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Jazz Eyes: Eyes and Ears Wide Open
Elaborating on the partnership, Siculiana says: "When I started the label, the collaboration with Toti, who is a great promoter, was fundamental. The strategy was to combine my album producing with Toti's concert roster. In brief, to promote the artist's growth through the album and the tour." Thus, at the heart of the label, there is belief in the artist and dedication to his or her individual work. Jazz Eyes isn't about producing a signature sound for the label. The dedication to each artist's own vision is what counts. As Siculiana says: "I do not aim to have a specific sound. I prefer to leave the artist to choose whatever his inspiration suggests for his project. But I decided to have specific packaging and graphics which can identify my label."
What it all comes down to is promoting the artist's work in the most fruitful way, and this is done not only through alluring packaging but also through ensuring that the music is available in different formats. Besides pressing CDs and offering its music digitally through a wide range of portals, Jazz Eyes now caters to the audiophile connoisseur. Says Siculiana: "We are printing all the catalogue in 180 gram vinyl."
In mid 2009, Jazz Eyes' catalogue consists of six high quality releases which, in their diversity and integrity, affirm the decision to let each artist's own vision shape the profile of the label.
The Kevin Hays Trio
For Heaven's Sake
Jazz Eyes
2006
Pianist 
Kevin Hays
pianob.1968
Bill Stewart
drumsb.1966
The reading of 
Sonny Rollins
saxophone
b.1930
Sam Rivers
saxophone, tenor
1923 - 2011
Just as Weiss gives a thoughtful introduction to "Beatrice," he takes a prominent role on "For Heavens Sake," carving out an intricate pattern on the bass while Hays lays down a riverbed of chords.
Duke Ellington
piano
1899 - 1974
Eddie Gomez Trio
Palermo
Jazz Eyes
2006
Kevin Hays has been around for some time, but he is still entitled to be called a rising star. The same cannot be said of the leader on the second release on Jazz Eyes, bassist 
Eddie Gomez
bass
b.1944
Chick Corea
piano
1941 - 2021
Miles Davis
trumpet
1926 - 1991
Michael Brecker
saxophone, tenor
1949 - 2007
Bill Evans
piano
1929 - 1980
On Palermo, Gomez returns to the format of the trio that has brought him so much artistic success, but this time the headliner is the bassist himself. This doesn't mean that Gomez hasn't gathered some stellar players to complete the line-up. 
Stefan Karlsson
piano
Nasheet Waits
drums
b.1971
Philly Joe Jones
drums
1923 - 1985
Fred Hersch
piano
b.1955
Jason Moran
piano
b.1975
The repertoire on Palermo includes some of Bill Evans' old favourites. A particularly daring move is the inclusion of "My Foolish Heart," which has practically become defined by Evans. However, the trio comes out free, and also give a convincing interpretation of "On Green Dolphin Street." But it is the less travelled road that provides the highlights. "Palermo," sporting a riveting riff, and "Illusion," displaying a brilliantly knotty solo by the leader, show that Gomez indeed is still at the top of his game.
The Joe Locke Quartet
Sticks And Strings
Jazz Eyes
2007
Vibraphonist 
Joe Locke
vibraphone
b.1959
Jonathan Kreisberg
guitar
b.1972
Jay Anderson
bass
b.1955
Joe La Barbera
drums
b.1948
Bobby Hutcherson
vibraphone
1941 - 2016
Milt Jackson
vibraphone
1923 - 1999
Sticks And Strings finds Locke at his most inviting, crafting a melodic outing that is both sunny and mellow. Kreisberg's fat, warm guitar lines fit perfectly with the resonating beauty of the vibes. Another string player, Jay Anderson, adds to the organic feel of the music with his woody tone, and the sticks of drummer Joe LaBarbera gives the swing necessary for Locke to act freely as a colorist.
"Terzani" dances away with a bouncing rhythm, while "The Rosario Material" finds Locke playing feather-light and fast over a soulful bass figure. There's also room for a standard in the shape of "I Fall In Love Too Easily" but it's the self-penned balladry of "A Word Before You Go" that shines brightest. Overall, the album isn't so much about single tunes as the conjunction of a musical mood that wraps itself nicely around the ear like finely woven sheets of silk.
Al Foster Quartet
Love, Peace And Jazz!
