Pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa paid his dues studying and performing in Cuba before bursting onto the international jazz scene, winning top honors at the Montreux Jazz Festival. He artfully combines the modern rhythms of Havana with an acute jazz sensibility. JazzCorner.com producer Reese Erlich caught up with Lopez-Nussa at the Montreal Jazz Festival and provides this JazzCorner.com Jazz Perspective.

Pianist Jason Moran electrified the jazz scene as a young man in the late 1990s. He became known as one of the best interpreters of the music of Thelonious Monk. JazzCorner.com producer Reese Erlich spoke with Moran recently at the Montreal Jazz Festival about his new work celebrating the life of Fats Waller.

Trombonist and composer Wayne Wallace began his career performing with musicians such as Aretha Franklin and Earth, Wind and Fire. He now fuses elements of R&B and jazz with a variety of Latin music styles. JazzCorner.com producer Reese Erlich met with Wallace in San Francisco to talk about his new CD "Latin Jazz - Jazz Latin."

Vocalist and pianist Patricia Barber is also a talented song writer. She composes tunes about environmental destruction and politics, but she always returns to writing about love and loss. JazzCorner.com producer Reese Erlich interviewed Barber at the Montreal Jazz Festival for this Jazz Perspective.

Vocalist Gregory Porter shook up the jazz world when his first CD, "Water," was nominated for a Grammy. With his second CD, "Be Good," Porter continues to combine a silky smooth voice with socially conscious lyrics. JazzCorner.com producer Reese Erlich interviewed Porter at the Curacao Jazz Festival.

Saxophonist Archie Shepp's career goes back nearly 50 years, including playing on Coltrane's iconic album, "A Love Supreme." Today Shepp mixes jazz, blues and other influences into what he calls "African American Music." JazzCorner.com Jazz Perspective producer Reese Erlich spoke with Shepp as he prepared to launch a national tour. Music for this Perspective comes from the CD "Wo!man."

Vibraphonist Stefon Harris excels at playing straight ahead and blues-infused jazz. With his Concord CD "90 Miles," you can add Afro-Cuban jazz to the list. JazzCorner producer Reese Erlich interviewed Harris at the Montreal Jazz Festival about his latest recording for JazzCorner.com.

Vocalist and pianist Eliane Elias grew up musicially with Bossa Nova and quickly fused it with jazz. The performer and composer continues to explore new musical adventures in her CD "Light My Fire." JazzCorner.com producer Reese Erlich interviewed Elias at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Brazilian-born vocalist Luciana Souza has just issued two CDs simultaneously, something rather unusual in the jazz world. One features her singing bossa nova classics and the other showcases ballads sung by Chet Baker. JazzCorner.com producer Reese Erlich offers this Jazz Perspective.

Claire Daly plays a deep and sonorous baritone saxophone. Traditionally used to play the bass part while other saxophones play the lead, Daly is one of a few modern players who plays the baritone as a bright, melodic instrument. Producer Reese Erlich offers this JazzCorner.com Perspective.