Michelle Lordi and Matthew Parrish Release "Live at Dirty Dog" #jazz #music

A PARTNERSHIP IN LIFE AND SOUND: MICHELLE LORDI AND MATTHEW PARRISH RELEASE "LIVE AT DIRTY DOG" OUT NOW ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS Release Date: July 31, 2026

 

Michelle Lordi Vocalist, educator, songwriter, bandleader and curator Michelle Lordi has received international accolades and heavy rotation on jazz/AAA radio stations in the US and abroad for her jazz and genre bending recording projects. Lordi has performed in jazz clubs, festivals and performance venues all across the US and in Europe, including Birdland, Smoke (NYC), Le Duc des Lombards (Paris), The Jazz Cruise (FLA), World Café Live, Mann Music Center, The Kimmel Center (PA). Her albums have garnered favorable reviews in Downbeat, JazzTimes, Jazziz (US), NYC Jazz Record, Jazz Journal, JazzWise (UK), JazzLife & Jaz.In (Japan). Lordi’s music has been featured by NPR Music Live Sessions and Fresh Air With Terry Gross. Whether Lordi is performing American Songbook standards with jazz legends such as Houston Person, exploring experimental soundscapes in her original music or delivering her taut, mesmerizing interpretations of pop ballads, a profound love of the music she chooses to sing and the musicians she creates with is evident in every note of her vividly expressive and elegantly communicative voice. As a curator, Lordi finds joy connecting people through shared musical experience. She curated a weekly jazz session 2014-2020 in Montgomery County, PA bringing jazz students from Temple, Uarts etc, together with octogenarian jazz musicians.  Lordi brings an innate ability for insightful connection, creativity, and artistic collaboration that has been honed on the bandstand to her teaching to draw out the best performances in her students.   Matthew Parrish Matthew Parrish is a sought-after bassist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator. Renowned for his deep swing and heartfelt playing, he brings uncommon warmth and integrity to every performance—qualities that shine through his compositions and collaborations alike. Born in Central California to hardworking, music-loving parents, Parrish was the youngest of four children. His father, a Korean War Veteran and acoustic bassist, introduced the family to global musical traditions during career deployments in Iran and Europe. Immersed in this rich international soundscape, Parrish began on trumpet in middle school but made a spontaneous, pivotal switch to acoustic bass just before his audition for Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts—a leap of faith that launched his lifelong journey in jazz. In his teens and early twenties, Parrish performed with jazz legends including Shirley Scott, Mickey Roker, Bobby Durham, Cecil Payne, Johnny Coles, Harry “Sweets” Edison. He also forged lasting musical bonds with rising peers such as Orrin Evans and Byron Landham. A key mentorship came through touring with the legendary trombonist Al Grey, which led to performances with Clark Terry, Marion McPartland, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lou Donaldson, Joe Cohn, Savion Glover, and Bill Charlap. After Grey’s passing in 2000, Parrish continued touring and recording with prominent ensembles led by Greg Osby, Stefon Harris, and Regina Carter. In addition to his highly regarded work as a bassist, Parrish has been recognized as a gifted composer, arranger, producer and recording engineer. His 2001 debut album Circles (Hipnotic Records) showcased his original compositions; All About Jazz praised it as an “important addition to the acoustic contemporary canon… strongly recommended.” David R. Adler of AllMusic called it “without a doubt one of the strongest debuts of 2001.” In the ensuing decades, Parrish has worked as a sideman for Regina Carter, Dave Leonhardt, Ben Schachter, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paquito D’Rivera, Clark Terry, Etta Jones, James Williams, Harry “Sweets” Edison, James Newton, Miri Ben-Ari, Gary Thomas, Orrin Evans, Ruth Naomi Floyd, Freddie Cole and Houston Person. He has made inspired appearances and produced albums by his partner, vocalist Michelle Lordi, such as 2019’s Break Up with the Sound and 2023’s Two Moons. Parrish returns as album co leader with Lordi for Live At Dirty Dog which will be released summer of 2025. Matt has toured throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Kennedy Center, Jazz Standard, Dizzy’s at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Smalls, Birdland, and every Blue Note club around the world. For the past eight years, Parrish has been a Lecturer of Music and a Director of Jazz ensembles at Princeton University.

Michelle Lordi's Spotify

Matthew Parrish's Spotify

Matthew Parrish's Website

Michelle Lordi's Website

Produced by Billboard chart-topper Adam Hawley, contemporary jazz trumpeter Evan Taylor releases his debut album, Exactly This, on Friday #jazz #music

The new single, “Skate On,” features GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz.

