Musician

Mike Pope

Bassist and composer Mike Pope builds significant musical, personal and spiritual bridges between the past, present and future with his third release, Cold Truth, Warm Heart. The new album shows him to be a visionary composer, arranger and bandleader.

The 2014 offering is the first in a decade and establishes a new threshold of leadership for the virtuoso acoustic and electric bassist who has toured extensively with Chick Corea, David Sanborn, Al DiMeola and Bill Bruford, and more recently, Joe Locke and Eldar Djangirov.

Pope’s 2002 album, The Lay of the Land, delivered contemporary straight ahead jazz with help from stellar players: Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, John Patitucci, Jeff ”Tain” Watts and others. It was warmly received, but tours with other ensembles took up the bulk of his time.

News: Recording

Ravita Jazz��s Releases 'Alice Blue'

July 23, 2025

Ravita Jazz released Alice Blue in May of 2025. In the liner notes, jazz journalist and author Raul d'Gama Rosewrote: ��Throughout Alice Blue the poetics of musical tradition are impressively maintained. The balance of melody, harmony and rhythm present in compositions and improvisation make this an album worth adding to your collection.�� Bassist, composer, educator, and ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Terence Hannum: Revisiting Locrian's The Crystal World

by Lawrence Peryer
July 5, 2025

Today, the Spotlight shines on visual artist, professor, and experimental musician Terence Hannum. Terence wears many hats. He is a visual artist, professor, and one-third of the experimental trio Locrian. It's the 15th anniversary reissue of Locrian's The Crystal World (Utech Records), that brings us together today. This album marked a turning point for ...

Article: Catching Up With

Stefan Hegerat's Bet Against Algorithmic Music

by Lawrence Peryer
June 1, 2025

Stefan Hegerat reached his breaking point with Spotify. Last year, the Toronto drummer and composer made a decision that's becoming more common among independent musicians: he began the process of removing his music from the streaming giant. “I recently read Liz Pelly's book about the evolution of Spotify and that really sealed the deal ...

Musician

Kevin Jackson - Guitar

Baltimore, Maryland native Kevin Jackson has been taking the Smooth Jazz industry by storm since 2012, performing with artists such as Sheila E, Wyclef, and Maysa, to name a few. 

Jackson's mix of original compositions and acoustic renditions take his listeners on a ?soulful and rhythmic journey?.  Jackson produces projects that offer something for every person’s taste, whether it is Rock, Contemporary Christian, Jazz, Soulful R&B and more. 

Jackson is often thought of as a “quiet giant” due to his humble and quiet nature but, once on stage, it’s easy to see this is where he is most comfortable, and where he comes to life through his music. His live productions set him apart from the rest. In more recent years, Jackson has had the opportunity to open for and perform with smooth jazz artists like Marcus Johnson, Jeanette Harris and Jackiem Joyner, to name a few.

Article: Live Review

Ramzi Aburedwan and Dal��ouna Ensemble at An Die Musik

by Matt Hooke
November 12, 2024

Ramzi Aburedwan and Dal'ouna Ensemble An Die Musik Live Baltimore, Maryland, USA October 21, 2024 Ramzi Aburedwan and Dal'Ouna Ensemble presented a unique set of jazz-touched Palestinian music at Baltimore's An Die Musik Live. The set was a showcase for each musician involved, with every song beginning with a ...

Video

"Gunnhildr" Live at The Watermelon Room

Featuring the music of Wide-Eyed Lounge Cats
Duration: 2:14
June 21, 2024

Following the success of their third studio album?The Watermelon Sessions?(released 2023), Wide-Eyed Lounge Cats return to the studio where it all began to record a live performance of their original song ��Gunnhildr��. The studio, known as the Watermelon Room (based out of Baltimore, MD), became a critical element in the band��s evolution into jazz fusion, allowing them the space and presence to explore, test, and ultimately discover themselves through a shared musicianship. The album and its tracks pay homage to that journey as live performers and studio musicians. The featured song demonstrates the band��s unique ability at bending genres into a powerful array of sounds, and the composition draws inspiration from old Norse folklore and mythology. The video was recorded by Marshall Veth and the audio mixed by Garrett Long, their original engineer (and founder) of the Watermelon Room.?

Article: In Pictures

Raul Midon at An Die Musik LIVE

by Matt Hooke
October 18, 2023

Raul Midon performed a solo set at An Die Musik LIVE in Baltimore on October 11, 2023 that showcased his artistic versality and ability to create a compelling show without a backing band. Midon's songwriting prowess showed throughout the evening as he transitioned from funk influenced songs to a Joni Mitchell inspired piano ballad. effortlessly. A ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Susan Alcorn: Nueva Canci��n on Pedal Steel

by Lawrence Peryer
January 27, 2024

Today, the Spotlight shines On the innovative pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn.While Susan got her start playing in country & western bands in Texas, she has taken the pedal steel into new and uncharted territories, exploring 20th-century classical music, improvisational jazz, and various world musics.On her latest project, CANTO (Relative Pitch Records), ...

Article: Jazzmatazz

Remembering Saxophonist, teacher, and composer Carl Grubbs

by Matt Hooke
January 25, 2024

Saxophonist Carl Grubbs built a community around him everywhere he played, whether in 1970s Philadelphia where people gathered outside of his house to listen to his band practice, or in Baltimore where he mentored countless generations of musicians since the 1990s. Even as his health worsened over the past year, Grubbs continued to see ...