Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes

It’s been a terrific first full calendar year here in southwest Florida – making new friends, enjoying the weather, getting acquainted wit...

Tom Ellison and June Garber Saxophonist Tom Ellison's quartet Hip Pocket, with special guest June Garber on vocals, performed at the...

Stan Heffner and Katt Hefner Singer Katt Hefner and her brother, Pittsburgh-based Hammond B-3 player Stan Heffner, brought their own bra...

Bob Zottola and his "secret weapon" Naples-based trumpeter Bob Zottola was a marvel today in his appearance at the South Count...

Jazz pianist and composer William Evans splits the bulk of his time between Florida's Tampa Bay area, where he has lived part-time sinc...

Saxophonist Greg Abate is a bebopper pure and simple. He plays with a feverish intensity that on a great night is counterbalanced by his rhy...

Dave Brubeck, 1987 Jazz giant Dave Brubeck died this morning in Connecticut, one day before what would have been his 92nd birthday. Cond...

Tonight's special moment at the South County Jazz Club's weekly jam session at Allegro Bistro in Venice FL belonged to the Mancini b...

There’s a musicians’ joke that goes something like this: “How many jazz singers does it take to sing ‘My Funny Valentine’ [or ‘Summertime’...

Things are looking up for musicians - economically - if you take the PNC Christmas Price Index ® as more than just a whimsical economic a...

There is no shortage of holiday-inspired jazz material. Classics abound by the dozens, some long out of print. (Some of the double-entendr...

T’is the season for the outpouring of Top 10 lists, and their many variations, for jazz, world events, etc. The jazz lists tend to have a ...

Taking a closer look at new CDs from Jeff Holmes, Scott Robinson, Mike Longo, Ed Cherry and The Osland/Dailey Jazztet...

  Tony Bruno, Jim Prosser, Ron Drischel and Johnny Moore   Drummer Tony Bruno's group  Jazz Around The Corner, with Jim Pro...

Vibes player Christian Tamburr’s quintet, featuring trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, closed out a three-week, 5,000-mile tour up and down the...

Lew Del Gatto and Dan Miller A newly formed organ jazz-inspired band in southern Florida is shaking things up from its home base in Napl...

Carol Stein Jazz pianist and singer Carol Stein can’t hide her solid chops, even when she’s working her “day job.”   Actually, it’s an e...

Jazz angel Wendy Oxenhorn and her Jazz Foundation of America staff in New York have been put to the test once again, helping musicians who h...

Taking a closer look at new CDs from Joey DeFrancesco, Frank Macchia and jazz programmer Rio Saikiri's "Home" project.... ...

When is a trio gig NOT a trio gig? When the bandleader decides at the last minute to add another player without advance notice. Such was t...

  Ellis Marsalis The November issue of Hot House is out. It includes my profile of pianist Ellis Marsalis, patriarch of today'...

Today we take a look at three new CDs from four musicians with Rhode Island roots, Greg Abate, Daryl Sherman,  Harry Allen and Scott Ham...

Pianist Kenny Drew Jr.'s  performance at the Venice Arts Center yesterday was rich in originality, a dazzling command of the keyboard an...

Larry Monroe (Photo by Phil Farnsworth) Larry Monroe helped shape and expand the reach of Boston-based Berklee College of Music ove...

It is great to see that Cape May hasn’t given up on jazz – particularly having its own charming jazz festival. Two years ago, the Cape...

Musicians and listeners alike draw many positives from jazz beyond the immediate listening experience. It can be a healer, a soother, a crea...

Johnny Varro The Florida edition of pianist Johnny Varro's Swing 7 opened the Charlotte County Jazz Society's 2012-13 season to...

June Garber and Tom Ellison Toronto's loss is Southwest Florida's gain. That's become very apparent very quickly since last ...

Amid the tragedy and devastation of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, many of us found an even deeper appreciation for New Orleans mus...

Jake Pinto The 2012-13 jazz concert season in Southwest Florida is under way. The South County Jazz Club inaugerated its new schedule ...

Mat Domber A true hero of classic jazz has left us. Arbors Records founder Mat Domber died yesterday (September 19) from cancer. He wa...

Taking a closer look at new CDs from Michael Pedicin, Ralph Peterson, Iris Ornig and Kurt Elling...

Saxophonist Tom Ellison didn’t mention the date at tonight’s jam session at Allegro Bistro in Venice FL. He didn’t have to. But he found ...

Tommy Goodman The South County Jazz Club’s weekly Tuesday evening jam session at Allegro Bistro is notable for two things: it’s always...

It's time to p repare your listening calendars  Giacomo Gates Pianist Billy Marcus’s five nights last month at JD’s Bistro ...

Eric Jackson WGBH-FM may not fully appreciate the impact that longtime jazz broadcaster Eric Jackson* has on his listeners - and the B...

Taking a closer look at new CDs from Michael Occhipinti, Pat Metheny and Gene Ess...

The South County Jazz Club's weekly jam sessions each Tuesday evening at Valenti's Allegro Bistro, in Venice FL, continue to pack in...

Danny Sinoff quartet Tonight's jazz outing in Port Charlotte FL was a fine reminder that the finest moments in jazz often involve so...

Offbeat magazine, which covers Louisiana music and culture, has just published several more of my Newport Jazz Festival images. The focus w...