Jackie Ryan grew up listening to the favorite songs of her mom, who was born in Mexico. When Jackie became a jazz singer, she combined fine interpretations of the Great American Songbook with the soul of Latin music. Producer Reese Erlich talks with Ryan about her CD "Doozy," in this JazzCorner.com Jazz Perspective.

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Guitarist Al Di Meola first became famous playing with Chick Corea in the fusion band Return to Forever. He gained international recognition performing as part of the Guitar Trio with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia. JazzCorner.com's Jazz Perspective producer Reese Erlich interviewed Di Meola at the Montreal Jazz Festival about his latest efforts with his World Sinfonia band.

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In 2007, producer Lois Gilbert has an opportunity to speak with Sachal Vasandani on the release of his debut CD for Mack Avenue called, "Eyes Wide Open." Nearly two years later, Lois once again talks with Sachal about his latest release, aptly titled, "We Move" and the changes and growth Sachal navigates through this record as well in his personal and professional life. This special JazzCorner.com InnerView was recorded during the Detroit Jazz Festival. For more information, visit www.mackavenuerecords.com

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Singer, songwriter and actor Ruben Blades has a fascinating career. He became a world famous Latin music singer and then gave it up to become Tourism Minister in his native Panama. JazzCorner.com's producer Reese Erlich met with Blades just days after he finished his term as minister. He's now touring with his wife, singer Luba Mason and preparing new musical projects.

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In 2007 Terence Blanchard produced the haunting and mesmerizing CD "A Tale of God's Will" about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on his home town of New Orleans. Now Blanchard has come out with a new CD "Choices." Musically and thematically, Choices is a sequel to the previous CD, but conveys the positive developments in New Orleans since Katrina. Reese Erlich produced this Jazz Perspective. Terence Blanchard is performing at the Thelonious Monk Institute Bass Competition and Gala on October 11th, 2009. For more information, visit www.monkinstitute.org

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In 1979, Lois Gilbert had the good fortune to interview for radio station WRVR in New York, Jimmy and Percy Heath. With the kind permission of Jimmy Heath, she's been provided the opportunity to rebroadcast, enhance and update the interview for a special JazzCorner.com InnerView. Although Percy Heath died in 2005, The Heath Brothers continue with Albert "Tootie" Heath performing with Jimmy. Jimmy's autobiography will be published by Temple University Press in 2010. The Heath Brothers band will be performing at the 2009 Detroit Jazz Festival. Visit www.detroitjazzfest.com for more information

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Before he was 21, Jon Faddis had played and/or recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Sarah Vaughan, Thad Jones, Lionel Hampton, and Oscar Peterson to name a few. In this special one hour JazzCorner.com InnerView, producer Lois Gilbert accompanies Jon as he takes us on his musical journey through words and music. The Jon Faddis Quartet with special guests Sean Jones and Wallace Roney will be appearing at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival on September 6, 2009. For more info visit: www.tanglewoodjazzfestival.org

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On the 2009 release of Kenya Revisted Live, Bobby Sanabria did more than recreate the 1958 masterpiece, "Kenya" recorded bt Machito and the Afro-Cubans. Mindful of the importance of this historic record to both Latin and Jazz audiences, Sanabria wrote new arrangements and created a bridge in the legacy of the music by featuring the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra with special guest, NEA jazz master Candido Camero. In this JazzCorner.com Innerview with Lois Gilbert, Sanabria talks about both records and why he is in a unique position to make Kenya Revisited Live. Bobby Sanabria and his Quarteto Ache and Candido will be performing at the free New Jazz Festival on August 22, 2009. See www.bobbysanabria.com

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Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli wanted to be a rock and roll star when he was a teenager. Luckily for the world of jazz, his father, Bucky Pizzarelli, introduced his son to the music of the 40s and 50s. Today John is one of the great upholders of that tradition, whether performing the songs of Richard Rogers on his latest CD or composing his own tunes. John will be doing his Radio Deluxe program live at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival on Sept. 5 and will be performing with Bucky at the Detroit Jazz Festival September 7. See www.tanglewoodjazzfestival.org

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Wayne Shorter has played with a host of jazz greats from Sonny Stitt to Art Blakey and Miles Davis. In this JazzCorner.com Jazz Perspective, producer Reese Erlich discusses with Shorter, his early career and his composing skills. The Wayne Shorter Quartet will be performing on September 6 at the Detroit Jazz Festival. See www.detroitjazzfest.com.

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Singer and song writer Luciana Souza was born in Brazil, lives in Los Angeles, and has mastered the music of both countries. She infuses her American ballads with Brazilian essence while bringing a jazz sensibility to bossa nova. JazzCorner.com's poducer Reese Erlich offers this JazzCorner Perspective based on the music in her new 2009 CD "Tide."

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Trumpeter Claudio Roditi grew up in Rio de Janeiro and later moved to New York. So he combines the best of American and Brazilian musical influences. In this Jazzcorner.com Jazz Perspective, Reese Erlich talks with Roditi about how musicians develop their own special sound.