Jazz Eyes
2008
Drummer 
Al Foster
drums
1944 - 2025
Joe Henderson
saxophone
1937 - 2001
The album, a live recording taped at the legendary New York jazz club Village Vanguard, offers a program of six tunes where Foster's own compositions take up a fair share of the space. "The Chief," "Peter's Mood" and "Brandyn" all show his knack for writing sophisticated post-bop. Helping him out are pianist Kevin Hays and bassist Doug Weiss, complemented by saxophonist 
Eli Degibri
saxophone, tenor
b.1978
When it comes to picking material, Foster favours newer compositions by 
Wayne Shorter
saxophone
1933 - 2023
Blue Mitchell
trumpet
1930 - 1979
Seamus Blake Quartet
Live In Italy
Jazz Eyes
2009
Another artist on Jazz Eyes who has documented his live performances is tenor saxophonist 
Seamus Blake
saxophone
b.1970
David Kikoski
piano
b.1961
The group, which also includes bassist Danton Boller and drummer 
Rodney Green
drums
The repertoire is varied, including classical music, standards, original material from Kikoski and Blake and a reading of 
John Scofield
guitar
b.1951
The Kevin Hays Trio
You've Got a Friend
Jazz Eyes
2009
Coming full circle, the sixth and most recent release from Jazz Eyes is You've Got A Friend by the Kevin Hays Trio. Whereas For Heaven's Sake focused on standards and modern classics, this time Hays brings in a healthy dose of pop evergreens, taking in such tunesmiths as Carole King, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney.
An inherent danger in songs like "You've Got A Friend" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is that they border on sentimentality, but Hays avoids the risk of mere nostalgia by re-imagining the songs completely and drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Doug Weiss are able to follow his every move.
However, Hays doesn't completely avoid jazz tradition. Saxophonist 
Charlie Parker
saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955
Thelonious Monk
piano
1917 - 1982
Taking a look at the six releases that make up the Jazz Eyes catalogue, one thing immediately springs to mind: there aren't any Italian artists who have recorded for the label. This is something that will change with the scheduled release of pianist Salvatore Bonafede's Trio. When asked further about future projects for the label, Seculiana also promises albums by BANN featuring Seamus Blake, Jay Anderson, Oz Noy and Adam Nussbaum, and the Steve Kuhn Trio with Eddie Gomez and Bill Drummond. As he says: "What can I want more?"
One declared ambition is to win a Grammy and the catalogue so far augurs well for the future. Jazz Eyes has succeeded in creating a brand that has come to signify quality in both form and content. There are plenty of reasons to keep both eyes and ears wide open whenever a new release arrives from the label.
Tracks and Personnel
For Heaven's Sake
Tracks: Sonny Moon for Two; For Heaven's Sake; Lady Day; Beatrice; Beautiful Love; It Could Happen To You; If Ever I Would Leave You; Caravan.
Personnel: Kevin Hays: piano; Doug Weiss: bass; Bill Stewart: drums.
Palermo
Tracks: Palermo; Illusion; Missing You; On Green Dolphin Street; Smilin' Eyes; We Will Meet Again; If I Should Loose You; My Foolish Heart.
Personnel: Eddie Gomez: double bass; Stefan Karlsson: piano; Nasheet Waits: drums.
Sticks And Stones
Tracks: Time Like The Present; The Rosario Material; Sword Of Whispers; Terzani; All Of You; A Word Before You Go; Appointment In Orvieto; I Fall In Love Too Easily; Sixth Sense.
Personnel: Joe Locke: vibes; Jonathan Kreisberg: electric and acoustic guitars; Jay Anderson: bass; Joe La Barbera: drums.
Love, Peace And Jazz!
Tracks: The Chief; E.S.P.; Blue in Green; Peter's Mood; Brandyn; Fungii Mama.
Personnel: Al Foster: drums; Kevin Hays: piano; Douglas Weiss: double bass; Eli Degibri: saxophones.
Live In Italy
Tracks: CD1: The Jupiter Line; Way Out Of Willy; String Quartet In G Minor; Fear Of Roaming. CD2: The Feeling Of Jazz; Spacing; Ladeirinha; Darn That Dream; Dance Me Home.
Personnel: Seamus Blake: tenor saxophone; David Kikoski: piano; Rodney Green: drums; Danton Boller: double-bass.
You've Got A Friend
Tracks: You've Got A Friend; Bridge Over Troubled Water; Fool On The Hill; Think Of One; Sweet And Lovely; Nothing Like You; Cheryl.
Personnel: Kevin Hays: piano; Doug Weiss: bass; Bill Stewart: drums.
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