Singer and song writer Luciana Souza was born in Brazil, lives in Los Angeles, and has mastered the music of both countries. She infuses her American ballads with Brazilian essence while bringing a jazz sensibility to bossa nova. JazzCorner.com's poducer Reese Erlich offers this JazzCorner Perspective based on the music in her new 2009 CD "Tide."

Trumpeter Claudio Roditi grew up in Rio de Janeiro and later moved to New York. So he combines the best of American and Brazilian musical influences. In this Jazzcorner.com Jazz Perspective, Reese Erlich talks with Roditi about how musicians develop their own special sound.

Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes performs before huge audiences around the world, playing his unique style of Latin jazz. But the Bush administration had banned Valdes and virtually all other Cuban musicians from performing in the US. Jazzcorner.com's producer Reese Erlich caught up with Chucho at the Barcelona Jazz Festival to talk about his music and the prospects for performing in the US again.

Cuban born pianist Omar Sosa can play a hot son montuno or a meditative tune accompanied by traditional African instruments. Throughout his career he has explored the African and Latin roots of popular music. Reese Erlich visited Sosa at home in Spain, while he was preparing for a performance at the Barcelona Jazz Festival.

Jazz innovator Bud Shank passed away April 2, 2009 at the age of 82. Shank carved out a fascinating career as a jazz saxophonist and flutist. He came of age musically in Los Angeles in the early 1950s, helping develop the West Coast Jazz style. He also helped popularize the fusion of Brazilian music with jazz. JazzCorner.com's Jazz Perspectives producer and host Reese Erlich interviewed Shank about his life and music in 2000 when Shank was still living in Seattle. He passed away from natural causes at his home in Tucson.

Singer Lisa Sokolov has really studied the human voice. She can shift tone and tamber on a moment's notice. She also really enjoys singing, which she did as soon as she sat down before a microphone. Jazzcorner.com's Jazz Perspective producer Reese Erlich joined Sokolov in New York to learn about her love of blues and traditional melodies of all kinds. Her new CD "A Quiet Thing" was released in March 2009.

Pianist Chick Corea has put together a new band with John McLaughlin and Kenny Garrett, that hasn't performed widely in the US. Jazzcorner.com's Jazz Perspectives host Reese Erlich talked with Corea at the Barcelona Jazz Festival about the festival and his collaboration with banjo player Bela Fleck.

Ramsey Lewis is a legend in jazz. He had a string of crossover hits in the 1960s, including "The In Crowd" and "Hang On Sloopy." He's continued to perform his soul and gospel influenced jazz around the world. Producer Reese Erlich talked with Lewis about his career and music in this JazzCorner.com Jazz Perspective

Liz Magnes lived in Israel where she played with both Israeli and Arab musicians. She fuses Arabic modal scales with American jazz standards to produce a fascinating and unique sound. In this JazzCorner.com Jazz Perspective prepared by Reese Erlich, Magnes talks about her music and her efforts to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians. For more information visit www.lizmagnes.com

More than seven decades after the innovations of the Quintette du Hot Club de France, and guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt, groups called Hot Clubs carry on the gypsy jazz tradition around the world. None, however, offers a fresher take than the Hot Club of Detroit. Producer Lois Gilbert spoke with the group about their distinctive sound. Music comes from their second release, "Night Town" on Mack Ave Records. They are making their New York debut during the Django Reinhardt NY Festival November 4-9, 2008. For more information visit www.djangobirdland.com