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Oded Tzur: Make A Sound
by David Bruggink
Storytelling has been part of Oded Tzur's modus operandi since his first album, his reed playing enfolding drama, tension, and narrative shifts like any spellbinding tale. In this 2025 single, the instinct comes into even sharper focus, as he accompanies a newly-assembled band with his words and voice for the first time on record. Tzur is no stranger to accolades, having won much acclaim for his instrumental releases (e.g., the superb My Prophet, ECM Records, 2024). Introducing vocals may ...
Continue ReadingDave Kikoski: Weekend At Smalls
by Pierre Giroux
Few pianists capture the resilient spirit of the New York City jazz scene as convincingly as Dave Kikoski. With his release Weekend At Smalls, he affirms his reputation as one of post-bop's most energetic stylists. Recorded live at the renowned West Village club Smalls, the album features Kikoski engaging in lively conversation with bassist Joe Martin, veteran drummer Billy Hart and longtime friend and collaborator trumpeter Randy Brecker. The result is a vibrant record of straight-ahead fluency that both revisits ...
Continue ReadingTony Tixier: Poems Never End
by Neil Duggan
Serendipity is the art of everything being in the right place at the right time, and so it proved for Tony Tixier on a whirlwind trip to New York City. Recorded during a single afternoon and without a predetermined plan for the session, the album Poems Never End was recorded in one take, with nothing added, taken away, or otherwise embellished in post-production. Frenchman Tixier is a highly versatile pianist who has worked in most small group formats ...
Continue ReadingJerome Sabbagh: Heart
by Chris May
AAJ occasionally publishes reviews which call out the barbarism of digital-only albums (Heart is not one of these, please hang on in there). Item: the review of Brazilian saxophonist and flautist Vinicius Mendes' Macunaismo Tardio Vol. 1&2 (Notes On A Journey, 2024). The two albums collected on that vinyl double-LP, blinders both, were originally released separately as digital-only albums. Unsurprisingly, each failed to make any significant impact on jazz audiences either in Brazil or internationally. Notes On A Journey eventually ...
Continue ReadingAlexis Valet: Following The Sun
by Geannine Reid
Alexis Valet's Following the Sun, is an enjoyable collection of contemporary jazz inspired by Valet's journey across continents--from the luminous streets of Paris to the bustling avenues of New York. Central to the success of Following the Sun is the symbiotic relationship between Valet and his fellow musicians: Dayna Stephens tenor saxophone, Aaron Parks piano, Joe Martin double bass and Kush Abadey drums. Each brings virtuosity and their unique voice to the compositions, creating a recording that feels ...
Continue ReadingRudy Royston: DAY
by Vic Albani
Rudy Royston, batterista di prima classe (Bill Frisell, Dave Douglas, JD Allen, Ben Allison, Rudresh Mahanthappa e molti altri), approda con Day alla sua quinta uscita per l'etichetta del signor Dave Douglas, Greenleaf. Day è la seconda uscita dei Flatbed Buggy, vale a dire dell'avventuroso combo creato dal batterista con l'aiuto delle bass lines di Joe Martin, dei clarinetti di John Ellis, del violoncello di Hank Roberts e della fisarmonica di Gary Versace. L'idea base del lavoro omaggia la giovinezza ...
Continue ReadingAlex Kautz: Where We Begin
by Katchie Cartwright
Born and raised in São Paulo, drummer Alex Kautz moved to Mexico City with his parents in 1996. His sound world growing up included his parents' MPB (música popular brasileira), bossa nova and samba, along with North American rock and a bit of classical music. Jack DeJohnette's New Directions (ECM, 1978)--with Lester Bowie, Eddie Gomez and John Abercrombie--turned his head toward jazz in a big way. Chick Corea's Return to Forever (Light as a Feather, Polydor, 1973) caught his ear ...
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