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New Music

Jazz is Alive and Well

New performers continue to come forward, better trained and criss-crossing the country to perform at small, intimate venues. Women continue to find satisfying work and acclaim; Diana Krall, Nora Jones, and Eliane Elias, playing the piano and singing. New vocalists like Jane Monheit, Melody Gardot, Karrin Allyson, Madeleine Peyroux, Greta Matassa, and Esperanza Spalding. Male musicians and vocalists like Jamie Cullum, Kurt Elling, Cyrus Chestnut, Chris Botti, Michael Buble, and Kyle Eastwood. Motion Pictures and television use jazz flavored music for their soundtracks and some FM radio station's formats are jazz, either over the radio or web-streamed.

My own feelings about the direction in which jazz should go are that there should be much less stress on technical exhibitionism and much more on emotional content, on what might be termed humanity in music and the freedom to say all that you want. —Booker Little

Musicians should never forget that we're blessed. We have a special gift that people can enjoy through us. We've had the good fortune to receive this and pass it along to others. —Ed Thigpen

From Records to Compact Disks to Downloads

To keep this vital music alive, we must not only buy recordings from the new performers, but also take time to support live performances, where as audience members we can communicate and support them. Venues like Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle, or many others around the country and Canada. Also, music programs in public schools in tandem with musician mentors is supplying future musicians.