Category contemporary jazz

No to Spotify

I left Spotify years ago when they decided they were rather pay millions of dollars for exclusivity rights to a podcast rather than increase the paltry amounts they pay the musicians who make up their business. All About Jazz, the…

John Hilderbrand
April 19, 2026

images of Chris Standring and cover to the Time of Change album

Chris Standring Embraces a New Chapter with Time Of Change

I’ve been following guitarist Chris Standring for a long time now. His track “Liquid Soul” has been a five star staple in my library for years, and I’ve been receiving his newsletter consistently, watching his journey unfold in real time.…

John Hilderbrand
April 3, 2026

album cover and photos of Lakecia Benjamin We Dream; photos by Elizabeth Leitzell

Lakecia Benjamin: Finding the Light with We Dream

Lakecia Benjamin’s latest studio project, We Dream, feels less like a standard album release and more like a necessary pivot. As the world feels increasingly heavy, Benjamin is using this record to shift her focus toward something intentional. “It felt…

John Hilderbrand
March 14, 2026