Nicole Zuraitis Two 9/5-11
Singer/songwriter/pianist, Nicole Zuraitis has a big heart and a big voice to match. She leans into both to spread her love and art around, always hoping to make the world a better place.
Nicole first appeared on Jazz Inspired to discuss her CD How Love Begins, which went on to win a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album. She won a second Grammy the following year, along with her husband, drummer Dan Pugach. Now, Live at Vic’s Las Vegas, her first recorded live, has two Grammy Nominations. I was curious how this recognition has changed her life and what she’s discovered from the experience.
Gene Bertoncini 9/12-18
Guitarist Gene Bertoncini loved music. But just as importantly, he loved people and felt that focus directly influenced the way he played. He also credited his early architecture studies with giving him a sense of form and proportion that contributed to his beautifully crafted arrangements and performances. Gene was a wonderful spirit and an enthusiastic cheerleader for musicians he admired. Everyone loved Gene.
Gene died August 29th at the age of 89. Gene and I recorded this conversation in 2010 at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Jonathan Stout 9/19-25
Guitarist, bandleader, swing dancer, and occasional lawyer, Jonathan Stout loves swing music and diving into the specifics of what makes that music so appealing. Plenty of doctors, lawyers and those in other fields play music on the side, but Jonathan is the first virtuosic musician I’ve met who does a bit of lawyering on the side.
We talk discuss all this, Jonathan’s latest CD, the enduring appeal of this engaging musical style.
Melissa Errico 9/26-10/2
Tony Award-nominated actress, singer, writer Melissa Errico started singing at eleven, and with her pianist father, trumpet-playing brother and Melissa on vocals, they would--in her words--make guerrilla assaults on her neighbor’s pianos, going from door to door as a kind of Italian Partridge family, inviting themselves in to entertain anyone who’d have them. These adventures and others made clear where Melissa’s life was headed.
Diogo Brown 10/3-9
Latin Grammy-nominated Brazilian bassist/composer Diogo Brown is as enthusiastic and joyful as his music, both inspiring you to feel great and maybe just get up and dance.
His latest CD, Beleza Pura, with his eleven-piece band, Gee-ah-fee-EE-rah Rio Miami is a celebration of Brazilian music of the 1940s and ‘50s that brought together the sounds of Brazil with American big band swing. Gah-fee-EE-rah Rio Miami puts a modern twist on it all by adding musical influences from the rich cultural diversity of Miami adding in some funk and jazz for good measure.