Articles by Jacob Sylvester
Kate McGarry, Lenora Zenzalai Helm, Lois Deloatch, Nnenna Freelon: The Sistering
by Jacob Sylvester
The collaborative album created by jazz vocalists Kate McGarry, Lenora Zenzalai Helm, Lois Deloatch, and Nnenna Freelon, titled The Sistering, is a powerful musical journey that explores the bonds of friendship and heritage. Released in early 2026, the project uses the metaphor of “sistering"--a building technique where two boards are joined to make a structure stronger--to show how these four women support one another. The album begins with the “River Song," which introduces the idea of life as a flowing ...
Continue ReadingMelissa Errico: I Can Dream, Can't I?: Illusions & Conversations from the Great American Songbook
by Jacob Sylvester
In I Can Dream, Can't I?: Illusions & Conversations from the Great American Songbook, Tony Award-nominated Broadway actress, singer, and writer Melissa Errico proves once again that she is one of the best at keeping classic songs alive. Released in early 2026, the album uses a less is more style. Instead of a big orchestra, it features a quiet, late-night feel. This record feels less like a big show and more like a private conversation. While legends like Ella Fitzgerald and ...
Continue ReadingNicholas Mycio: Please Plant Flowers
by Jacob Sylvester
Jazz guitarist Nicholas Mycio's third studio release, Please Plant Flowers, stands as a profound testament to the power of music as a mirror for personal history. Far from being a mere collection of songs, the album represents a diligent search on Mycio's part to create a body of work that reflects the significant events occurring at various points in his life. Across eight original tracks, the guitarist invites his audience on a sonic journey that is as deeply personal as ...
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