Jazz Articles

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Sarah Pillow: Wanderer

by Pierre Giroux
November 1, 2026

The real test of a jazz singer is what happens when they step away from the familiar. Singing a standard is one thing, but finding something personal in a song done countless times is quite another. Sarah Pillow understands the difference. On Wanderer, she takes us through a varied collection of music and fully inhabits each piece. She has a distinctive voice, takes chances, and is curious about where a song might lead her. On this outing, Pillow ...

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Jake Hertzog: Evolution

by Ian Patterson
September 24, 2011

Guitarist Jake Hertzog's previous recordings as leader, Chromatosphere (That's Out, 2009) and Patterns (Buckyball, 2010) created a stir, with reviewers comparing his talent to just about every jazz and rock guitarist who's ever been described as a legend, from the 1940s on. What this hints rather broadly at is Hertzog's cross-generational approach and stylistic variation which define his music, though he's essentially a modernist. The effusion of comparisons has, perhaps, heaped heavy expectations on both the guitarist--still only 25--and listener, ...

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Jake Hertzog: Evolution

by Mark Redlefsen
September 9, 2011

Evolution is the third solo outing from guitarist Jake Hertzog, Guitar Player Magazine contributor and member of the rock band, The Young Presidents. Although the album appears weighted towards jazz fusion, it is the rock-inflected phrases woven into the music that saves it from running into all-too-familiar jazz guitar footprints. The generational sound of this recording is only slightly more youthful than Marc Ribot or Nels Cline, its title referring, perhaps, to the advancement of an unapologetic brand of jazz-rock ...

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Alon Nechushtan: Words Beyond

by Glenn Astarita
May 20, 2011

Pianist Alon Nechushtan is in the thick of things, amid a vibrant New York City jazz culture that often spawns deviating tangents and inventive ideologies. Indeed, the pianist reveals astounding technical faculties and a far-reaching approach to composition. Nechushtan's jazz-klezmer band TALAT, amid numerous forays into modern jazz and unconventional settings, intermittently gels to the beat of a markedly different drummer The program conveys Nechushtan's unbounded vision, as he overhauls the tried and true. With the musicians' pristine ...

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Alon Nechushtan: Words Beyond

by Dan Bilawsky
February 18, 2011

Playing jazz can be like driving a car. Sometimes you can sit back, rely on cruise control, and simply revel in a straightforward journey, but more precise maneuvering is often required. Lightning quick reflexes, an ability to comfortably navigate hairpin turns, and a strong directional sense are equally important, and pianist Alon Nechushtan exhibits all of these traits from behind the driver's seat on Words Beyond. The left-leaning klezmer jazz that Nechushtan delivered with his Talat band ...

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Marc Wagnon: Earth is a Cruel Master

by John Barron
April 15, 2010

It took multi-instrumentalist Mark Wagnon an entire year to record and mix Earth is a Cruel Master, an engaging collection of original jazz-rock grooves with whirlwind melodic themes and robust improvisations. Known primarily as a vibraphonist, the New York-based Wagnon also plays drums, marimba, keyboards and various percussion instruments throughout the recording. Aided by guitarist Van Manakas, electric bassist Leo Traversa and, on a couple of tunes, upright bassist Danny Stone, the disc has the raw sound of a live ...

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Tunnels: The Art of Living Dangerously

by John Kelman
October 16, 2004

In the heyday of progressive rock and fusion bands, Britain's Brand X may have gained attention first and foremost because of the involvement of Phil Collins, who at the time was the drummer and new lead singer of Genesis, yet to become the pop pariah he would in subsequent years. But the band member who was truly the most innovative, imaginative and stylistically incomparable was Percy Jones, a bassist who, had he been working in North America with exposure to ...

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Tunnels: Progressivity

by Glenn Astarita
June 19, 2002

Jazz-rock gets a college education with this ensemble’s third release. The trio receives some bonus coverage thanks to modern jazz violinist Mark Feldman and “Brand X,” guitarist John Goodsall’s inspiring performances. In fact, the now legendary “Brand X” aggregation features the members of “Tunnels:” Percy Jones (bass), Marc Wagnon (midi vibes) and Frank Katz (drums). Hence, the musicians maintain an ongoing working relationship--much to our delight. The group dishes out a program consisting of polytonal ...

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Sarah Pillow: Nuove Musiche

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2001

Multitalented vocalist Sarah Pillow veers off the straight and narrow with this immensely absorbing release titled Nuove Musiche, which in Italian, signifies ‘new music’. Here, Ms. Pillow melds Baroque compositions with fusion, progressive rock and blues motifs, all sung in Latin, French, Spanish, English and/or Italian. A striking concept indeed, as the artist aligns her impressive vocal faculties with the eminent fusion/progressive ensemble, “Brand X”.

On this outing, the music of 17th century composers such as Purcell, Monteverdi, Rossi and ...

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Marc Wagnon: An Afterthought

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 1999

Many of us have been anticipating the reissue on CD of Swiss vibraphonist Marc Wagnon's late 80's LP titled, Shadowlines. Wagnon, a member of the much beloved New York prog-rock/modern jazz outfit 'Dr. Nerve', along with the powerhouse prog/fusion band Tunnels and a lengthy tenure with the infamous 'Brand X' has done the modern jazz community a favor by reissuing this gem. Here, Wagnon enlists the audacious talents of trumpeter, Dave Douglas, saxophonist Bob Malach, Dr. Nerve guitarist Nick Didkowsky, ...