One of the more intriguing and versatile British musicians, Andy Sheppard has on occasion made a big impression in the United States. He did not start playing music until he was 19 and planning to go to art college; a listen to John Coltrane's recordings changed the direction of his life. Within three weeks Sheppard was playing in public, but... [+] Read More

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A longtime giant of the European jazz landscape, pianist Georges Arvanitas' graceful technique and effortless versatility made him a sought-after accompanist among American musicians touring France. Born June 13, 1931 in Marseilles, Arvanitas was the son of Greek immigrants hailing from Istanbul. He began classical piano studies at age four, but... [+] Read More

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To pop music fans, keyboardist Jan Hammer is best known for his work on the soundtrack of the stylish '80s cop series Miami Vice. But Hammer also achieved considerable success in the jazz fusion world, both on his own and as a charter member of John McLaughlin's legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra. Though jazz purists often decry major portions of... [+] Read More

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Over the years, jazz pianist Jasper van't Hof has issued solo recordings in addition to working with ensembles. Born on June 30, 1947, in Enschede, Netherlands, van't Hof was born into a musically minded family, as his father was a professional trumpet player and his mother a classical singer, leading to the youngster taking piano lessons from... [+] Read More

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The funky organist of the same name became so famous during his life -- and his style of playing so beloved in the hereafter -- that the resulting near-total eclipse of an earlier Jimmy Smith in classic jazz is not surprising, if still regrettable. The Smith who was part of the marvelous rhythm sections on many famous recordings by bandleader... [+] Read More

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The music of Joey DeFrancesco -- an important force in the revival of the Hammond B-3 organ as a jazz instrument -- runs the gamut from soul-jazz and bluesy grooves à la Jimmy Smith to hard bop to the more advanced modal style of Coltrane disciple Larry Young. Born in Springfield, PA (near Philadelphia), on April 10, 1971, DeFrancesco was the... [+] Read More

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Joe Zawinul belongs in a category unto himself -- a European from the heartland of the classical music tradition (Vienna) who learned to swing as freely as any American jazzer, and whose appetite for growth and change remains insatiable. Zawinul's curiosity and openness to all kinds of sounds made him one of the driving forces behind the... [+] Read More

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If Jimmy Smith was "the Charlie Parker of the organ," Larry Young was its John Coltrane. One of the great innovators of the mid- to late '60s, Young fashioned a distinctive modal approach to the Hammond B-3 at a time when Smith's earthy, blues-drenched soul-jazz style was the instrument's dominant voice. Initially, Young was very much a Smith... [+] Read More

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Of all the jazz musicians, Sun Ra was probably the most controversial. He did not make it easy for people to take him seriously, for he surrounded his adventurous music with costumes and mythology that both looked backward toward ancient Egypt and forward into science fiction. In addition, Ra documented his music in very erratic fashion on his... [+] Read More

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