The Jazz Blog

You probably have heard about Jazz radio and other radio stations that you can listen to online and you are wondering whether it is the best. Well, you never know, it is quite tricky and hard to make a decision but when you have facts, you can be sure that you would get to know which one is the best and then make your right informed choice. There are several factors that you may want to check on and all these are applicable to this great radio station that you would need to know about so that you never miss.

First of all, you would want to have a radio station that grants you a variety of channels so that you only get to listen to what you love. Jazz comes in many forms and you have to be sure that you are only listening to the type that you are most comfortable with. Jazz radio in turn provides you with 24 great channels to choose from and get to enjoy the preferred music of your choice and taste.

The other thing that you would need to check on and which you can be sure of getting from Jazz radio is the provision of free countless hours of music and the very best of Jazz for that matter. You see, you need not have to pay for the music when you can get it free without cost. At the same time, you also need to know that you would only enjoy music of higher quality. Without doubt, that is just what you would get from the different channels.

The other factor that you may want to consider when you are trying to find the radio station that you need to stick with and which you can rate as top is how the music can be accessed. The station should be user friendly and is should allow playing of music from any player of your choice. It should not be restricted on which players can be used and which ones are not acceptable.

Then, the music should have no interruptions. Most radio stations have the tendency to interrupt music with commercials and this is something that you can be double sure you will not have to worry about when you are listening to jazz music through Jazz radio station. You will have your freedom to pick the very best of the music that you feel like listening to at any given time.

Jazz radio guarantees that you would have special mix of jazz that ranges from classics to contemporary. If you are into piano jazz, guitar jazz or any other type of jazz music, you can be sure that you will find it from this radio station. Yes, you can be sure that jazz radio will grant you all the jazz music that you want. Actually, it is the one station where you will get to experience jazz in its reinvented form with the new standards that would help you enjoy the music of your choice.

Jazz. It would take a year to try to define what jazz is all about, and perhaps the enigmatic nature of this style of music is what has kept it so popular for so long. Jazz originated in the dying days of the 19^th century in New Orleans which was considered a melting pot of culture and diversity in America. Out of this mix of cultures and musical influences, Jazz was born.

Jazz started to move north when the legendary Lois Armstrong relocated to Chicago in the 1920’s. Never wanting to be left out, it quickly spread to The Big Apple and started gaining popularity in the African American areas on the city especially Harlem. There has always been a distinction between the styles of Jazz in America, but today it is a mixture of all influences.

During the Second World War, the centre of Jazz moved from Harlem to Midtown and this was the time when Charley Parker became famous. Along with other groups, these phenomenal musicians made their home between 5^th and 6^th Avenue on the famous 52^nd Street.

Today the heart of Jazz is still found in the Village with many of the most famous jazz clubs still being in this area today. There are many places to go and listen to the mastery and marvel at the Jazz evolution. In places like the Village Vanguard, you can still catch some of the best acts from around the world, performing on any given night. Whether you are into singing Big Band, Be Bop, or some of the more modern Fusion jazz musicians, you’ll always find something that is to your taste.

The Jazz Standard is one of the top Jazz clubs in New York City and features famous Jazz musicians like Cecil McBee who has been at the forefront of the New York Jazz scene for over forty years. He is a bassist who has had a rich and rewarding career as both a performing and recording artist. The legendary Mose Allison creates a fusion of blues and jazz with his trio when they perform. They offer fantastic food and a strict noise policy so you can really hear the music.

Birdland, on West 44^th Street is named after the legendary Charley ‘Bird’ Parker and is home to the greatest jazz musicians today. Nicholas Payton is one of the top names in jazz today. He is a trumpeter of note and follows in the footsteps of his Jazz musician family from New Orleans. This 34 year old is set to be a part of the jazz scene for many years to come. The Birdland Big band performs every Friday evening and features some of the top musicians from across the world.  Big names in the New York Jazz scene right now are the lovely and talented jazz vocalist Hilary Kole and the equally stylish voice of Barbara Rosene. If you’re looking for something that will get your feet tapping then you should definitely see a set by Wallace Roney and his Sextet, which will move you and entrance you with its vibe and energy. The late, great Miles Davis who is one of the most influential jazz musicians of our time mentored this jazz musician.

New York City offer a host of Jazz festivals for even the most discerning and experimental lovers of Jazz. The idea behind some of the most famous Jazz festivals of this city that never sleeps is to bring the musicians out of the recording studios and clubs and into the eyes of the world. Jazz festivals really give the musicians a chance to display their immense talents to a much wider audience and this pushes the boundaries of the ever-evolving musical form known as Jazz.

From it’s diverse musical birth in New Orleans over a century ago, through the boom of Harlem Jazz in the 1920’s, the big band swing of the war years and the move to the Village, jazz has been an integral part of the nightlife of New York City. The festivals that happen throughout the year across the city expose audiences to legendary names in the world of jazz, up and coming new voices and also to educational tours and events.

The best Jazz Festivals in New York Coty are not only a celebration of the music, but also of dance, food and the soul of a city that never sleeps. With international musicians and stars, you are exposed to a lot more at a festival than you ever thought possible.

The Newport Jazz Festival has taken place every summer since 1954. Created by the legendary George Wein, it was the first outdoor music festival of its kind and though it moved to New York City in 1972, it has been one of the most important festivals on the jazz calendar across the world. The Newport Jazz festival has featured the likes of Billie Holliday, the diva Ella Fitzgerald and the awesome musicianship of Dizzie Gillespie. The Newport Festival was one of the first festivals in the world to attract big corporate sponsors to the world of jazz.

The NYC Winter Jazzfest is a highlight on the New York festival calendar, attracting the top names in jazz in a riotous two-day festival in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. You won’t get to see everything; it is spread over various venues in the Village, and covers every style of jazz music from Big band to Post Modern Fusion. If you’re looking for something  a little different, then try the Undead jazzfest which is also held in the Village and offers jazz that is innovative and performed by the new guard of the Jazz scene in NYC.

In the summer, the city comes alive with the sounds of jazz at the many different festivals held across the city. The Vision festival, which spotlights the avant-garde of the jazz world, is held across seven venues on the Lower east Side of Manhattan in June. Perhaps the biggest festival on the circuit is the CareFusion Jazz Festival, which is a highlight of the summer in New York. Featuring artists from across the globe, this festival is held over ten days and the artists perform at some of the greatest concert venues that New York City has. Take in performances at Carnegie Hall, Summerstage, and Soundview Park in the Bronx. This year visitors were thrilled by the performances by Herbie Hancock and Stanley Clarke as well as Hiromi. Funny man Bill Cosby also made one of his rare performances at Carnegie Hall as part of Herbie Hancock’s 70^th birthday celebrations