Jazz Articles

Nona Hendryx and Gary Lucas: The World Of Captain Beefheart

by Jerome Wilson
February 11, 2018

Gary Lucas has been a long time fan of the one-of-a-kind mutant rock-jazz-blues of Captain Beefheart. This led to his being part of Beefheart's Magic Band in the '80s and to his revisiting the music after Beefheart's 1985 retirement in various formats including a raucous jazz tribute band, Fast 'n' Bulbous. This time he goes back to the Captain's canon in the context of a rock band with Nona Hendryx doing the vocals. Hendryx is probably still best ...

Fela Kuti: The Best Of The Black President

by Chris May
November 20, 2009

Twelve years after his death, activity around the legacy of Afrobeat originator Fela Kuti is growing exponentially and the US, finally, is getting in on the act. Choreographer Bill T. Jones' musical, Fela, is to open on Broadway on November 23, 2009, and meanwhile New York's Knitting Factory label has begun a reissue program which will, between fall 2009 and the close of 2010, see 45 Kuti titles released.

Jones is a leading light of American modern dance, ...

John McLaughlin: My Goals Beyond

by Walter Kolosky
November 19, 2002

Technically, the acoustic guitar playing on 1970's My Goals Beyond does not approach the skill exhibited on most of John McLaughlin's recordings. Flubbed notes pop up here and there, and although this album is famous for McLaughlin's “solo" renderings of such classic tunes as Mingus' “Good-Bye Pork-Pie Hat," Bill Evans and Miles Davis' “Blue in Green" and his own wonderful composition “Follow Your Heart," Mclaughlin actually pre-recorded the chords and soloed over them.However, no small amount of flubbing ...

Ori Kaplan: Le Magus

by Kurt Gottschalk
September 10, 2002

There's a variety of assumptions to be made from saxophonist Ori Kaplan titling his new CD Le Magus. The suggestion could be that Kaplan is a sorcerer, one of the wise men who traveled to Bethlehem to greet the newborn Jesus or the twisted, manipulative millionaire of the John Fowles novel. In a sense, though, any of those could point to the same thing: that with his new release, you should give up on having expectations of Ori Kaplan.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: All Is One - Live in New York City

by Glenn Astarita
July 2, 2002

The band with a name that seems to be a culmination of random selection is scaled down to a trio now. Recorded live at the Knitting Factory, this album provides a glimpse of pianist Brian Haas’ firebrand approach and the rhythm section’s stinging, jazz-funk and rock beats. Especially when they infuse ravenous improvisational forays with swiftly executed shifts in strategy. Haas also provides a rough-hewn edge when utilizing his treated Fender Rhodes. The core trio garners enthusiastic support from percussionists, ...

Michael Blake: Elevated

by David Adler
March 1, 2002

Michael Blake opts for a simple quartet aesthetic on this aptly named release. The lineup is a Jazz Composers Collective who’s who: Ben Allison on bass, Frank Kimbrough on piano, Mike Mazor on drums. Some of the tunes will be familiar to those who’ve heard Blake at the Collective’s New York concert series over the last couple of years.There’s an Eastern tinge to some tracks — particularly “In the Arms of Ali," “Surfing Sahara," and “Addis Ababa." Kimbrough ...

The Josh Roseman Unit: Cherry

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2002

If you ever wondered whether a musician could transform Elvis Presley's “Don't Be Cruel," into a quasi, calypso-funk groove than stop right here. Well, notions such as these may seem fiendishly theoretical in scope, yet New York City-based trombonist, Josh Roseman's debut solo effort is full of dainty little surprises. Not only he does he pay a little homage to King Elvis, but also tackles Burt Bachrach, Led Zeppelin and the late alternative rock icon, Kurt Cobain among others. With ...

Gutbucket: Insomniacs Dream

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2002

Noted for their vivacious stage shenanigans, this New York City-based jazz/rock/punk quartet also packs a lot of muscle into its repertoire. In fact, notions of the proverbial high school bullies picking on their reticent classmates come to mind. With its freshman release, the instrumentalists’ uncompromising approach to music in general comes to fruition here via a smattering of nicely arranged yet gleefully - in your face -works. On pieces such as, “Insects (Subtraction in St. Louis)” and “Don’t Fall on ...

The Other Quartet: Sound Stains

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 2001

This New York City-based outfit celebrates 2001 with its followup to the irrefutably engaging 13 Pieces. The Other Quartet alludes to a very special aggregation as its moniker might imply that the group represents a bit more than your commonplace mainstream jazz foursome. A bass-less unit, the quartet originally formed by trumpeter Russ Johnson and saxophonist Ohad Talmor extends its charter with a series of shrewdly conceived bop motifs, fiery solos, knotty time signatures and much more! With “Refraction," the ...

Mario Pavone: Totem Blues

by Glenn Astarita
October 1, 2001

Having spent several fruitful years performing with the late, great saxophonist/composer, Thomas Chapin amid numerous session dates, bassist/composer, Mario Pavone renders his third Knitting Factory Records release titled, Totem Blues. Here, the bassist utilizes the laudable talents of long time running mates, pianist Peter Madsen and drummer Matt Wilson along with some up and comers and ex-Duke Ellington trombonist, Art Baron.

Pavone's modus operandi consists of oscillating rhythms, tightly woven horn charts and multi-layered tonalities, while the band maintains a ...