Articles by Dave Kaufman
Channeling the Past, Shaping the Present: Ravi Coltrane Trio Live at the Blue Note
by Dave Kaufman
The Blue Note was packed and buzzing with anticipation late Sunday evening in New York City, as listeners gathered for the closing set of what had already been a compelling five-night run. On Sunday night (March 9, 2025), the Ravi Coltrane Trio wrapped up its residency with a final set that reflected the open, exploratory spirit of modern jazz. The performance, the closing show of the run--carried the kind of looseness and spontaneity often found in late-night sets, when both ...
Continue ReadingTrion In Flight: A Celebration Of Freedom and Form for the Jazz Gallery’s 30th Anniversary
by Dave Kaufman
The Jazz Gallery is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and the programming has been nothing short of remarkable. One of New York City's most hospitable and artist-friendly venues, the Gallery offers an ideal listening experience: comfortable seating, excellent sound and sightlines, and a genuinely welcoming vibe--including for photographers, which is much appreciated. Trion, the powerhouse trio led by drummer Johnathan Blake, features bassist Linda May Han Oh and saxophonist Chris Potter--leading lights of the contemporary jazz ...
Continue ReadingTony Malaby and Firebath Ignite the Jazz Gallery
by Dave Kaufman
I had the great pleasure of seeing Tony Malaby perform at The Jazz Gallery. Malaby moved to Boston a couple of years ago to take up a teaching position at Berklee. Although he continues to perform in New York City, I had not seen him live since he moved. On this occasion, his band presented the “Firebath" suite based around three simple melodies. Malaby has performed this suite for the past several months with different ensembles including an 11-piece mini ...
Continue ReadingThe Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis Electrify the Bowery Ballroom
by Dave Kaufman
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis played the Bowery Ballroom in New York City in May (2024). This performance stands out as one of the most memorable live music experiences I've had this year. JBL is one of the great saxophonists and artists in contemporary jazz and was recently featured in the Jazz Raconteur series. The Messthetics are an instrumental trio consisting of avant-garde guitarist Anthony Pirog and former legendary DC punk band Fugazi members bassist Joe Lally and drummer ...
Continue ReadingVivid Expressions: Ravi Coltrane Live at the Blue Note
by Dave Kaufman
In March of 2024, Ravi Coltrane played a five-night stand at the Blue Note jazz club in New York. I caught the last set on Sunday night. I have had the pleasure of seeing Ravi perform several times over the years, and he is a consistently outstanding performer. He was joined by two talented young musicians with whom he has worked over the past couple of years. Gadi Lehavi played piano, Fender Rhodes, and a Novation--a slim keyboard instrument that ...
Continue ReadingPatricia Nicholson Parker: A Disciplined Disregard for Traditional Boundaries
by Dave Kaufman
Patricia Nicholson Parker is a dancer, poet, and organizer of movement, music and causes. She is the founder and executive director of Arts for Art (AFA) and the Vision Festival. Entering its 27th year when this interview was conducted, the Vision Festival celebrates free jazz in all its forms, with a focus on equity, diversity and social responsibility. The festival is also a grand celebration of the arts, including music, dance, poetry, painting and film, offering a uniquely singular experience ...
Continue ReadingJames Brandon Lewis: Jazz, Spirituality, and the Art and Science of Musical Abstraction
by Dave Kaufman
The contemporary jazz world is currently witnessing an artistic renaissance, characterized by an upsurge in creativity and innovation. This movement is fueled in part by rising stars such as Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, and Isaiah Collier, as well as seasoned veterans like Charles Lloyd, David Murray, William Parker, Joe Lovano, and Bill Frisell, whose creative passion remains vibrant and fires undiminished decades into their career. However, much of the surge in innovation has been driven by artists who are entering ...
Continue ReadingMuriel Grossmann Explores A Musical Universe of Boundless Possibility
by Dave Kaufman
Muriel Grossmann, a talented alto, tenor, soprano saxophonist and composer, was born in France and grew up in Vienna. She has lived in Ibiza, Spain, since 2004. Devotion, her 15th album, was released on December 1, 2023, on Third Man Records. I stumbled across this gem on the Tidal streaming service in early January. Grossman was unknown to me, but the album's captivating cover drew me in and I listened without any preconceptions. I was immediately floored by ...
Continue ReadingAllison Au's Migration Project: Transition, Trauma, and Transcendence
by Dave Kaufman
"Human beings are both fixed and wandering, settlers and nomads. Our history is the story of the nomad giving way to the settler but when people are unsettled, they have to migrate." (Ruth Padel, On Migration, 2013) Human migration has exerted a profound and far-reaching influence on the evolution of our civilization and the shaping of our cultural landscape. Much has been written about the Great Migration of the first decades of the 20th century, in which millions ...
Continue ReadingCharles Lloyd Commemorates his 85th Year with a Memorable Performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center
by Dave Kaufman
Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) honored Charles Lloyd on the occasion of his 85th birthday, featuring him in two concerts. The Friday night performance (October 13) showcased his trio, Sangam, which includes tabla master Zakir Hussain and long-time Lloyd associate, drummer Eric Harland. I had the privilege of attending the Saturday evening concert on October 14th, where Lloyd performed with his “New Quartet," comprising Reuben Rogers on bass, Eric Harland on drums, and Jason Moran on piano, musicians who have ...
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