 

 

Next-generation contemporary jazz trumpeter Evan Taylor releases his MBF Entertainment debut album, Exactly This, on Friday — a project he describes as a declaration of where he stands musically today. Taylor co-wrote the ten-track blend of jazz, hip-hop, neo-soul, and contemporary pop with 20-time Billboard No. 1 hit producer-songwriter-guitarist Adam Hawley.

 

The album arrives as Taylor’s new high-energy single, “Skate On” featuring 9-time GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz, gains momentum on playlists across the nation. The collaboration is a celebration featuring one of Taylor’s mentors, Koz, who offered early support in the trumpeter’s development.

 

“Dave (Koz) booked me a few years ago to perform on his cruise and that led me to meeting Adam (Hawley) who asked me to record for his record label (MBF Entertainment). Adam is the one who helped shape my sound and ultimately produce this album,” said Taylor. “I just got back from performing on my second Dave Koz and Friends Summer Horns tour that has taken me through North America and to Southeast Asia. The cruises and concert tours have enabled me to meet legendary artists and build relationships that have changed the direction and trajectory of my career.”

 

“Exactly This includes a lot of songs that really had one goal in mind: finding my lane in contemporary jazz. With Adam’s help, we were able to get some really amazing guest features on the album, Olí Silk, Phil Denny, and pillars of contemporary jazz like Dave Koz and Richard Elliot. This record is monumental for me in building those global relationships.”

 

The jazz meets hip-hop title track opens the album with a gritty street groove. “Drawing inspiration from the Detroit sound of J Dilla, Slum Village, D’Angelo, the neo-soul movement, and the unmistakable influence of Roy Hargrove, the track reflects the music that shaped me from an early age. The title says it all. ‘Exactly This’ is a musical offering to the world representing who I am today, blending jazz, hip-hop, soul, and contemporary influences and will lead me to the next chapter of my career.”

 

Powerhouse saxman Elliot guests on the transitional “Shift.” Taylor explains, “The song captures a pivotal season of transition. During a period when life seemed to be changing in every direction, I found reassurance that those shifts were leading me toward God’s purpose. Many of the relationships that would define this next stage of my career grew out of this season. Richard’s soulful performance elevates the track, making ‘Shift’ a celebration of faith, growth, and the power of embracing change.”

 

The chill “Laid Back” features multi-time Billboard chart-topping keyboardist Silk on the soothing soul groove.

 

Taylor harnesses the power of manifestation on “Blue Dreams,” which was inspired by a moment of prayer and reflection.

 

“I believed that one day I would perform at a Blue Note Jazz Club. So, I wrote the dream down in a notebook. One year later, it became reality when I joined Dave Koz and the Summer Horns for an eight-show residency at Blue Note Tokyo before performing at Blue Note Hawaii and Blue Note Napa,” said Taylor. “The song is a reminder that faith, vision, and perseverance can turn dreams into unforgettable realities.”

  

“Swerve,” which was released last fall as a single, unites two Michiganders, Taylor and two-time Billboard chart-topping saxophonist Denny. “Love’s Intention” is a romantic ballad about connection set to a bouncy hip-hop beat. Taylor said, “Built around warmth, melody, and emotion, ‘Love’s Intention’ invites listeners to pause, reflect, and experience the unifying power of love. The hope is that it reminds people that genuine connection is still one of life’s greatest gifts.”

 

On “Scarlet Flow,” Taylor becomes an experimental alchemist to offer a glimpse into the future of contemporary jazz from the perspective of an imaginative next-gen artist. 

 

“Blending modern R&B, pop production, and present-day musical influences into the contemporary jazz format, the track intentionally pushes beyond the genre’s boundaries. While honoring the music that paved the way, I wanted to create something that resonates with a younger generation and reflects where contemporary jazz is headed,” explained Taylor.

 

After the disco-roller skating romp “Skate On” is “Turn It Up,” another speculative track about the evolution of contemporary jazz. It’s an innovative mélange of sounds and sonic textures.

 

The album closes with a track that was released as a single early last year, “Shining.” The funky vibrant groove is one of the defining songs of Taylor’s fledgling career. It went No. 1 in Spain and Latin America and became one of the highlights of the Summer Horns nightly setlist.

 

“We performed it at some of the world’s most iconic venues. More than a successful single, ‘Shining’ represents stepping fully into this new season—as an artist, performer, and leader. It is a declaration of purpose, embracing the spotlight with gratitude, and using every opportunity to share the gift God has placed in my life,” said Taylor, who began by playing trumpet in church while growing up.

