Dot Time Records

Dot Time Records Artists

Bruno Alexander Spoerri is a Swiss jazz and electronics musician.

Michael Stephans currently leads a group with Dave Liebman (and sometimes Greg Osby), Marc Copland, and Drew Gress, called Quartette Oblique, and has been a long standing member of the Bennie Maupin Ensemble. He has also has performed and recorded with a super group called The Kaleidoscope Quintet, featuring Liebman, Joe Lovano, bassist Tony Marino, and singer Judi Silvano. He is also plays occasionally in a trio led by pianist Alan Broadbent.

Bobby Selvaggio is one of the leading alto saxophone voices on today’s jazz scene. In the words of pianist Kenny Werner, “Bobby is among the best of players out there,” and legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano praises Bobby by calling him “one of the few young saxophonists on the scene today that captures you with his strong presence, focus, and sound.”

OSCAR DEL BARBA was born in Brescia in 1968. He qualified as a pianist with full marks at Brescia Musical School in 1990 and obtained a jazz and composition diploma (also with full marks) at the Giuseppe Verdi Musical School in Milan. He has approached a range of musical genres (jazz, Cuban, Argentinean, Brazilian music) which, together with his classical studies, have given rise to an original personal style influencing his compositions as well as his improvisation.

Rachel Z is a keyboardist with a long history of award-winning performances in the worlds of jazz and rock. In addition to her 13 albums as bandleader and her work in internationally acclaimed bands such as Steps Ahead, Vertú, the Omar Hakim Experience, and OZmosys, she has played and toured with artists like Wayne Shorter (on the Grammy-winning album High Life), Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Terri Lyne Carrington, Al Di Meola, and Regina Carter. She also co-wrote the Grammy-winning song, ‘Tokvo Blue’ with saxophonist Najee Rachel came to worldwide prominence in the rock world in the Peter Gabriel concert films Growing Up Live and Still Growing Up Live.

Julia Karosi is one of Hungary’s top jazz vocalists.

“I was born in detroit, michigan back in 1928. born in detroit, michigan on mickey mouses’ birthday, nov. 18, 1928”

Raised in poverty in Pennsylvania’s coal-mining country, Jordan began singing as a child and by the time she was in her early teens was working semi-professionally in Detroit clubs. Her first great influence was Charlie Parker and, indeed, most of her influences have been instrumentalists rather than singers. Working chiefly with black musicians, she met with disapproval from the white community but persisted with her career. She was a member of a vocal trio, Skeeter, Mitch And Jean (she was Jean), who sang versions of Parker’s solos in a manner akin to that of the later Lambert, Hendricks And Ross.

After moving to New York in the early 50s, she married Parker’s pianist, Duke Jordan, and studied with Lennie Tristano, but it was not until the early 60s that she made her first recordings. One of these was under her own name, the other was “The Outer View” with George Russell, which featured a famous 10-minute version of “You Are My Sunshine”.

“Her ballad performances are simply beyond the emotional and expressive capabilities of most other vocalists.”
The New York Times

In the mid-60s her work encompassed jazz liturgies sung in churches and extensive club work, but her appeal was narrow even within the confines of jazz. By the late 70s jazz audiences had begun to understand her uncompromising style a little more and her popularity increased – as did her appearances on record, which included albums with pianist Steve Kuhn, whose quartet she joined, and an album, Home, comprising a selection of Robert Creeley’s poems set to music and arranged by Steve Swallow.

A 1983 duo set with bassist Harvie Swartz, “Old Time Feeling”, comprises several of the standards Jordan regularly features in her live repertoire, while 1990’s “Lost And Found” pays tribute to her bebop roots. Both sets display her unique musical trademarks, such as the frequent and unexpected sweeping changes of pitch, which still tend to confound an uninitiated audience. Her preference to the bass and voice set led to another remarkable collaboration with bassist Cameron Brown, whom she has been performing with all over the world for more than twenty years so far and they have released the live albums “I’ve Grown Accustomed to the Bass” and “Celebration”. Entirely non-derivative, Jordan is one of only a tiny handful of jazz singers who fully deserve the appellation and for whom no other term will do.

Lizzie Thomas is an inventive jazz vocalist known for her sultry vocal stylings and deep interpretations of the lyric. Thomas’ latest release, Duo Encounters on Dot Time Records cements her stature as one of New York’s top jazz singers. Alongside the “who’s who” of Jazz, Lizzie has had the privilege of collaborating with Ron Carter, Russell Malone, John Di Martino, Wayne Escoffery, Helio Alves, Jay Leonhart, Guilherme Monteiro among others. Lizzie has graced the stages of prestigious venues worldwide. Notables include Birdland Jazz Club NYC, Sunset Paris, and Blues Alley DC. Thomas captivates with her attractive musical personality and stunning vocal facility whether scatting at fast tempos or caressing a tender ballad.

Vocalist Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a legendary pianist / composer / bandleader, and Louis Armstrong’s long-time musical director. Her mother, the late Carline Ray, was a pioneering vocalist / guitarist / bassist who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver.

Luis Russell (born Panama Aug 5, 1902, died New York City Dec 11, 1963) was a pioneer; an orchestra leader, arranger, composer, and pianist of the first order of magnitude. Luis was a key architect in the development of jazz and swing, from Panama to New Orleans to Chicago to New York City. His knack for always landing at the center of the action and for working with the leading musicians of his day led to a performing and recording career that spanned four decades. His first recordings as a leader were in Chicago in 1926, while a member of Joe King Oliver’s band.

Trying to put Efrat Alony’s music in a box is a task destined to fail. Every musical compartment would simply be too small. Her ability to compose and sing in- between the musical genres, in a her exceptional unique style, is what makes her stand out and shine.
“Untamable. The Israeli singer Efrat Alony bewilders with her voice, beauty and intellect. (…) Her timbre seduces us – to unstintingly listen.” Tom R. Schulz , “Die Zeit”