R&B recording artist Lalah Hathaway — seen here below shopping at J&R Music World’s CD Department on October 19th — is in town for her performance at New York’s Highline Ballroom on October 21st. Ms. Hathaway (daughter of Grammy Award Winner Donny Hathaway), released her new album, Where It All Begins on October 18th.

What was Ms. Hathaway shopping for? Why, her own album, of course!
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Grammy-nominated Trumpeter Christian Scott will celebrate the release of Yesterday You Said Tomorrow at noon March 30, 2010 at J&R Music World, 23 Park Row, Manhattan, New York, NY. The highly anticipated, all-new 10-song collection was recorded at the renowned Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey where legendary Rudy Van Gelder engineered the work. Van Gelder, who is known as one of the greatest recording engineers in jazz history for his work with John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock among others, says about the new album, “This is one of the best things I have done in a long, long time.”

Born in New Orleans in 1983, Scott has always been acutely aware of the legacy of jazz and its role within the broader context of 20th century history. Regarding the new album, Scott says, “I wanted to create a musical backdrop that referenced everything I liked about the music from the ’60s - Miles Davis’ second quintet, Coltrane’s quartet, Mingus’ band - coupled with music made by people like Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. Continue Reading »

Christian McBride, one of the most prominent jazz artists of his generation, the 36-year-old bassist, bandleader, educator, artistic director, Grammy® Award winner will be performing and signing autographs Tuesday January 12th, 12 noon J&R Music World, 23 Park Row, Manhattan, New York, NY.

His remarkable 10-track album, Kind Of Brown, features his new acoustic jazz quintet Inside Straight, comprised of old friends, pianist Eric Reed, alto saxophonist Steve Wilson and drummer Carl Allen, as well as newcomer vibraphonist Warren Wolf, one of McBride’s former students.
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Buying gifts for people isn’t always the easiest thing in the world. It’s the thought that counts they say, but sometimes you have to wonder what the gift giver was thinking. Thankfully, there is no second guessing vinyl purchases as a gift. Provided you know the musical tastes of the person you are shopping for, then this should be a breeze. Of course, you aren’t limited to my selections. The sky is the limit with vinyl, but these albums are the standouts in their respective genres in my opinion. They would all make fine gifts.
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Tuesday, September 22nd Jon Secada will perform and sign his release of Expressions: The Jazz Album at 6:00 pm J&R Music World, 25 Park Row.

Grammy winner Secada returns to his roots (no, not his Latin roots, his
Jazz roots) with the release of Expressions: The Jazz Album.

Jon Secada is known by millions as an international superstar who has sold over 20 million Continue Reading »

Thursday, September 17th at 6:00 pm, Najee will give a live performance followed by an autograph signing at J&R Music World, 25 Park Row.

In the ever changing music world, consistency is a much-treasured quality. Over ten albums (including two platinum and four gold sets) and a two-decade-long career, renowned saxophonist, flautist, songwriter and producer Najee has distinguished himself as one of the most consistently popular instrumentalists among both jazz and R&B audiences worldwide.

The native New Yorker continues to provide quality music, Continue Reading »

Closing out 3 days of music will be acclaimed trumpeter, composer and bandleader, Roy Hargrove taking the MusicFest stage at 5 pm, Saturday, August 29th on the last of three days of free, outdoor music in City Hall Park.

Hargrove, whose spectacular hard bop trumpet has led quintets, has realized a lifelong dream with the August 25th release of Emergence, his first big band album.

The seeds of Emergence were planted in 1995, when Hargrove first formed a big band for a New York jazz festival. His big band concept grew as he led the evolving group through a series of regular gigs at the Jazz Gallery, a not-for-profit performance space in lower Manhattan - which proved invaluable for both Hargrove and the musicians who participated. Hargrove explains. “I go around to jam sessions a lot, sit in with cats, and I think that the new generation doesn’t have a lot of experience playing in sections and playing in big bands. So this provides younger guys with a sense of camaraderie that is not really evident anymore in jazz.” Continue Reading »