 

Taylor studied at Michigan State University and earned his master’s degree in jazz at the University of Utah. For the last five years, he has been instructing and writing arrangements at the African American Arts Institute for the Indiana University Soul Revue.

 

In the professional space, Taylor has collaborated with artists such as Gloria Estefan, Kirk Whalum, Montell Jordan, Regina Belle, and Najee. He also has collaborated with Candy Dulfer, Eric Darius, The Righteous Brothers, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, and Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra. Taylor has developed music for television, including Netflix, HGTV, and BET.

 

Releasing his debut album is an important steppingstone on the path of what Taylor envisions will be a lengthy career in the spotlight. Instead of feeling the pressure to make the perfect first record that would be groundbreaking and definitive for decades to come, he wrote and performed music that makes a statement of who he is as an artist today.

 

“The title Exactly This, means not this is perfection, not this is what I planned, but rather, after everything I’ve been through, and everything I’m building, this is the music I want to offer the world right now. This album is a culmination of my life, the growth, the mistakes, the redemption, and everything in-between. This, right here, this moment, this opportunity, Exactly This.”

 

Taylor’s Exactly This contains the following songs:

 

“Exactly This”

“Shift” featuring Richard Elliot

“Laid Back” featuring Oli Silk

“Blue Dreams”

“Swerve” featuring Phil Denny

“Love’s Intention”

“Scarlet Flow”

“Skate On” featuring Dave Koz

“Turn It Up”

“Shining”

 

 

Exactly This is available at https://found.ee/evantaylor_exactlythis.

 

For more information, go to www.evantaylortrumpet.com.

 

Saxophonist Brent Birckhead to release Exchange, a live recording from Keystone Korner #jazz #music

 

Saxophonist/Composer Brent Birckhead to release "Exchange, Live At The Keystone Korner"  BRENT BIRCKHEAD - Alto Saxophone/Flute/ Bass/Clarinet NOBLE JOLLEY JR. - Piano, Keyboards (3-6,8-9) JOSÉ ANDRE - Piano, Keyboards (2,7) ROMEIR MENDEZ - Acoustic & Electric Bass (2-3,7) ELIOT SEPPA - Acoustic & Electric Bass (4-6,8-9) DEVRON DENNIS - Drums THEMBA MKHATSHWA - Aux Percussion SPECIAL GUESTS: BRANDON WOODY - Trumpet (7), CHELSEY GREEN - Violin (4-6,9), IMANI GRACE-COOPER - Vocals (3-6,9), SEAN JONES - Trumpet (3), WARREN WOLF - Vibraphone (2-3) RECORDED BY: Franklin Nesmith MIXED & MASTERED BY: Dave Darlington  Release Date: July 10th, 2026 "When I moved back to Baltimore, Keystone became my musical home. It was only right to record there." - Brent Birckhead “One of the most riveting young improvisors in New York” -New York Times LIVE AT THE KEYSTONE KORNER - BALTIMORE There is a moment in every live performance when the music stops belonging to anyone in particular. The composer relinquishes it. The musician transmits it. The audience receives it - and in receiving it, sends something back. Art Blakey called it "split-second timing": from the Creator, to the artist, direct to the audience. It is this theology of immediacy that animates EXCHANGE, the new live album from Brent Birckhead, captured at the iconic Keystone Korner in Baltimore. EXCHANGE is not a document. It is a transaction. Where Birckhead's previous albums excavated the interior life — the solitude of self-reclamation on CACAO, the bold declaration of selfhood on BIRCKHEAD - this record turns outward, insisting that music is not a solitary art but a covenant renewed in real time between musicians and the room that holds them. Each track was meticulously multitracked to preserve every texture of the performances, yet the album's animating force is precisely what no engineering can manufacture: the unmistakable electricity of people making something together that could not have existed any other way. EXCHANGE opens with a benediction from NEA Jazz Master and Grammy-winning producer Todd Barkan, whose introduction of Birckhead as a pillar of the music at its very best is the only credential this evening needs — and the guests Birckhead assembles prove worthy of it, each a co-author of the album's thesis. Warren Wolf steps in first, ready to settle a debate the jazz world has long avoided. "Will the Real Kenny G Please Stand Up!!" poses the question directly: Kenny Garrett or Kenny Gorelick? Wolf's answer, delivered with the wit and dexterity that defines his playing, is characteristically generous — each, he argues, has earned his place in the continuum. Wolf returns for a fresh modern arrangement of Paul Desmond's "Take 5," sung by Imani-Grace Cooper — a Howard University classmate of Birckhead's whose ethereal execution draws visible smiles from every musician she shares a stage with — punctuated by an electrifying solo from Sean Jones, whose trumpet remains as spiritually charged as it is technically formidable. Their version doesn't merely revisit the classic; it gives it new life entirely. Birckhead then takes the room on an excursion with a live rendering of "CACAO," the title track from his celebrated 2024 album, expanded here with Cooper's voice and the electric presence of violinist Dr. Chelsey Green threading through the arrangement. Cooper steps to the fore on "For You," a reflective song of growth and empowerment built around a lyric that doubles as a manifesto: vision starts within your mind, rearrange your thoughts and seek and you will find. Green follows with "Sound Check" — a track she literally wrote during a soundcheck before a show, creating magic out of the experience of checking levels and manipulating timbres to make the performance electrifying, and one that arrives here with the full force of her passionate and innovative command of the instrument. Trumpeter Brandon Woody — Baltimore-born, and one of the most compelling voices of his generation - brings the fire on "Woody's Interlude," an excerpt of Birckhead's original composition "Jacaranda" that showcases Woody's signature laser focused chromatic lines, the kind of playing that announces a new era in the same breath it honors the old. Birckhead closes the album's interior with "Moonlit Waters," a sultry and seductive showcase for his bass clarinet - an instrument whose dark, enveloping register suits the late-night intimacy of Keystone Korner perfectly. The album lands with a surprise: a reimagining of SWV's "Rain," delivered by Cooper in her one-of-a-kind way, with something waiting at the end that the room — and the record — will not soon forget. Together, these artists embody what Birckhead has long understood: Baltimore does not merely produce jazz musicians — it produces a particular kind of musician, shaped by community, accountability, and the knowledge that the tradition is a living obligation. EXCHANGE is both tribute and proof. You'll find here a record that asks to be understood not track by track, but as a single sustained act of collective creation - the kind Blakey spent a lifetime insisting upon. From the Creator. Through the musicians. Direct to you. Split-second timing. Brent Birckhead's Spotify Brent Birckhead's Website

