Articles by Ken Hohman
Charles Owens Trio: Here It Is
by Ken Hohman
Saxophonist Charles Owens is getting his second or even third wind these days and for those who follow him it is a pleasure to experience. An internationally-acclaimed tenor saxophonist, pianist, composer, bandleader and educator whose creative journey spans over 35 years, Owens plays a vital role in the thriving music scene in Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia, while maintaining deep ties to New York by performing regularly at Smalls, the venerable subterranean venue where he first honed his chops.
Continue ReadingRex Richardson: Elegy
by Ken Hohman
Grief is often complex and multi-faceted. How we cope with it reflects as much about those we have lost as it does about ourselves. This is a reality that trumpet master Rex Richardson knows all too well, having lost his father in 2023. Elegy is Richardson's poignant tribute to his father, yet the eight songs offer a variety of personal tributes that explore the complexity of living through bereavement in unexpected ways with moods both somber and bright. ...
Continue ReadingBest Jazz Christmas Songs Of All-Time
by Ken Hohman
While moldy Christmas songs and great jazz seem as compatible as egg nog and Tanqueray, there have been instances where the planets have aligned to create songs that display the best of both genres. Ten instances, to be exact, and you'll find them below. Do you agree? Then post your holiday toast to my list. Don't agree? Post the all-time best Christmas jazz songs of your choice in the comments section below. I will save a special lump of coal ...
Continue ReadingTop Ten Jazz Songs To Listen To While Watching Basketball
by Ken Hohman
Don't let the annoying jibber-jabber of announcers or a deluge of car commercials wreck your game. Turn the sound down and listen to these ten great jazz tracks as you watch your favorite NBA or college team keep the ball alive, jump on the fast break and drive it to the hoop. Basketball was made for jazz, and vice-versa! 1. Herbie Hancock: “Watermelon Man" From Takin' Off (Blue Note, 1962) This immortal, infectious ...
Continue ReadingKen Hohman's Top Jazz Releases of 2014
by Ken Hohman
I'd taken a six month hiatus from my radio show, Freedom Jazz Dance, to concentrate on other things. Turns out my timing couldn't have been worse. I was inundated with so many excellent recordings in 2014 that my head was spinning. Fortunately, I now had the time to truly enjoy them! Here are the lucky 13 that struck my fancy: 1. Melissa Aldana—Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (Concord Records) 2. Chris Byars—The Music of Duke Jordan ...
Continue ReadingRex Richardson: Bugles Over Zagreb: The Music of Doug Richards and Blue Shift
by Ken Hohman
Rex Richardson Bugles Over Zagreb: The Music of Doug Richards Self Produced 2014 Master class trumpeter virtuoso Rex Richardson is one of a rare breed of jazz musicians who can successfully straddle the worlds of classical and jazz without sounding like he's a mere overnight guest when performing in either genre. His focused, fiery delivery and high wire act of technical prowess is uncompromised whether soloing for orchestras in Slovenia and Manchester or ...
Continue ReadingKen Hohman's Best Releases of 2010
by Ken Hohman
Year end lists seem to overlook so much, but in a way that's a good thing. After all, it means that good jazz is plentiful these days. The truth of the matter is I spent a great deal of 2010 exploring all the overlooked releases from the past two years. And with so much jazz being released under artist-run online labels, cobbling together a list is all the more trying. Nevertheless, here's my cream of the crop in a year ...
Continue ReadingThe Rebirth of Real Jazz in Richmond
by Ken Hohman
I'm seated at The Camel restaurant on a cool Sunday evening. As my taste buds soak up the malty taste of our fair city's own Legend Brown, my ears soak up the intoxicating sounds of two saxophones, alto and tenor, intertwining and advancing across a melodic line that has more turns than Riverside Drive along the James River. It's a complicated piece, but the two musicians in the Scott James Project, Jason Scott and Rick Reiger, handle it with skill ...
Continue ReadingJoe Negri: Guitars For Christmas
by Ken Hohman
Mention the name of guitarist Joe Negri to any Pittsburgh native and you'll invariably be greeted with a smile. Negri is a Pittsburgh jazz legend who has gigged with countless performers and symphonies over the decades. He's also loved by millions of baby boomers through his role as “Handyman Negri" on the renowned PBS TV series Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. As endearingly modest as he is brilliant, Negri has unwittingly created one of the finest modern Christmas recordings I've ever heard ...
Continue ReadingThe Columbus Jazz Orchestra: The Colors Of Jazz
by Ken Hohman
With big bands back in fashion, there's no shortage of large ensemble jazz to be heard, even in the jazz hinterland of Ohio. With The Colors Of Jazz, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra gives the Buckeye State its due, drawing from a palette of traditional big band favorites, tastefully selected hard bop tunes and original compositions.
Led by versatile trumpeter and conductor Byron Stripling, the CJO swings confidently in the brassy tradition of Basie or Armstrong rather than the modern styles ...
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