Articles by Mark Sullivan
Vince Guaraldi’s Charlie Brown: Jazz Impressions and Good Sport
by Mark Sullivan
Everyone knows the Vince Guaraldi soundtrack A Charlie Brown Christmas (Fantasy Records, 1965). However, Guaraldi composed and performed music for many other Peanuts-related projects, two of which have been recently released. They represent the beginning and end of the journey: Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown was recorded in 1964, one year before the broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas; 1975's You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown was the penultimate soundtrack Guaraldi recorded before he died in 1976. ...
Continue ReadingOpa and The Blackbyrds: Coveted 1970s Jazz-Funk
by Mark Sullivan
Opa released only two albums before disbanding in the early 1980s. While neither of their albums found commercial success during their initial releases (despite the high-profile personalities involved), both titles gained underground followings over the following decades. The Blackbyrds' City Life celebrates its golden anniversary. “Happy Music," the dancefloor-ready title track and the group's heavily sampled signature hit, “Rock Creek Park" are the showpieces. The LP re-releases are a gift to DJs and samplers who have had to do serious ...
Continue ReadingFestival International de Jazz de Montréal 2025
by Mark Sullivan
Various Venues Festival International de Jazz de Montréal Montréal, Canada June 28-July 2, 2025 The headliners of the 45th edition of the festival included names like Gospel legend Mavis Staples, Canadian rockers Blue Rodeo, Canadian Inuk musician Elisapie, New Orleans musician Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Nigerian singer/songwriter Ayra Starr, Canadian indie band Men I Trust, Canadian singer/songwriter Allison Russell, Colombian ensemble Monsieur Periné, and American jazz bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding. These were the artists appearing ...
Continue ReadingJoe Troop's Whirlwind at The Evening Muse
by Mark Sullivan
Joe Troop's Whirlwind The Evening Muse Charlotte, NC April 23, 2025 Joe Troop grew up in the tobacco town of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. However, a year of study abroad in Spain led him to move to Argentina, where he lived for several years. He absorbed Latin music until it became his second language. The banjo is his primary instrument, but his bluegrass background has been thoroughly blended with his experience in World Music. He opened ...
Continue ReadingBig Ears Festival 2025
by Mark Sullivan
Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN March 27-30, 2025 This year's festival again featured several spotlighted events (but none of them required special ticketing, as was tried last year). “Across the Horizon" was a series of concerts combining Americana and ambient music, curated by Bob Holmes and the band SUSS. “Age of Reflections" hosted ambient music with a light show at Church Street United Methodist. “Blacktronika" celebrates the pioneering electronic artists of color. There were ...
Continue ReadingMark Sullivan's Favorite Jazz Albums of 2024
by Mark Sullivan
This was an exceptional year for jazz albums of all sorts, as well as jazz-adjacent experimental music. The supply of previously unreleased live recordings seemed nearly inexhaustible! People discovered tapes right and left, presenting exceptional performances in good to excellent recording quality. My lists could easily have been much longer. Lists are unranked. Lakecia Benjamin Phoenix Reimagined (Live) Ropeadope Jakob Bro Taking Turns
Continue ReadingQuartet Diminished: Deerand
by Mark Sullivan
Deerand is a Persian term which means “duration" of instrument's tones. Quartet Diminished was established in Iran in 2013 by guitarist Ehsan Sadigh. This is their fourth album, following Station Three (Hermes Records, 2021). Their music is stylistically diverse, drawing freely from contemporary jazz, art rock, and avant-garde music. The membership has been relatively stable. Sadigh (electric guitar) has had bandmates Soheil Peyghambar (woodwinds), Mazyar Younesi (piano, voice), and Rouzbeh Fadavi (drums) on most of the group's albums. ...
Continue ReadingThe Best of Larry Carlton At Middle C Jazz
by Mark Sullivan
Larry Carlton Middle C Jazz The Best of Larry Carlton Charlotte, NC August 15, 2024 Legendary session guitarist Larry Carlton has a deep catalog of memorable tracks that featured his playing. He announced that he was going to follow Frank Sinatra's dictum to always start a show with two songs the audience knows, then launched into “Minute By Minute," the Doobie Brothers tune that he covered on his album Discovery (MCA Records, 1987). A ...
Continue ReadingFestival International de Jazz de Montréal 2024
by Mark Sullivan
Various Venues Festival International de Jazz de Montréal Montréal, Canada June 30 to July 4, 2024 This year's official announcement of the headliners of the 44th edition of the festival included André 3000, Norah Jones, Hiatus Kaiyote, Laufey, Robert Glasper, and Orville Peck. This diverse group is notable for departing from the traditional jazz styles the festival has been known for (although they could have also mentioned artists like Joshua Redman or Kenny Garrett, who ...
Continue ReadingBig Ears Festival 2024
by Mark Sullivan
Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN March 21-24, 2024 After last year's triumphant tenth anniversary, the festival returned with the slogan “The adventure continues." The iconic and influential Nonesuch Records' 60th anniversary was celebrated with performances by Brad Mehldau, Caroline Shaw, Darcy James Argue, Mary Halvorson, Davóne Tines, Sam Amidon, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Yasmin Williams, Rhiannon Giddens, Laurie Anderson and Molly Tuttle, and a rare live performance by Robin Holcomb. Electronica pioneer King ...
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