Have A Happy And Safe 4th Of July [Video] #jazz #music

Barbecues and fireworks, flags and parades, Independence Day evokes so many images of the American summer. Its original purpose to celebrate the birth of the American nation on July 4th, 1776 has given way to festivities that celebrate both America and the lives and freedoms that the accomplishments of American Independence have allowed. The commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is a time not only to reflect on what happened at America's founding but also to look again at the nation's values and recommit oneself again to those ideals.

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Piano Legends at Their Peak #jazz #music

July 2026 Jazz Journal

45 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL JAZZ (55 NEA Jazz Masters have recorded with Arkadia)

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July gives us the opportunity to celebrate the birthdays of two remarkable pianists whose artistry helped shape modern jazz.  NEA Jazz Masters Billy Taylor (July 24) & Joanne Brackeen (July 26) each found a distinctive voice at the keyboard -- from Billy Taylor's timeless elegance to Joanne Brackeen's fearless musical imagination. ­

NEA JAZZ MASTER BILLY TAYLOR ­ Few musicians have done more to share the joy of jazz than NEA Jazz Master Billy Taylor (July 24, 1921 – December 28, 2010). A celebrated pianist, composer, educator, and broadcaster, Taylor believed the piano could "sing," bringing warmth, elegance, and swing to every performance.  Whether on the concert stage, television, or in the classroom, he spent a lifetime helping audiences discover the richness of jazz. ­

Get an AUTOGRAPHED copy of Billy Taylor's Music Keeps Us Young CD -- only 12 available, so act now!  Buy Signed Copy On Music Keeps Us Young, Taylor performs at the peak of his powers with longtime collaborators Chip Jackson and Steve Johns.  Blending inventive originals with timeless standards such as Body and Soul, Up Jumped Spring, and his own enduring anthem, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, the trio plays with effortless chemistry, grace, and unmistakable swing.  More than an album title, Music Keeps Us Young feels like Taylor's philosophy — one that celebrates curiosity, joy, and a lifetime devoted to the music. Listen Now ­

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NEA JAZZ MASTER JOANNE BRACKEEN ­

