Jazz Articles
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The Hemphill Stringtet: The Hemphill Stringtet Plays the Music of Julius Hemphill
by Mark Corroto
Let us borrow a famous tagline from the dairy industry: Got Hemphill? If not, it is time to take a closer listen. Julius Hemphill (1938-1995) was a towering figure in the creative music scenes of both St. Louis, where he co-founded the Black Artists' Group (BAG), and New York's vibrant loft jazz scene of the 1970s and '80s. At a time when Miles Davis was going electric and fusion bands were battling for airtime against the neo- conservative ...
Continue ReadingSullivan Fortner, Sasha Berliner, Herbie Hancock
by David Brown
This week on The Jazz Continuum, the spotlight turns to pianist and composer Sullivan Fortner, a dynamic presence in modern jazz. Known for his nuanced touch and bold improvisational voice, Fortner has made a mark through collaborations with vocalists Kurt Elling and Cécile McLorin Salvant, and through his acclaimed trio, solo, and duo recordings--including an intimate performance with bassist Rufus Reid. The program continues with groove-laden Hammond B3 tracks from Lou Donaldson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and The Delvon Lamarr Organ ...
Continue ReadingEric Alexander: Chicago To New York
by Pierre Giroux
Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander's release, Chicago To New York, is a masterclass in modern hard bop that pays homage to the vibrant musical exchange between two of jazz's most storied cities. This is not just a geographical nod but a conversation across time and space, framed by a quartet whose cohesion and shared sensibilities transcend geographical lines. Alexander, one of the most consistent voices of his generation, joins forces with pianist Mike LeDonne, both standard-bearers of ...
Continue ReadingOut Late with Eric Reed
by David Bixler
Pianist Eric Reed calls on tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth to join him on his new recording Out Late on Smoke Sessions Records. The record, which will be available on May 16, features seven originals that were intended to get this group of well-known musicians out of their comfort zones. In addition to our conversation in this episode of LINER NOTES, Eric uses the piano to give the listener a behind-the-scenes ...
Continue ReadingMatteo Pastorino, Bonbon Flamme, Will Holshouser, Christoph Irniger, Cinema Royal
by Ludovico Granvassu
40 minutes replete with music you didn't know you couldn't live without.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill) 0:00 Cinema Royal, Nitai Hershkovits, Rejoicer “Her, I" Cinema Royal (Rhythm Section International) 0:16 Host talks 5:58 Matteo Pastorino “Coming Back" Lightside (A.Ma) 7:06 Host talks 14:44 Valentin Ceccaldi & Bonbon Flamme “Calavera Uno" Calaveras Y Boom Boom Chupitos (BMC) 16:25 Will Holshouser “Abide with Me" The Lone Wild Bird (Adhyâropa) 20:24 ...
Continue ReadingMichael Buckley: Blowing Hot
by Ian Patterson
An early spring vacation to New York saw Michael Buckley and his wife take in what he describes as “the usual sights." But for the Dublin saxophonist that also meant trips to “three or four saxophone shops." Once a tenor saxophonist, always a tenor saxophonist. Buckley, in fact, started out on the flute, playing with George Coleman no less, on the stage of Dublin's National Concert Hall when aged just ten. It is an instrument he still wields ...
Continue ReadingVossa Jazz Festival at 52, with New Blood
by Josef Woodard
https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/2010/9509f2e2a3547fddb4d7263cf3eb6ff5.jpg Each year around Easter, the lovely and smallish lakeside city of Voss, Norway springs to musical life for a weekend. Voss is a go-to destination for skiers flocking to the snowy slopes high above the town, and host to an extreme sports festival come summer. But the legendary Vossa Jazz festival, which staged an especially luminous 52nd anniversary edition in April, is a well-known cultural treasure--especially as a showcase for Norwegian jazz and jazz- adjacent artists.
Continue ReadingBrittany Davis, Joe Lovano, Steve Hirsh & Jakob Bro
by Maurice Hogue
If you haven't heard of singer/pianist Brittany Davis, find her new album Black Thunder now! Ms Davis, who hails from Seattle and is blind, has released a very exciting recording that evokes echoes of Nina Simone, Betty Carter, Fay Victor and other great female singers. The fact that she and her trio, despite not being all that familiar with one another, cranked out this fully improvised album in two days, makes Black Thunder even more impressive. There's plenty of other ...
Continue ReadingClaire Cope: Every Journey
by Dan McClenaghan
Consider British pianist, composer/ bandleader Claire Cope. She debuted as a fully formed artist via her excellent septet set Small World (Self Produced, 2020), a deftly crafted classical/jazz hybrid. On her second recording, the album at hand, Every Journey, she employs an eleven-piece ensemble, building on the atmosphere of her debut, painting translucent layerings and weaving a loose net of textures into gorgeous, expansive soundscapes. With composer-bandleader Maria Schneider as a major touchstone, Cope creates luminous arrangements. She cites Schneider's ...
Continue ReadingEster Andujar: Inner Songs
by Anastasia Bogomolets
Ester Andújar Rico's album Inner Songs is a mesmerizing journey through language, culture, and emotion. Andújar effortlessly transitions between Spanish, Valencian, Portuguese, and English, making each track feel like an intimate conversation across borders. Even if you are not fluent in all of the languages, the album provokes introspection on how language modifies the listener's perception of music. Andújar's vocals carry a subtle but powerful influence from Spanish vocal traditions, particularly in the way she infuses her phrasing ...
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