Welcome to stevejacobsonjazz.com, a website dedicated not only to my music and career as a jazz guitarist, but to the preservation and promotion of jazz and creative music across the board. My debut album, Parts Unknown, is available for download on iTunes, or you may buy the CD from me or through CD Baby. Please let me know your thoughts about the music and the site via email or telephone.

Happy New Year 2012! I will be performing with Shaun Johnson, Eugene Vinyard, Drew Fredrickson, Valerie Nicholson, Rob Calhoon, Phil Crews on February 8th, 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the South Holland Public Library. FREE!

Parts Unknown, recorded a few years ago, sounds mighty fresh thanks to inspired performances by saxophonists Matana Roberts and Rudresh Mahanthappa, trombonist Craig Sunken, pianist Matt Kanelos, bassists Matt Thompson and Tim Fox, and drummers Joe Adamik and Jeff Fortin. All of these musicians are powerful and positive forces in jazz today… listen to samples on the Music page.

The PSC Southland Jazz Ensemble is a new professional big band serving the south suburbs of Chicago. Our mission includes: a commitment to mentoring student musicians; creating an ensemble with a high level of musicianship; and promoting the careers of our individual members. I will be performing with the PSC Faculty Jazz Combo and the Southland Jazz Ensemble to kick off a week of festivities at the Prairie State Jazz Fest (Monday, February 13, 2012 @ 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Center Auditorium at Prairie State College). Free admission!

Also, please check out Rudresh Mahanthappa’s recording Apex, with Bunky Green; it is a wonderful record! Just click on Rudresh’s link in the paragraph above…

My good friend guitarist Garrrett Williams has a new recording out: G-Bop 5000 is groovin’ and full of Garrrett’s personality. It is in my car player on regular rotation! Search: gbop5000…

Well, I finally figured out how to add links in the Blogroll (above right) and Bob Winett has the honor of being the first person added to the “honor roll.” Bob performed my composition One For Marc Anton on his recording The Flute, The Whole Flute, and Nothing But The Flute (featuring guitarist Henry Johnson, bassist Larry Gray, and drummer Leon Joyce). Visit his website for a listen.

In the works: a new recording project with my old friend Jay Mabin, a harmonica player’s harmonica player… Jay lives way out west in Tacoma, Washington (my home town as well). The session in Washington was a success… we have five tracks with Joe Doria on Hammond organ, and Mike Slivka on drums (recorded by Gary Crooks). Jay visited Chicago and we recorded several more tunes, a few duo, and a few trio with bassist Matt Thompson (who also engineered)… listen to the rough mixes on the Music page. Wow, it has been in the can too long! We hope to have this CD available soon.

Also: Bassist Phil Brown and I need to continue the FourOnSix legacy, but meanwhile check out his wonderful new CD Bright Side. Phil is in the Blogroll as well…

Last, but certainly not least: Eugene Vinyard, yes Eugene Vinyard! This man is a heavy hitter on tenor and alto saxophone. Gene, I’d love to record with you as well… on my to-do list for 2012!

One more thing: stimulate the economy, hire musicians!