Articles by Scott Lichtman

Interview

Clément Reboul: How to Love and Learn Gypsy Jazz

by Scott Lichtman
August 20, 2026

While searching for gypsy jazz videos to spotlight on All About Jazz, this interviewer discovered the music of Frenchman Clément Reboul. Performing as “Clément Reboul's Jazz Manouche," he and his collective had produced a zesty version on YouTube of “Take the 'A' Train," among other gypsy jazz songs and adaptations. Having launched his gypsy jazz educational YouTube channel in 2009, Reboul possesses a well-thought-out framework for explaining the genre--what to listen for and how to get started playing--that ...

Catching Up With

Michael League: Lighting the Spark of Snarky Puppy

by Scott Lichtman
July 28, 2026

Together for over 20 years, Snarky Puppy has long set the bar for “propulsive" music. The band's genre is mainly a mix of jazz fusion and funk, with influences of progressive rock, gospel, world and even symphonic music. Its sound is quickly identifiable by the catchy grooves, effortlessly shifting meters and polyrhythms, crisp yet elastic horns, and virtuosic solos from the keyboardists, guitarists, drummers, and other members. No matter the song feel, Snarky Puppy delivers an adrenalin rush audiences through ...

Catching Up With

Pedro Molina: No Denial of the Power of a Music Video

by Scott Lichtman
July 6, 2026

Bassist / composer / group leader Pedro Molina has released a searing, spontaneous album called A Name I Knew (Carimbo Porta-jazz, 2026). A Name I Knew received 4 stars from All About Jazz. In addition to the 8-song suite reflecting a struggle with Alzheimer's Disease by someone close to him, Molina created an experimental music video for the lead track, “Denial." AAJ interviewed him about his creative process and takeaways from making the video. This may help other musicians decide whether to ...

Album Review

Pedro Molina: A Name I Knew

Read "A Name I Knew" reviewed by Scott Lichtman

by Scott Lichtman
June 24, 2026

It is a rare occurrence when multiple jazz skills are executed at such high level that the experience transcends music and becomes a moment of exhilaration and reflection. Such a moment exists with acoustic bassist Pedro Molina's quartet album, A Name I Knew. It balances free improvisation with an impression of careful scoring, mesmerizing personal voices on each instrument with fine-tuned interplay, delicacy with grit, and wordless enjoyment with a heartbreaking overall theme. What is more, the group are just ...

Play This!

Ely Perlman: Open Heart

by Scott Lichtman
October 31, 2025

Ely Perlman is a rising guitar phenom. A standout in three genres--jazz, indie acoustic and electronic--he bridges the styles with fast, angular lines and techniques like fret tapping. Christian McBride has welcomed Perlman into the bassist's elite quintet, Ursa Major. Meanwhile, Perlman is releasing Everything Should Be (Self Produced, 2025), his first album as leader. Read his interview: Introducing Guitarist Ely Perlman. On the shimmering tune, “Open Heart," Perlman is joined by Shai Maestro on piano ...

Album Review

Nelson Devereaux: Three Lights in the Dark

Read "Three Lights in the Dark" reviewed by Scott Lichtman

by Scott Lichtman
October 20, 2025

Nelson Devereaux is a highly creative sax/woodwind player, singer, multi-instrumental sound manipulator and composer who fills the alt-jazz and alt-pop spaces with a unique brew of avant/free/ambient sound. Based in Minnesota, the artist has been both prolific and under-the-radar. He has played with Bon Iver, Lizzo and Miley Cyrus. His album, Three Lights in the Dark (Youngbloods, 2025), is the most jazz-imbued project of his ten-year recording career and bears multiple listens. Devereaux ably teams up here with ...

Album Review

Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet: Live Spirit I

Read "Live Spirit I" reviewed by Scott Lichtman

by Scott Lichtman
August 24, 2025

The album Live Spirit I is a compelling listen from the Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet. The music combines the very best of free improvisation with sparse, piercing compositions and ethereal ambience. While the bassist/leader and most of his group live in Poland, this is truly a world-class performance. Wojtek Mazolewski's influence is already significant. His music has surpassed eight million streams on Spotify; he is a staple at jazz, indie and electronic dance festivals, and his albums have been ...

Play This!

Rikard From: Sun of June

by Scott Lichtman
August 3, 2025

Pianist and songwriter Rikard From may get 360,000 listeners per month on Spotify, but I suspect a larger, as-yet-unaware audience would benefit from a thorough listen of his music. His primary sound combines the maj6/9 embellishments of Bruce Hornsby with the rollicking gospel of Keith Jarrett on a song like “God Bless the Child." His body of work is fresh and catchy, such as “Sun of June," where the listener can get caught up chilling on the grace notes and ...

Play This!

John Daversa: Junk Wagon

by Scott Lichtman
March 30, 2025

"Junk Wagon" is a singularly dynamic big band arrangement. It is a pretty wild ride, in fact. Composer/trumpeter John Diversa has completed three academic degrees in music, won numerous jazz awards, and performed with artists including Yellowjackets and Renee Olstead. His big band work truly stretches the players' chops and the listeners' ears. “Junk Wagon" opens with wah-wah horn attacks, followed by brass and woodwind trills. It does not take long to slip into a distorted guitar lead-in to a ...

Play This!

Sora Ichikawa: Straying in Alpacas

by Scott Lichtman
March 21, 2025

The song “Straying in Alpacas" is an immensely satisfying and hard-driving tune, filled with melodic turns, alto peals, rhythmic stops, and thundering walking bass lines. While it sounds as if it could come from Steps Ahead or Yellowjackets in an earlier era, the piece is actually a concoction of rising Japanese pianist Sora Ichikawa. Ichikawa released his first album in 2023 and since has demonstrated his talents in jazz, R&B, and contemporary formations, as well as adding ear-bending electronic touches ...