When I caught up with vocalist and composer Lizz Wright by phone, she was in New York City getting ready to sing at a benefit for The Innocence Project. Wright, who synthesizes R&B, jazz, folk, blues, and gospel music, is still basking in the glow of her excellent new album, “Freedom & Surrender.” Produced by […]
Artist Feature
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Bria Skonberg
It’s hard to pin down what it is about Bria Skonberg. She’s a double threat as a trumpet player and vocalist — good luck trying to pick which one you like more. And I would be remiss if I failed to mention her tow-headed pulchritude. This New York City-based composer, educator, and self-proclaimed instigator has […]
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Avishai Cohen
Soon after moving from Israel to New York in the 1990’s, bassist Avishai Cohen began playing with top artists, including Danilo Pérez, Wynton Marsalis, and Joshua Redman. In 1997, Chick Corea signed him to his Stretch record label and asked Cohen to join his band. Over the last two decades, Cohen has recorded 15 albums, […]
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Emefe
Though usually pegged as entertainers, musicians don’t necessarily owe their audience a damn thing. This is particularly the case when said band is focused on exorcising its own demons, and is pursuing its muse. Take for instance New York City’s Emefe: The band dresses up its funk grooves with new wave-type electronica. And this isn’t […]
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Red Baraat
Red Baraat’s joyous energy is instantly infectious. Eight musicians piled onto a stage, devotedly kicking out Brooklyn bhangra — a mix of North Indian bhangra, D.C go-go, jazz, hip-hop, and New York City edge — will put a smile on your face, and then make you move. And that’s really the point. The seeds for […]
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Laura Dubin
Laura Dubin began taking piano lessons from her mom, a classical pianist, while she was growing up in Brighton. But there was another pianist in the family, her uncle, David, who visited from California. “He played a little jazz and showed me how to improvise,” says Dubin, who was 7 at the time. “He played […]
