Articles by Lawrence Peryer
Jeff Parker: The Return Of The New Breed
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on guitarist, composer, and producer Jeff Parker.For nearly three decades, Jeff has balanced solo work with his role in the post-rock band Tortoise. His 2016 album The New Breed (International Anthem Recording Company, 2016) takes hip-hop beats and puts them in the hands of live musicians. Named after his late father's clothing store, the album just got the deluxe reissue treatment from International Anthem Recording Company.He's here to discuss how moving to ...
Continue ReadingHampus Lindwall: Blizzard Of Organ
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on organist, composer, and sound artist Hampus Lindwall. Hampus started as a guitarist who cut his teeth copying Steve Vai solos but who now sits behind a 78-stop church organ. He has been the organist at Saint-Esprit in Paris since 2005. His album, Brace for Impact (Ideologic Organ), throws tradition out the window. Recorded on a massive organ in Dusseldorf with guitarist Stephen O'Malley, this music draws on everything from experimental music pioneer Xenakis ...
Continue ReadingChris O'Leary: Rebel Rebel - Blogger, Author
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on writer Chris O'Leary.Chris has spent over a decade and a half writing what's become the definitive study of David Bowie's songbook. His blog, Pushing Ahead of the Dame, covers every song on every album in Bowie's extensive canon. The first post from 2009 covers David's first single, 1964's “Liza Jane," and the most recent is about Chris's latest work, a newly revised edition of Rebel Rebel (Penguin Random House), a collection of his ...
Continue ReadingDonny McCaslin: From Stadium Jazz To Lost Lullabies
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on saxophonist Donny McCaslin. Donny's new album, Lullaby for the Lost (Edition Records), is out now, and what a record it is. It's Donny's saxophone with guitar-driven rock energy, drawing from influences like Neil Young and Nine Inch Nails, resulting in what Donny calls his most personal music to date. Many know Donny from his pivotal role on David Bowie's final album Blackstar. This latest work demonstrates what may have drawn Bowie ...
Continue ReadingMatt Piucci Of Rain Parade: Return To The Paisley Underground
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on Matt Piucci, founding member and principal guitarist of Rain Parade. Rain Parade helped define LA's Paisley Underground scene in the early '80s, creating music with psychedelic textures and punk energy. Their 1983 debut Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (Enigma), remains a touchstone album of the era, cited as an influence by everyone from My Bloody Valentine to the Stone Roses. Now Matt and the band are revisiting their catalog with deluxe ...
Continue ReadingRobin Holcomb & Peggy Lee: Behind The Delicate Sound Of 'Reno'
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on composer and pianist Robin Holcomb and cellist Peggy Lee.These two musicians have been creating music together for the better part of two decades. Their new album, Reno (Songlines), captures something rare: the kind of musical conversation that happens when two artists know each other's musical language inside and out. Robin's songs draw from American folk traditions while her piano work moves into territories that feel both classical and completely free. Peggy brings a ...
Continue ReadingLarry Tye: The Jazzmen Who Changed American History
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on bestselling author and journalist Larry Tye. Larry's latest book, The Jazzmen, tells the story of how Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie transformed America. But this isn't just another music biography. Larry explores nearly every aspect of the lives and music of these men and demonstrates how their artistry helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement. This is Larry's ninth book, following acclaimed biographies of figures like Bobby ...
Continue ReadingRico Jones: The Spiritual Sax Of Bloodlines
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on tenor saxophonist Rico Jones.Rico's new album BloodLines (Giant Step Arts), captures something you don't hear much anymore--a live recording that feels like a complete story. Recorded at Brooklyn's Ornithology Jazz Club, it's five original compositions that explore his multicultural heritage, from his Indigenous and Latino roots to his deep connection with Black American musical traditions.Based in Harlem, Rico's already performed with Esperanza Spalding at the Blue Note and co-led the first ...
Continue ReadingAqeel Aadam: Code, Creativity, And Democratization Of Sound
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines On musician, software engineer, and plug-in developer Aqeel Aadam.Aqeel's got deep roots in Philadelphia's music scene. His grandfather was a jazz musician who gifted him his first guitar. That foundation led him from Princeton's computer science and music programs to a five-year stint at Google, and eventually to creating his own company, Aqeel Aadam Sound.His plug-ins aim to bring the magic of hardware synthesizers and modular workflows into the digital realm. His ...
Continue ReadingRez Abbasi: When Everything Else Fades, Sound Remains
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi.Rez's new album with his Acoustic Quintet, Sound Remains (Whirlwind Recordings), puts steel-string acoustic guitar at the center of a deeply personal meditation on presence and impermanence. The album adds master percussionist Hasan Bakr to Rez's long-standing quartet with Bill Ware, Stephan Crump, and Eric McPherson, creating what Rez calls music where “often the only thing that remains is sound."The 2021 Guggenheim Fellow has spent decades finding ...
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