String Along with Lowe

by | Jan 30, 2026 | Solo/Duo

Mundell Lowe is, arguably, the most successful jazz guitarist of his era. He routinely performed with such luminaries as Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans, Sarah Vaughn, and many others. For more than seven decades, he was a major name on the jazz circuit, not only as a much in demand side man, but with his own group as well … in addition to composing scores and soundtracks for a myriad of films and television shows!

Mundy was a quietly elegant guitarist, easy to listen to, with a cool but surging swing. That quality is particularly evident on Nancy with the Laughing Face, a tune popularized by the great Frank Sinatra, where he is joined by his good friend Irish guitarist Louis Stewart.

The Art of Van Damme

by | Jan 23, 2026 | Quartet/Quintet

Usually, the accordion takes about as much heat as a Christmas fruitcake … and, as a jazz instrument, may be reminiscent of the first guy who looked at a lobster and thought, “Food!” But Art Van Damme changed all that. He dared go where no man had gone before, and became known as “the hippest cat ever to swing an accordion.” Evidence his treatment of Durham and Battle’s Topsy, with his quintet in 2004 during the annual TIM Festival. With Art playing accordion, Steve Homan on guitar, Jon Ericksen on vibes, Rich DeLabio playing drums, and John Witalla on bass, they dazzled the Brazilian audience with their gentle, yet swinging sound.

For Bud

by | Jan 16, 2026 | Quartet/Quintet

“Bud” Powell was a pioneer in the development of bebop and its associated contributions to jazz theory, as well as a major influence on pianist Chick Corea. Chick salutes that influence with his composition simply called Bud Powell. It features Kenny Garrett (as), Christian McBride (b), and Roy Haynes (d), as well as Corea, who made his own contributions to the jazz idiom with his considerable participation in the birth of fusion, particularly during the 1970s with the formation of his group Return to Forever.

E-e-e-gadd!

by | Jan 9, 2026 | Big Band

Music not only cuts across lines of language and transcends boundaries of nations, but timelessly conquers barriers of age as well. Here, in the twilight of their careers, are some of the greatest jazz musicians of all time and they haven’t lost a step … or a lip, or a note! Steve Gadd (d), Eddie Gomez (b), and Ronnie Cuber (bs) join Michael Abene conducting the WDR Big Band for Che Ore So, a tune written by Pino Daniele. The song is from their “Center Stage” album, which was nominated for the 2023 Grammy in the category “Best Large Jazz Ensemble”.