While recording two albums as a trio (mostly), Seattle's Duende Libre has worked with singers Chava Mirel and Frank Anderson in live settings almost since the group's founding. In a recent visit to the KNKX studios, Mirel and Anderson truly felt like integral members of the band.

Grammy-award winner Paula Cole graced the KNKX studios in support of her current release, “Ballads.” It's a collection of songs in honor of her musician father, who left the music business to support the family. Cole says she began as jazz singer, and featured herself as a "female Chet Baker." She was offered two jazz recording contracts, which she turned down. She chose, instead, to write her own music, honoring her voice in homage to her mother. Cole studied jazz at the Berklee College of

There are 100 years of jazz recordings, most available a click away. Emmet Cohen says he wants to make music that honors all of it. Cohen is two albums into his Masters Legacy Series. The first featured legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb, the second with bass icon Ron Carter. Future releases include Cohen's work with jazz giants Benny Golson, Tootie Heath and George Coleman. Asked what he learns from these superstars, Cohen says the music comes first. Interacting with players, whose history go back

When our friend Anton Schwartz came into our studios to lead his sextet of Seattle all-stars, it was an opportunity to see the saxman in the spotlight after his sideman work in a series of live collaborations on KNKX.

Singer Karrin Allyson brought sunshine to Seattle last Wednesday afternoon with a live performance in our studios. Allyson and her band were at Jazz Alley last week for the CD release celebration of her latest, Some of That Sunshine . All songs on the album are originals by her or with collaborator Chris Caswell. Karrin, backed by pianist Miro Sprague and bassist Jeff Johnson, sang three tunes from Some of That Sunshine . The session kicked off with the cheery title track. Next came the pensive,

A quartet split between American and Belgian musicians, it's strangely logical that trumpeter Chad McCullough and pianist Bram Weijters first met in Banff, Canada about a decade ago. It's been a long-distance relationship made in heaven ever since. Both co-leaders say the collaborations have many side benefits beyond their music. They're able to coordinate tours of the US and Europe with an adopted home base, and they can market their music from two locations as well. Musically, the McCullough

I like to fantasize about using a time machine to catch early concerts by jazz legends of the past. Every once in a while, a young talent emerges that has me searching their crowd for curious time-traveling jazz fans from the future. Jazzmeia Horn is certainly worthy of such a trip. Riding a wave of excitement after the release of her debut album A Social Call from last year, Jazzmeia Horn sold out her Tuesday night Earshot Jazz Festival performance. Our studio audience was packed to catch her

Talking before our live session with pianist Christian Sands and his trio, I told him his former boss, bassist Christian McBride, formed his New Jawn without a pianist because Sands is irreplaceable. He laughed out loud and said, "I like the way you think!" After hearing his phenomenal trio in our Seattle studios, that idea may not be so farfetched. Christian Sands' new album Facing Dragons is his second in two years, and just his second as a leader. It's clear the role suits him. The new

The Seattle-based group Torch took their name from a Thomas Mann quote: “Art is the sacred torch that must shed its merciful light into all life’s terrible depths.” It’s a lofty idea that they not only live up to, but also turn into fun, expressive and soul-satisfying music. All four band members are conservatory-trained, all are music educators, and all are masterful improvisers and composers. Enjoy this session of original music and delightful conversation! https://youtu.be/yiJiCHzF3hA

The two-sax quintet SmackTalk is well trained for jazz, but their music is more than that. Much more. Performing live in the KNKX studios, the band’s energy, and a good deal of their sound was reminiscent of the indie rock that filled nightclubs in Seattle 20 years ago, filtered through cool modern jazz swagger. SmackTalk blends funky grooves with complex but accessible harmonizing horns, developed over changes common in classic rock-jazz fusion of the 70s. It’s party music for smart people.