Featured Celebrities

What is nearly as unlikely as the success of The Brian Setzer Orchestra--a true, 17-piece Big Band fronted by an electric guitar--is that no one has jumped on the bandwagon. The reason, suggests Brian Setzer, is simple: ""This isn't like punk rock, where anyone could pick up a guitar and play loud. The level of musicianship required is pretty high."" An... read full bio

"Trumpeter Chris Botti is a gifted instrumentalist, a talented composer, and a charismatic performer who--since the release of his first solo album in 1995--has created a series of recordings that have made him a virtual genre-of-one in the realm of contemporary jazz. Through his singular combination of lush atmos-pheres and thoughtful improvisations, Chris Botti has ... read full bio

Dave Koz came out of nowhere after he made it onto the Billboard contemporary jazz charts, and stayed there for several weeks. Koz played on Arsenio Hall's show and pop audiences. Koz plays instrumental pop covers and some upbeat tunes, and generally sticks to the fusion production formula. His sessions are available on CD and have been regularly released since his first a... read full bio

Four-time Grammy Award-winning Bassist, singer and composer Esperanza Spalding first began playing in small jazz and blues venues around Portland, Oregon. Since moving East, Ms. Spalding has regularly worked as a freelance bassist and singer, both locally and internationally. Ms. Spalding has worked with many notable Grammy-winning artists, such as guitarist Pat Metheny an... read full bio

Simply named one of the most outstanding guitarists in jazz history, George Benson’s musical versatility is unmatched. His style ranges from swing to R&B to pop with emphasis on his extraordinary tastes in rhythm and blues, paired with his soulful tenor voice. His style is completely his own, but draws comparison to the likes of Charlie Christian and Wes Montgome... read full bio

Michael Franks is a smooth jazz singer-songwriter from the United States, who has recorded with Who's Who of artists, such as Patti Austin, Brenda Russell, Art Garfunkel, and David Sanborn. His songs have been recorded by The Manhattan Transfer, Patti LaBelle, Carmen McRae, Diana Krall, Shirley Bassey and The Carpenters. After 22 years of smash hits and smooth jazz came th... read full bio

One of the most popular groups in what is loosely termed ""contemporary jazz,"" the Rippingtons were formed by guitarist/keyboardist Russ Freeman. Freeman studied at Cal Arts and UCLA, and recorded Nocturnal Playground as a leader in 1985 for the Brainchild label, a one-man project. In 1987, he was approached to record for the Japanese Alfa label and ca... read full bio