Articles by Robert Middleton

Interview

Charlie Ballantine Establishes Himself on the East Coast

by Robert Middleton
April 18, 2026

Jazz guitarist Charlie Ballantine has been on the move for the past decade. In that time, he's released ten albums, with his first official live recording set to arrive later this month--and another new studio album already finished and waiting in the wings. Originally based in Indianapolis, Ballantine moved to Baltimore in 2022 to reestablish himself on the East Coast. His aim was simple: get out there, meet musicians, play more, and build something real. By any measure, ...

Catching Up With

Collin Sherman: A Solitary Visionary in Jazz

by Robert Middleton
December 2, 2024

Collin Sherman is an outlier in the jazz world. He creates all his own music, plays every instrument, records everything himself, and rarely performs live. His approach is unconventional but deeply compelling, allowing him to produce music that defies easy categorization. In a conversation via Zoom, Sherman opened up about his journey, his creative process and the unique challenges of being a one-man jazz ensemble. I began by asking Sherman how he got started in music. “I started playing jazz ...

Album Review

Amanda Gardier: Auteur: Music Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson

Read "Auteur: Music Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson" reviewed by Robert Middleton

by Robert Middleton
October 27, 2024

Amanda Gardier's Auteur is not just an album--it is a cinematic experience captured in sound, an exploration of one of America's most singular film directors, Wes Anderson, through the language of modern jazz. The album showcases Gardier's ability to translate visual storytelling into a sonic narrative that is vibrant, eclectic and highly expressive. With Auteur, Gardier has created what is, arguably, one of the most fascinating and inspired jazz albums of 2024 (it was released in January) and ...

Building a Jazz Library

Saxophone Meets Guitar: The Dynamic Duo of Jazz

by Robert Middleton
September 11, 2024

Imagine a smoky jazz club where the deep, soulful wail of a saxophone weaves effortlessly with the nimble, melodic lines of a guitar. This rare instrumental combination is a hidden gem in the world of jazz that deserves more attention. Jazz is not just a genre--it is a universe with galaxies of swing, bebop, hard bop, and free jazz. But amidst this cosmic diversity, there's a rare constellation that shines especially bright: the saxophone-guitar quartet. Uncommon ...

Interview

Charlie Ballantine and Amanda Gardier: Midwest Jazz Auteurs Move East

by Robert Middleton
July 25, 2024

Guitarist Charlie Ballantine and saxophonist Amanda Gardier are young, up-and-coming jazz musicians who are a rarity: they are married and perform together. Hailing from the heart of the Midwest in Indianapolis, they both began playing at a young age, influenced by both jazz and popular music. Together, they have recorded several exceptional albums. Since 2014, Ballantine and Gardier have released a total of 12 unique and exciting jazz albums. They include projects as varied as Life is Brief ...

72 Jazz Thrillers

The Most Exciting Jazz Albums since 1969: 2020-2023

by Robert Middleton
December 26, 2023

In the 72 Jazz Thrillers series we've gone from 1969 to 2023, an expansive 54-year journey. From the jazz vanguard of Bitches Brew to the dynamic movie soundtrack of Roy's World, from the sublime guitar of Bill Frisell to the singing guitar of Charlie Ballantine, the thing that all these jazz albums have in common is their amazing listenability, music you can enjoy for years and never get bored. At least I haven't been. Thanks for reading, and I encourage ...

72 Jazz Thrillers

The Most Exciting Jazz Albums Since 1969: 2017-2020

by Robert Middleton
December 18, 2023

As we start to wind down to the 72nd jazz thriller, in our penultimate collection of half a dozen jazz thrillers this week, it becomes clear that brilliant, compelling music comes in all shapes and sizes. From an understated quartet from Germany to an Aaron Parks masterpiece, all of these albums deserve a place in the hallowed halls of great jazz albums. 72 Thrilling Jazz Albums, Part 11: 2017-2020 61 Nubya's 5ive Nubya Garcia

72 Jazz Thrillers

The Most Exciting Jazz Albums Since 1969: 2015-2017

by Robert Middleton
December 11, 2023

This week's thrilling albums are a rather obscure lot; four of them hail from Europe and one from Canada. But like all the thrilling albums that preceded them, they possess that elusive quality that keeps you engaged, offering a new discovery with each subsequent listen, ensuring their staying power and ability to seduce your soul over a lifetime. Masterpieces, all, in this writer's opinion. Who says brilliant jazz is not being made in these turbulent times? 72 Thrilling ...

72 Jazz Thrillers

The Most Exciting Jazz Albums Since 1969: 2011-2014

by Robert Middleton
December 5, 2023

What ties the albums together on our ninth installment of 72 Jazz Thrillers is the depth of emotion. Two joyous albums are followed by troubles, grace, exultation and deep sadness--albums from one of the greatest jazz composers of her age to a ramshackle bar band with a wild sense of humor. 72 Thrilling Jazz Albums, Part 9: 2011-2014 49 Hearts Wide Open Gilad Hekselman Le Chant du Monde 2011 Gilad Hekselman is ...

72 Jazz Thrillers

The Most Exciting Jazz Albums since 1969: 2009-2011

by Robert Middleton
November 20, 2023

The six jazz thrillers for this week are widely diverse--from a big band outlier, a soaring two-sax front line and an expression of the ideas from an esoteric teacher. What they all have in common are their thrilling cohesiveness, gripping rhythms and compelling melodies. 72 Thrilling Jazz Albums, Part 8: 2009-20011 43 Infernal Machines Darcy James Argue New Amsterdam 2009 Thrilling jazz albums are rarely an accident; they emerge from dedicated ...