Articles by Russell Perry
Allison Miller and Friends
by Russell Perry
For over a decade, drummer Allison Miller has led and been the principal composer for the band Boom Tic Boom. The group was launched in 2010 as a quartet with Jenny Scheinman on violin, Myra Melford on piano, and Todd Sickafoose on bass, but was augmented to a sextet more recently with the addition of virtuosic clarinetist Ben Goldberg and cornetist Kirk Knuffke. Each of these strong players has produced powerful music outside the band, making this an under-recognized supergroup. ...
read moreMiguel Zenón: Sounds of Home and Heroes
by Russell Perry
In the last hour, we heard from Rudresh Mahanthappa who, together with Miguel Zenón, has dominated the critics polls for alto players over the past decade Like Mahanthappa, Zenon brings his heritage into the mix featuring the music of Puerto Rico as not just an influence, but an inspiration. Also like Mahanthappa, he pays tribute to his alto hero in his most recent recording to honor Ornette Coleman. Recent music from Miguel Zenón in the next hour of Jazz at ...
read moreRudresh Mahanthappa: Sounds of Home and Heroes
by Russell Perry
In the 13 years since 2008, the alto saxophone award in the annual Jazz Journalists Association awards program has gone to either Rudresh Mahanthappa or Miguel Zenón ten times. Despite having very different sounds and approaches to the saxophone, their creative paths have much in common. Both began recording around the turn of the century. Both have paid homage to major alto heroes —Mahantahappa to Charlie Parker and Zenón to Ornette Coleman. And both have explored the intersection of their ...
read moreRemembering Joe Henderson
by Russell Perry
Joe Henderson was likely the most important tenor saxophonist to come out of the '60s. Possessing a big distinctive tone, he brought gravitas to every setting in which he played. He also left a catalog of compelling compositions including several that have become standards, such as “Inner Urge" or “Recorda-Me" whose mastery is required for today's improvising musicians. To illustrate the continuing power of these fine tunes, this hour of Jazz at 100 Today! will feature recent versions of Henderson's ...
read moreCharles Owens Trio: '10 Years' Track by Track
by Russell Perry
For a decade, tenor saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator Charles Owens has been leading a trio with bassist Andrew Randazzo and drummer Devonne Harris (aka DJ Harrison). The Charles Owens Trio has celebrated this tenure with a new release, 10 Years. Chris Pearson in the Times of London wrote in his review, “The first thing you notice about Charles Owens is the tone. The American tenor saxophonist is a player of irresistible warmth." Indeed. We visit with Charles Owens and ...
read moreTrumpet Master Ambrose Akinmusire - Broad Vision
by Russell Perry
Known as a constantly searching and forward-looking musician, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire won the Thelonious Monk (now Herbie Hancock) International Jazz Competition in 2007 at 27 years old. His first album, Prelude to Cora, announced a bright new talent willing to honor multiple strains of influences from hip-hop to classical with stops at post-bop, funk, and free jazz. His periodic highly-regarded solo efforts have been complemented by a string of excellent sideman collaborations. Recent work from exciting young trumpeter Ambrose Akimusire ...
read moreTrumpet Master Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Looking Forward
by Russell Perry
Since he began recording at nineteen, now thirty-eight year old Christian Scott ATunde Adjuah has been developing one of the most distinguishable trumpet sounds in jazz. A nephew of alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, Jr., he is graduate of the storied New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and then Berklee College of Music giving him one of the most distinguished set of credentials in the music. Through incorporating elements of hip hop, rock, ambient, funk, and Afrorock he has been celebrated ...
read moreHappy Birthday, Cole Porter
by Russell Perry
We are celebrating Cole Porter's 130th birthday—born June 9, 1891, This means that Porter was 27 years old, having already had shows produced on Broadway, when the first jazz recording was made in 1917. Early recordings by James P. Johnson, Jimmie Lunceford, Teddy Wilson and Django Reinhardt showed the adaptability of his compositions to the jazz before Artie Shaw's landmark recording of “Begin the Beguine" in 1938. Today his beautiful melodies, compelling harmonies and clever lyrics explain his enduring appeal. ...
read moreTrumpet Master Jeremy Pelt - Hard Bop and More
by Russell Perry
Emerging as a recording artist in 2002, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's warm tone and thoughtful improvisation initially brought hard bop legends Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard to mind. After two decades, his mature post-bop work evidences a willingness to experiment with sound and ensemble make-up. Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet and his electric period both emerge as influences from time-to-time interspersed with straight ahead acoustic dates. You can count on Jeremy Pelt for inventive improvisation, impeccable tone, nuanced performance and a ...
read moreTrumpet Master Tom Harrell: Mainstream Melodocist
by Russell Perry
Tom Harrell has been an active musician for over 50 years. After stints with a wide range of prominent bands including those of Horace Silver, Lee Konitz and George Russell, he came to maturity with the Phil Woods Quintet from 1983-1989. For the past three decades he has released a series of discs on roughly an annual basis that are consistently well-received. In 2018 he was the Jazz Journalists Association Trumpeter of the Year. In this next hour of Jazz ...
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