Articles by Ken Laster
Ken Laster's Favorite Jazz Albums Of 2023
by Ken Laster
I always resist publishing “Best Of" lists this time of year. In these days of independent publishing and unlimited streaming, there is so much new jazz music being released that it is virtually impossible to hear all of what is out there. Rather than presume to anoint the best-of's, this is a list of my top 10 favorite releases from 2023. ArtemisIn Real Time Blue Note Records
read moreThomas Chapin Trio: Night Bird Song
by Ken Laster
Thomas Chapin was a vital part of the underground free-jazz scene in the early 1990's in NYC and his native Connecticut. He was an innovative multi-reed player. His performances were always “edge of your seat" exciting affairs. He died young at age 40 from leukemia before gaining the notoriety he so deserved. Here is the Thomas Chapin Trio, with Mario Pavone and Michael Sarin performing at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1995 (two years before his death). ...
read morePat Metheny Group: The Roots of Coincidence
by Ken Laster
This performance rocks out! What is unique about this video is seeing Lyle Mays stepping out from behind his keyboards to playing guitar alongside Pat Metheny. Who knew? Antonio Sanchez is a beast on the drums as well. Perhaps this clip is one to play for your “jazz-skeptic" friends who claim jazz is too smooth or sedate. Crank it up to eleven and break out the air guitar to play along. ...
read moreA Virtual Community for Jazz on Mastodon
by Ken Laster
Mastodon is a social network that has been around since 2016, but has recently seen a surge in membership and notoriety due to the takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk. Since that event occurred, changes in policies and politics have spurred a Twitter Exodus by tens of thousands to other platforms. Mastodon has been the largest beneficiary of that exodus. Those fleeing the bird site seem to be of a certain ilk. Journalists, artists, scientists and many jazz lovers make ...
read moreGilbert Castellanos: Espérame en el Cielo
by Ken Laster
San Diego's Gilbert Castellanos has been an important and consequential force on the West Coast jazz scene for years. He has appeared on dozens of recordings and often shares the stage with Charles McPherson, Willie Jones III, Gerald Clayton and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. As an educator, Castellanos is the founder and artistic director of the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, teaching the legacy of jazz to middle and high school students. The long anticipated release of Espérame en el Cielo ...
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