Few pianists have expanded the language of jazz as boldly as NEA Jazz Master Joanne Brackeen. The first woman to hold the piano chair in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Brackeen built a career that bridges tradition and innovation with remarkable originality.  Her music refuses to stand still, blending lyrical beauty, fearless improvisation, and an ever-changing palette of colors, rhythms, and moods. ­

On Pink Elephant Magic, Brackeen surrounds herself with an extraordinary ensemble featuring Nicholas Payton,  Chris Potter, John Patitucci,  Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez,  Dave Liebman, and Kurt Elling.  Together, they bring her imaginative compositions to life. From the playful title track and Beethoven Meets the Millennium in Spain to What's Your Choice, Rolls Royce?, every piece reflects Brackeen's belief that music should never stand still, unfolding with the same sense of curiosity and discovery that has defined her career for more than five decades. ­ Listen Now

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NEW RELEASES

THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET ­ Few melodies have crossed the boundaries between classical music and jazz as gracefully as Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez.  In this elegant interpretation, the Modern Jazz Quartet pairs John Lewis's lyrical piano and Milt Jackson's shimmering vibraphone with the warmth of a full string orchestra, creating a performance that is both intimate and expansive. Experience the album The Golden Striker arriving July 17. ­ Listen Now MANU DIBANGO ­ Driven by layered percussion, hypnotic grooves, and Manu Dibango's  unmistakable saxophone, Waka Juju captures the joyful energy and rhythmic imagination that made him one of Africa's most influential musical voices.  From its infectious rhythms to its expressive improvisation, the track is an irresistible invitation to discover one of the great innovators of African music. King Makossa arrives July 24. ­ Listen Now

Bob Karcy Presents ­ ­ JAZZ SECRETS (Demystifying Jazz) ­ Insights that deepen and enhance your understanding of Jazz. ­ Jazz Secrets is a comprehensive multi-media initiative that I created to demystify and illuminate Jazz, giving you new insights and ways on How To Listen To Jazz. Jazz Secrets reveals my personal insights into what makes Jazz special. You can ultimately learn to hear a performance, and distinguish what is “ordinary” from what is “extraordinary,” what is “banal” from what is “brilliant.” Here are two insightful posts.  Subscribe for free at jazzsecrets.substack.com

SHORT CUTS  VIDEO BREAKDOWN: All the Things You Are Joanne Brackeen's Piano Solo IMPROVE THE IMPROV: Anticipation & Thinking Ahead The Artist plays in the present, but anticipates future musical actions.

Streaming Jazz Channel SPECIAL OFFER: Celebrating 45 years of exceptional jazz --  Enjoy 45% off ArkadiaConcerts.com  for a limited time! Use code HAPPY45

Beat the Heat with Cool Jazz Summer is festival season, but you don't have to leave home to enjoy unforgettable live jazz.  Beat the heat with Arkadia Concerts, featuring exclusive historic performances legends including: Herbie Hancock, Nancy Wilson, Freddie Hubbard, Dianne Reeves, Oscar Peterson, and many more!

ArkadiaConcerts.com offers the best seat in the house -- all summer long!  Use code HAPPY45 at Checkout

On Our Jazz Radar 🎺 Happy Birthday to Conte Candoli (July 12, 1927 – December 4, 2001) One of the great trumpet stylists of the West Coast jazz scene, Conte Candoli was admired for his brilliant technique, lyrical phrasing, and effortless swing. Celebrate his legacy with Pete & Conte Candoli: Short Cuts from the album Echo, showcasing the remarkable musical chemistry between two of jazz's finest trumpet brothers.  Listen to Pete & Conte Candoli: Short Cuts (from Echo) JAZZ FESVIVALS ROUND THE WORLD Montreux Jazz Festival (Montreux, Switzerland): July 3–18, 2026, the 60th edition of this legendary festival on the shores of Lake Geneva. North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam, Netherlands): July 10–12, 2026, this is one of the world's premier indoor jazz events, hosting massive modern and classic jazz acts. Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Montreal, Canada): Through July 4th this is the iconic Canadian festival. Umbria Jazz Festival (Perugia, Italy): July 3–12, 2026, it brings world-class jazz performers to historic Italian piazzas.

Explore Arkadia's Curated Playlists

­ Calm, melodic & relaxing Jazz from Grammy-acclaimed Jazz artists. ­ The finest jazz piano tracks of from legends. ­ A stellar collection of jazz jewels performed by legendary artists.

­ The principal genres of jazz throughout history. ­  An introduction to brilliant Jazz, from Easy Listening Ballads to Bebop. ­ This playlist captures the essence of jazz vocals across generations.

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