Piano Four-t��: Keyboard Masters Delight On A Quartet of ECM Luminessence Vinyl Reissues

by Joshua Weiner
June 24, 2025

Blue Note. Verve. Impulse! Prestige. Just saying the name of such storied jazz record labels immediately conjures up each one's distinct aesthetic, from the music to the cover art. Over the past half century, the German ECM label has earned its place in this pantheon by steadfastly following its own vision, perhaps best summed up by ...

Pere Navarro

Born: May 5, 1994

Pere Navarro (Ibiza, 1994) is a trumpeter, pianist, composer, producer, and DJ, recognized as one of the most outstanding talents in the Spanish jazz scene. His innovative approach has reshaped the European music landscape, blending the sophistication and soul of Afro-American music with the eclectic and vibrant essence of his homeland, Ibiza. This unique signature has led to an authentic sound that transcends traditional genre boundaries.

With three albums under his belt, Navarro has solidified a distinctive musical identity. His latest work, QUINTESSENTIAL (2025), an ambitious double album, reaffirms his creative depth and artistic evolution. His previous records, Perenne and Live in Madrid, released under the prestigious Fresh Sound Records label, quickly positioned him as a key figure in contemporary jazz.

Jazz, Gnu and New: ECM Reissues To Excite Vinyl Fans

by Joshua Weiner
February 10, 2025

ECM's “Luminessence" series pays tribute to the impressive legacy of Manfred Eicher's label, founded in Germany in 1969. Several of its most historic and beloved releases are being reissued on audiophile vinyl cut from the original analog tapes (or, in the case of more recent albums, from high-resolution digital masters) and presented in heavy gatefold sleeves ...

Nate Smith at SOB's

by Chris DeRosa
November 25, 2024

Nate SmithSounds Of BrazilNew York, NYNovember 15, 2024 Hello, my name is Chris DeRosa and this is what I heard... Nate Smith may not be a household name unless you confuse him with the country singer, but this Nate Smith is truly “one of a kind." Smith started his ...

Saxophone Meets Guitar: The Dynamic Duo of Jazz

by Robert Middleton
September 11, 2024

Imagine a smoky jazz club where the deep, soulful wail of a saxophone weaves effortlessly with the nimble, melodic lines of a guitar. This rare instrumental combination is a hidden gem in the world of jazz that deserves more attention. Jazz is not just a genre--it is a universe with galaxies of swing, bebop, ...

Brilliant ECM Luminessence Series Shines New Light On Classic Vinyl

by Joshua Weiner
September 5, 2024

Blue Note. Verve. Impulse! ESP-Disk. Just saying the name of such storied jazz record labels immediately conjures up each one's distinct aesthetic, from the music to the cover art. By the close of the 1960s, jazz was undergoing a period of intense change, with an unprecedented mixing and matching of styles and influences--both musical and political--that ...

Chris DeRosa

Born: August 19

Chris DeRosa is a Professional Freelance Drummer/Producer/Composer who currently lives in New York City, although his experience has taken him to many parts of the world (over 55 countries). Chris was born in New Haven, Connecticut but later moved to nearby Guilford where he took up the drums. At a very young age Chris was mesmerized by the sounds of the ecm record label he would hear pouring out of his radio on WPKN’s late night Jazz program. He was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to attend the Educational Center For The Arts (ECA) High School and at 16 studied with North Texas University famed Drumset Professor Ed Soph while he was on sabbatical in Connecticut.

The Most Exciting Jazz Albums Since 1969: 2015-2017

by Robert Middleton
December 11, 2023

This week's thrilling albums are a rather obscure lot; four of them hail from Europe and one from Canada. But like all the thrilling albums that preceded them, they possess that elusive quality that keeps you engaged, offering a new discovery with each subsequent listen, ensuring their staying power and ability to seduce your soul over ...

Eric McGarry

Eric McGarry is a guitarist, composer, and educator based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

McGarry is a graduate of the University of the Arts with a Master of Music in Jazz Studies.  Prior to completing his Master of Music, McGarry earned a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance with Honors, and a Minor in Music Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology from the University of the Arts.

McGarry has studied with prominent guitarists Dave Allen, Matt Davis, Tim Motzer, Kevin Hanson, Mike Kennedy, and Ben O’Neill. While attending UArts, McGarry held the guitar chair for the award winning Z Big Band, under the direction of Matt Gallagher.

Rintaro Mikami

Born: August 25, 1995

Hailing originally from Tokyo, Japan, Rintaro Mikami is a jazz drummer, percussionist and composer based in New York City. Known for a wide range dynamics, supportive orchestration, and very narrative performance and compositions, Rintaro draws from a jazz tradition to a range of influences from rock to world cultural music such as Brazilian, Argentinian and mid-Eastern.

He started playing drums at the age of 12 and immediately showed his talent in local music community. After working as a drummer in rock music scene in Tokyo, his musical interest gradually gravitated towards Jazz.