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Ronny Smith
Ronny Smith - Cruisin (2025) "The mellow-toned guitarist Ronny Smith has always had the ability to play with great passion solos over infectious grooves, resulting in music that is both accessible and full of subtle creativity. Inspired by Wes Montgomery and George Benson, Smith’s sound is quite attractive and, even as he builds up his solos, keeps the melodies in mind.Cruisin’ features Ronny Smith not only playing guitar, but keyboards, bass, and programming as well. He utilizes other musicians on various selections and the result is a diverse but unified set of memorable melodies that serve as a perfect setting for his warm guitar. The program begins with the title track/new radio single “Cruisin’”, which has Smith’s catchy single lines and octaves on the guitar, riffing horns, and an upbeat groove."   ~ SmoothJazzLife


Links: Website, Facebook,  Discography,  Reverbnation and DC Bebop page.

MUSIC CD ARCHIVE: ONECD

Pat Metheny Group
Pat Metheny Group - We Live Here (1995) "With 1994's We Live Here and the 1996 follow-up Quartet, Nonesuch continues its series of remastered reissues from guitar icon Pat Metheny's out-of-print Geffen era. Metheny has long been a controversial figure in jazz, engendering polarization amongst jazz listeners, with his flagship Pat Metheny Group often the most contentiously debated. More composition-oriented than Metheny's other projects, the Pat Metheny Group has at various times been accused of being "too smooth," and the groove-centric We Live Here goes a considerable distance to supporting that accusation. But writing We Live Here off as smooth jazz is to ignore one of the Pat Metheny Group's most compelling characteristics—an ability to create music that is eminently accessible but reveals considerable depth when examined more closely. Quartet, on the other hand, finds the group—this time pared down to its core constituents of the time—an altogether more risky affair, the release that's considered to be the most out-of-place disc in the group's nearly thirty-year recording history. " ~ John Kelman - AllAboutJazz.com

Links:   Wikipedia, Discography, YouTube.

MUSIC CD ARCHIVE: DOUBLECD

Sharel Cassity
Sharel Cassity - Gratitude (2025) "Sharel-Cassity-Jazz-Sensibilities-cdGratitude is an album by saxophonist Sharel Cassity released on March 28, 2025, under Sunnyside Records. Cassity, known for her collaborations with legends like Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis, assembles a formidable ensemble featuring bassist Christian McBride, drummer Lewis Nash, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, trumpeter Terell Stafford, and trombonist Michael Dease. This lineup promises a rich exploration of jazz traditions infused with contemporary insights. Sharel Cassity has established herself as a distinguished saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. Her collaborations span a diverse array of artists, including Aretha Franklin, Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Hudson, and Natalie Merchant. Cassity has also shared the stage with jazz luminaries such as Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Roy Hargrove. Her latest album, Gratitude, reflects a thematic focus on joy, hope, and celebration."   ~ Jeff Becker - jazzsensibilities.com

Links:   Website, Facebook, Reverbnation, YouTube, Discography.

Sharel Cassity - Fearless (2020) "Saxophonist and composer Sharel Cassity is a dynamic and versatile performer and bandleader. She has led small combos as well as the large fusion orchestra, Elektra, and has backed musicians of various genres. On her fifth release as a leader, the stimulating Fearless, she demonstrates a winning mélange of passion, poise and intelligence... On Fearless, Cassity demonstrates that her artistic ardor remains intact—yet her vision has matured. Her work is sophisticated yet raw, hence, soulful and simultaneously cerebral. Chicagoans are fortunate that Cassity made the move from New York City to this area three years ago—contributing her talents to the city’s creative music scene and beyond. ”"  ~ Chicago Jazz Magazine

MUSIC ARTS: SESSION

Music Arts session - Concert, Station, PBS, NPR and other live mini concert sessions and interviews. Sharel Cassity's Elektra - Be the Change (feat. Mark Whitfield)
"Be the Change" written by Sharel Cassity, from the album "Evolve" Live at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage August 11, 2017
Sharel Cassity, sax/ effect pedals, Mark Whitfield, guitar, Miki Hayama, keys , Rashaan Carter, bass Jonathan Barber, drums

BOOK RACK: FEATURED BOOK

Thomas Berger –Neighbors (1980) "Neighbors is a 1980 novel by American author Thomas Berger. It is a satire of manners and suburbia, and a comment on emotional alienation with echoes of the works of Franz Kafka. Earl Keese’s character and situation begin realistically but become increasingly fantastic. Keese is an Everyman whose life is swiftly turned upside down. As he scrambles to reclaim his sense of normalcy and dignity, he comes to think that everyone, including his family, is against him. "     ~ Wikipedia.com and KOBO Books

Neighbors (1981) movie adaptation: Belushi and wife, Walker, are suburbanites who live a comfortable if humdrum life. Their mundane existence is changed dramatically when Aykroyd and his wife, Moriarty, move in next door. While Walker finds the chaos they bring a refreshing change, Belushi is appalled by their Neighbors (1981) - Buy/Rent Watch online...

BOOK RACK: FEATURED SERIES

Ursula K. Le Guin – The Earthsea Cycle "Earthsea, also known as The Earthsea Cycle, is a series of fantasy books written by the American writer Ursula K. Le Guin and the name of their setting, a dense archipelago surrounded by an uncharted ocean. There are six Earthsea books written between 1968 and 2001, beginning with A Wizard of Earthsea and continuing with The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, Tehanu, Tales from Earthsea, and The Other Wind."     ~ Wikipedia and Amazon Books

MOVIES: FEATURED MOVIE

Seven Year Itch (1955)

"Every summer, the men of Manhattan send their wives and kids on vacation while they stay home and "work." Most men take this opportunity to do everything they aren't allowed to when their wives and kids are around, like drink, smoke, and spend time with younger women but not Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell). Richard is determined to follow his wife Helen's (Evelyn Keyes) instructions and refrain from these activities. Unfortunately for him, a young woman (Marilyn Monroe) is renting the upstairs apartment for the summer, making his task that much more difficult. It also doesn't help that Richard has an overactive imagination that often gets the better of him. " ~ LoloLovesFilms.com   Link: Seven Year Itch (1955) - Buy/Rent Watch online


Watch... Seven Year Itch (1955) on the - Movies TV Network

CUISINE: FEATURED RESTAURANT

Toshi's Teriyaki Grill - (16212 Bothell Everett Hwy Mill Creek, WA) "Founder Toshi Kasahara is widely regarded as the godfather of teriyaki. Since opening Seattle’s first ever teriyaki joint in 1976, Toshi has been spreading his addictingly-delicious teriyaki chicken and beef throughout the greater Seattle area. Toshi’s teriyaki has received countless praise from renowned food critics including Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern and Seattle Times’ John Hinterberger." Website: Toshi's Teriyaki Grill

*The most recent featured musicians and play lists from the five Music listings on DC Bebop.   A musician listed on a DC Bebop page with an intro, is featured for a few weeks with one of their songs.  Included in the play list are songs by nine other musicians in a table on DC Bebop. The songs are linked to a page (YouTube, Reverbnation or where ever the song can be heard). The play list is not a top 10 list. It features songs I liked and think perhaps others might appreciate the music as well.

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