Articles by Robert Bellafiore

Live Review

The Billy Hart Quartet featuring Ethan Iverson at Blues Alley

by Robert Bellafiore
May 9, 2026

The Billy Hart Quartet featuring Ethan Iverson Blues Alley Washington, DC May 3, 2026 Elder statesman of the drums, contributor to Miles Davis's On the Corner (Columbia, 1972), and Washington, DC, native: Billy Hart was the perfect figure to feature in a centennial celebration of Miles Davis at DC's Blues Alley. Hart has been leading a quartet with saxophonist Mark Turner, pianist Ethan Iverson, and bassist Ben Street for some 20 years, but in a twist ...

Live Review

The Bad Plus at The Hamilton Live

by Robert Bellafiore
November 12, 2025

The Bad Plus The Hamilton Live Washington, DC November 9, 2025 The ancient paradox known as the Ship of Theseus poses a philosophical riddle: if every piece of a ship is gradually replaced until no original components remain, is it still the same ship, or has it transformed into something else entirely? Is a thing defined by its collective parts, or by some deeper essence? This is the question raised by The Bad ...

Live Review

Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau at The Clarice

by Robert Bellafiore
October 7, 2025

Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau The Clarice College Park, MDOctober 2, 2025 Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau made it to the top of their game together, each helping the other rise from promising talent in early '90s New York City to modern king of the bass and piano, respectively. Now, they can afford to take an occasional look back, reuniting with former colleagues and digging up old tunes. This retrospective mindset has given ...

Live Review

Sullivan Fortner Trio at Blues Alley

by Robert Bellafiore
January 20, 2025

Sullivan Fortner Trio Blues Alley Washington, DC January 14, 2025 There are two sides to pianist Sullivan Fortner's playing, at least. There's Fortner the neo-traditionalist, bringing stride piano into the 21st century and taking more inspiration from old giants like Willie The Lion" Smith and James P. Johnson than, say, Bill Evans or Keith Jarrett. So far, his discography as a leader has tended to showcase the elegance and whimsy of Fortner No. 1--for example, ...

Live Review

Bill Frisell Trio at Blues Alley

by Robert Bellafiore
November 26, 2024

Bill Frisell Trio Blues Alley Washington, DC November 21, 2024 With each decade, Bill Frisell's guitarwork gets rawer, more direct--and better. Whereas his classic 1980s albums could feature irregular instrumentation, such as Rambler's (ECM) tuba and flugelhorn, or atmospheric musings as on In Line (ECM), today Frisell tends to follow the “KISS principle": keep it simple, stupid. In his trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston, Frisell focuses on wringing every last drop ...

Live Review

Simon Moullier at Takoma Station Tavern

by Robert Bellafiore
October 9, 2024

Simon Moullier Takoma Station Tavern Washington, DC October 5, 2024 Vibraphonist Simon Moullier was honest with his uncertainty about what was about to happen: “I met these musicians for the first time two hours ago." But the audience at Takoma Station witnessing his Washington, DC debut had nothing to worry about. The challenge, and the thrill, of performing with strangers--pianist Janelle Gill, bassist Obasi Akoto, and drummer Lenny Robinson--made for two outstanding sets of standards ...