Easy Jazz Spotlight

In this episode of Easy Jazz Spotlight, guest host Stefan Zaichkowski talks with singer and radio personality Paula Letang. Paula is originally from the Caribbean island of Dominica but has grown up in Canada. She's been influenced by a wide range of musical styles and has combined them to form her own unique style. In this interview, Paula explains her life philosophy of being open to all possibilities. In her words - there are no limits to creativity.

Welcome to Easy Jazz Spotlight brought to you by the popular online jazz station Easy Jazz FM. In the spotlight today is best selling biographer James Gavin, who wrote "Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne" and "Is that all there is? The strange life of Peggy Lee". In this interview by host Ken Boyd, James talks about the disappearance of jazz singer Lena Horne in the last 10 years of her life and why she chose to leave the limelight. James also talks about the great Peggy Lee who he says had lived in a kind of dreamland. Ken begins the interview by discovering that James Gavin was an oddball kid who loved old music.

Welcome to another edition of Easy Jazz Spotlight. Today, the spotlight is on a unique jazz singer and songwriter who made it to the top of the charts in Japan, has a growing list of award-winning albums, and performs all over the world, even singing in different languages. In this interview with host Ken Boyd, Halie Loren - who came from a small town in Alaska to shake up the jazz world - explains what she loves about performing in Japan, and why she feels jazz is so popular there.

In the Spotlight today is "Jhavali", an Atlanta keyboardist and arranger, who, despite having never performed live in front of an audience, is making waves in the jazz business for her uniquely smooth, upbeat compositions. Jhavali started singing and writing music at a very young age - and in this interview with host Ken Boyd, explains why she has not yet performed on stage, sticking only to the recording studio.

In this episode of Easy Jazz Spotlight, guest host Stefan Zaichkowski talks with the popular Toronto jazz duo Dizzy and Fay. The two musicians, whose real names are Mark and Amanda, explain how and why they came up with the catchy names Dizzy and Fay. They discuss what it's like performing in a different persona, the experience of singing, being vulnerable as a performer, and the true purpose of music.

Welcome to another edition of Easy Jazz Spotlight. In this episode, we speak with the legendary Ava Cherry. It was in the early 1970s that Cherry met singer David Bowie who brought Cherry into professional music and collaborated with her for several years. In addition to her work with Bowie, Ava Cherry also worked extensively with singer and record producer Luther Vandross. Cherry has also worked as a fashion model and solo performer, with jazz being part of her repertoire. Today, the energetic performer is soon to launch an acting career. A firm believer in always trying new things no matter your age - Ava Cherry was pleased to discuss her career and life philosophies with guest host Stefan Zaichkowski.

Welcome to Easy Jazz Spotlight, brought to you by Easy Jazz FM Radio. In this episode, guest host John Armato talks with jazz band leader and singer Libby York from Chicago. A veteran of jazz standards, Libby talks to John about her new album "Dreamland", what inspires her, being a performer during the pandemic, her approach to jazz - and learning from the great jazz artist Abbey Lincoln.

Welcome to another edition of Easy Jazz Spotlight. He's one of the busiest people in jazz. Guitarist and composer Jason Goessl of Wisconsin is coming out with his first album entitled "The Shakedown" - 11 enchanting tracks of instrumental jazz. His band, called "Jason and the Jazzerknots" performs throughout the US playing "accessible jazz" to appeal to a variety of music lovers. On top of it all, Jason runs his own record label with his wife. Host Ken Boyd talks with Jason about his journey, starting when he was very young and disliked jazz music.

Welcome to another edition of Easy Jazz Spotlight, produced by Easy Jazz FM (https://easyjazz.fm). In this edition, we feature Grammy nominated jazz singer and composer Marilyn Scott. Scott talks to guest host John Armato, himself a jazz musician, about her new album "Landscape" which she says is about finding peace in nature - especially important in today's chaotic world. Scott adds: "We need to take nature seriously. And we're losing it." She believes many people today are discouraged and don't know what to do with their lives, but, she insists, the one thing that can give solace is nature. Here now is John Armato in conversation with the very soulful and insightful Marilyn Scott.

Cicero Lee of Lisbon, Portugal is growing a large fan base around the globe. In this interview with guest host Stefan Zaichkowski, Lee reveals how he overcomes nervousness before performing - and talks about being introduced to music from the day he was born.

He started as a child by playing with a toy drum, has created his own musical instruments, was inspired by George Benson, Stevie Wonder and Pat Metheny - and in our latest podcast interview, admits that when he performs on stage, his mind is in another world. Guitarist Adel Jouini, originally from Tunisia, is an experienced and renowned star on the Montreal jazz scene. In this final episode, Season 1 of Easy Jazz Spotlight, guest host Stefan Zaichkowski talks with Adel about the pressures, and joys, of performing live on stage - how Adel creates his incredible music - and his determination to succeed.

In this episode of Easy Jazz Spotlight, host Ken Boyd talks with Vancouver singer and songwriter Amanda Wood. Amanda tells Ken what it was like being a performer during the pandemic, working with jazz artist Jeff Goldblum, and why it's important as an artist to perform in as many places as possible.

Easy Jazz Spotlight host Ken Boyd speaks with biographer James Gavin, author of "Deep in a Dream - The Long Night of Chet Baker" about the tragic life of famous jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. In this fascinating interview, Ken asks James what he thinks really happened to Baker when the jazz artist was found dead on an Amsterdam sidewalk in 1988 after falling from a 3rd story hotel room. The conversation begins on the topic of James's writing career and his ability to do meticulous research.

This is Easy Jazz Spotlight, produced by Easy Jazz FM Radio. The life of Sergio Mendes is proof that being positive and doing what you love goes a very long way. You can feel his positive energy in this episode with host Ken Boyd. Ken asks Sergio what he attributes to his successful longevity in the music business. But first, Ken talks about a 2020 documentary called "In the Key of Joy" which looks at Sergio's early career and his return to the charts, performing with the Black Eyed Peas and John Legend.

She's worked with the best - including Burt Bacharach, Carol King and Neil Diamond - appeared on the Perry Como show, once sang the warm-up for Dave Brubeck, produced jingles and commercials, and had her own great albums starting in 1959. The multi-talented Anne Phillips is in conversation with Easy Jazz Spotlight special guest host and jazz artist John Armato about: music and live TV in the 1950s, 60s and 70s; her amazing career; current role as a vocal coach for aspiring singers; and her creation of New York City's Christmas pageant "The Jazz Nativity".

Host Ken Boyd speaks with rising Montreal jazz star and guitarist Samuel Bonnet about his early days of classical guitar and reggae, moving to Paris, and falling in love with Montreal.

Easy Jazz Spotlight guest host Stefan Zaichkowski talks with international recording artist and song writer JC Sol who says music is therapy. The conversation focuses on touring, coming up with song ideas, and life as an independent artist.

In this episode, host Ken Boyd talks to long-time bassist Don Bradshaw of the jazz group "The Geometrics" based in Edmonton, Alberta. Don has played with some of the greats in the jazz world, including Charlie Rouse and John Hicks - plus singers Mark Murphy and Diana Krall. Ken asks Don what it was like performing for Diana Krall, and where jazz is headed in today's world.

Host Ken Boyd talks to jazz drummer John Armato about his debut album "The Drummer Loves Ballads" which was 40 years in the making. John brought together 25 jazz musicians, including the legendary Houston Person. Learn how John got started and the inspiration for his songs on the album.