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Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes performs before huge audiences around the world, playing his unique style of Latin jazz. But the Bush administration had banned Valdes and virtually all other Cuban musicians from performing in the US. Jazzcorner.com's producer Reese Erlich caught up with Chucho at the Barcelona Jazz Festival to talk about his music and the prospects for performing in the US again.

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Cuban born pianist Omar Sosa can play a hot son montuno or a meditative tune accompanied by traditional African instruments. Throughout his career he has explored the African and Latin roots of popular music. Reese Erlich visited Sosa at home in Spain, while he was preparing for a performance at the Barcelona Jazz Festival.

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Jazz innovator Bud Shank passed away April 2, 2009 at the age of 82. Shank carved out a fascinating career as a jazz saxophonist and flutist. He came of age musically in Los Angeles in the early 1950s, helping develop the West Coast Jazz style. He also helped popularize the fusion of Brazilian music with jazz. JazzCorner.com's Jazz Perspectives producer and host Reese Erlich interviewed Shank about his life and music in 2000 when Shank was still living in Seattle. He passed away from natural causes at his home in Tucson.

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Singer Lisa Sokolov has really studied the human voice. She can shift tone and tamber on a moment's notice. She also really enjoys singing, which she did as soon as she sat down before a microphone. Jazzcorner.com's Jazz Perspective producer Reese Erlich joined Sokolov in New York to learn about her love of blues and traditional melodies of all kinds. Her new CD "A Quiet Thing" was released in March 2009.

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Pianist Chick Corea has put together a new band with John McLaughlin and Kenny Garrett, that hasn't performed widely in the US. Jazzcorner.com's Jazz Perspectives host Reese Erlich talked with Corea at the Barcelona Jazz Festival about the festival and his collaboration with banjo player Bela Fleck.

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John McLaughlin is world famous for playing with Miles Davis in the late 60s and early 70s. He achieved fame once again by founding the Indian-inspired Mahavishnu Orchestra. But some of McLaughlin's earliest influence came from flamenco. Listen to this Jazzcorner.com's Jazz Perspective to find out more.

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Ramsey Lewis is a legend in jazz. He had a string of crossover hits in the 1960s, including "The In Crowd" and "Hang On Sloopy." He's continued to perform his soul and gospel influenced jazz around the world. Producer Reese Erlich talked with Lewis about his career and music in this JazzCorner.com Jazz Perspective.

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Liz Magnes lived in Israel where she played with both Israeli and Arab musicians. She fuses Arabic modal scales with American jazz standards to produce a fascinating and unique sound. In this JazzCorner.com Jazz Perspective prepared by Reese Erlich, Magnes talks about her music and her efforts to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians. For more information visit www.lizmagnes.com

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More than seven decades after the innovations of the Quintette du Hot Club de France, and guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt, groups called Hot Clubs carry on the gypsy jazz tradition around the world. None, however, offers a fresher take than the Hot Club of Detroit. Producer Lois Gilbert spoke with the group about their distinctive sound. Music comes from their second release, "Night Town" on Mack Ave Records. They are making their New York debut during the Django Reinhardt NY Festival November 4-9, 2008. For more information visit www.djangobirdland.com

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Bassist and composer Dave Holland has a long and illustrious career. He became well known playing with Miles Davis in the 1960s. These days he plays with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, as well as leading his own groups. Producer Reese Erlich interviews Holland in this jazzcorner.com Jazz Perspective that includes music from his brand new CD "Pass It On."

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Jeff 'Tain' Watts shows up almost everywhere. He's won Grammies with both Branford and Wynton Marsalis. As Jazz Perspective producer Reese Erlich found out, Watts originally studied classical European percussion and planned to be a studio musician. But he's had a successful career as a sideman and now as a group leader of Ebonix. Sit back and enjoy the drum beats.

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Drummer Cindy Blackman took a hiatus from jazz for 15 years to play with rock icon Lenny Kravitz. Now she's back in rare form with a new CD "Music for the New Millennium." Blackman talks about her music and what it's like to be a woman drummer in the male-dominated world of jazz. She speaks with jazzcorner.com's Jazz Perspectives producer Reese Erlich.

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jazzcorner.com is very honored and proud to present to you our InnerView with the first lady of jazz , Marian McPartland. Producer Lois Gilbert spoke with Marian at her home in Long Island. 2008 marks Marian's McPartland 90th birthday and her 30th anniversary of hosting "Piano Jazz." Marian will present Piano Jazz live on NPR affiliates on August 30th from the Tanglewood Jazz Festival with specials guests, Nneena Freelon, Mulgrew Miller and Spencer Day. For more information please visit www.tanglewoodjazzfestival.org

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It hard to categorize bassist Christian McBride. At only 36 years old he's as adept on acoustic bass as well as electric and transitions easily from mainstream jazz to downright funk, always with rhythm, swing and poise. In this special jazzcorner.com InnerView with producer Lois Gilbert, Christian takes us on his journey from his roots in Philadelphia to be one of the leading bassists of our time. Christian is the 2008 Detroit Jazz Festival's Artist-In-Residence. For more information, visit: www.detroitjazzfest.com

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