Najee | The Smooth Side of Soul
By Peggy Oliver
Multi-award winner Najee is one of contemporary jazz’s long-standing ambassadors and continues to challenge himself with respect towards his fan base that has further translated to his overall industry longevity. As a lifelong fan of R&B and jazz music, Jerome Najee Rasheed decided to follow his musical childhood inspirations while developing his woodwind skills.
Ellee Ven | Her Wildcat Lovin’ Majesty
By Stella Titus-Ayala
The Beautiful Ellee Ven, hailing from Lexington, KY, is a current Pop/Indie independent artist from the label Hot Sauce Records. Her new CD, “Her Wildcat Lovin’ Majesty” was released last year in May 2011.
For starters, the first track on the album SIGNALS, by far, is the best song Ellee Ven delivered.
Kirk Whalum | Romance Language
By Peggy Oliver
One of jazz’s unlikely pairs, depending on who you might speak with, stirred some magic in the early sixties. John Coltrane was undeniably a groundbreaking modern saxophone player who leaned more towards the avant-gardism school of thinking. After choosing crooner Johnny Hartman for an Impulse! recording project of romantic ballads came to fruition in 1963, Coltrane immediately connected with Hartman’s melodic and sensitive phrasing, which was the self-titled project’s driving force.