams made history when she became the...

Hil St Soul- Goodbye

Hilary Mwelwa moved from Lusaka, Zambia, to England when she was five years old — just in time for kindergarten. She studied biochemistry at the...

Kirk Whalum-For You

Kirk Whalum (born July 11, 1958) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston’s opening act for several years....

Fisk Jazz: Venessa Williams- Just Friends

Vanessa Williams-Just Friends

“Just Friends” is the first single from Vanessa Williams’ new album THE REAL THING. Produced by Kenny Babyface Edmonds, Keith Thomas,...

Modern Jazz Quartet – Django

The Modern Jazz Quartet in all of its magnificent glory playing the famous composition “Django” written by pianist/musical director John Lewis,...

Spyro Gyra, Ariana

Spyro Gyra is a jazz fusion group which formed in 1974 in Buffalo, New York, United States. Since their formation, the band has released 25 albums have...