Jazz Articles
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Theon Cross, Sumi Tonooka, Joshua Redman, and Joanne Brackeen
by Hobart Taylor
Theon Cross makes “Affirmations," Brandee Younger celebrates her “Gadabout Season," Sumi Tonooka delves “Under the Surface" and the “Memphis Slim at the Gate of Horn" re-issue keeps us grounded in “Mother Earth."Playlist Joshua Redman “Borrowed Eyes" from Words Fall Short (Blue Note) 0:00 Julia Ulehla Dalava “Escape Velocity" from Understories (Pi) 5:50 Theon Cross “ Affirmations" from Affirmations Live at the Blue Note (New Soil) 8:56 Host Speaks 22:57 Frida Touray Light as a Feather" from Homebody (Edition) ...
Continue ReadingPat Thomas: This is Trick Step
by Mark Corroto
Where to begin with the music of Pat Thomas? The London-born pianist began his journey in classical music before a televised performance by Oscar Peterson led him down the path of jazz and free improvisation. Over the past forty-plus years, Thomas has forged a singular voice in the avant-garde, contributing to groundbreaking ensembles such as the About Group, Black Top, the London Improvisers Orchestra, اسم (ism), and the critically acclaimed quartet أحمد (Ahmed) with Antonin Gerbal, Seymour Wright, and Joel ...
Continue ReadingStan Tracey, Mark Masters, and Neal Alger
by Jerome Wilson
This episode features music from Stan Tracey, Mark Masters, Jason Moran, Gil Evans. Steely Dan, and Neal Alger. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Gil Melle “Funk For Star People" from Gil's Guests (Prestige) 00:54 Billy Test Trio “All of You" from Coming Down Roses (A.T.M.) 7:30 Host Speaks 14:21 Neal Alger “If Only For A Moment" from Old ...
Continue ReadingStanton Moore Trio: (Late Night) At The Maple Leaf
by Mike Jacobs
With “(Late Night) At The Maple Leaf," New Orleans stalwart drummer Stanton Moore's trio (with keyman Robert Walter and guitarist Will Bernard) gives direct testimony as to why soul jazz is unquestionably good for the soul. Just try not to groove with this little number. ...
Continue ReadingChapter Two: The Flood
by Alan Bryson
Chapters 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 Initially, his survival instincts had kicked in. As the disorienting shock of this new world sank in, he grew increasingly numb and cautious. The days blurred into weeks, the sheer, unadulterated strangeness of 1967 Amsterdam began to erode Django's hastily constructed defenses. ...
Continue ReadingBrian Wilson Jazzed: Ten Essential Wilson Covers
by Ian Patterson
Brian Wilson is widely hailed as one of the most significant songwriters of the 20th century--the master craftsman behind The Beach Boys' music. Inspired by rock 'n' roll, doo-wop, George Gershwin, vocal quartet The Four Freshmen and Burt Bacharach, he developed sophisticated harmonies and a signature sound that sold millions of records. His singular use of jazz-inflected harmonies, inventive chords and memorable melodies made his songs ripe for interpretation. His compositions have been covered by hundreds of pop ...
Continue ReadingWayne Shorter Quartet: Live At The North Sea Jazz Festival, 1986
by Mike Jacobs
Notable for having some of the hottest young musicians of its day--namely Mitchel Forman (Mahavishnu, John Scofield) on keys, Tom Brechtlein (Chick Corea) on drums and Gary Willis (Tribal Tech, Allan Holdsworth) on bass--Wayne Shorter's first post-Weather Report quartet was as short-lived as it was criminally undocumented. If you weren't fortunate enough to have caught this touring lineup back in the day, this full set performance from the 1986 North Sea Jazz Festival may be one of the group's only ...
Continue ReadingSteve Holt: Impact
by Jack Kenny
To create a new album after a twenty-year gap is intriguing. In his long career Steve Holt has worked with Archie Shepp, Larry Coryell Eddie Henderson, Pat LaBarbera, James Moody and Michel Urbaniak. He studied with Kenny Barron, an experience that affected his keyboard style. Surrounding himself with some major Canadian musicians, he has produced some new vital work: a library of new themes for the group to work on. The main task of a composer is to ...
Continue ReadingAlbare: Eclecticity
by Jack Bowers
On Eclecticity, his 17th recording as leader of his own groups, Moroccan-born Australia-based guitarist Albare (given name: Albert Dadon) uses, for the most part, members of his working groups, the Alchemists and Harmonix Experiment, to help him plumb jazz tradition and breathe life into 10 of his distinctive yet custom-tailored compositions and arrangements. As a rule, Albare favors strong mid-tempo rhythms that meld emphatically behind sporadic solo commentary by trumpeter Mat Jodrell, saxophonist Phil Noy, pianist Phil ...
Continue ReadingRamón López: 40 Springs In Paris
by Mark Corroto
To say that Spanish-born Ramón López is an in-demand drummer would be an understatement. His recent collaborators span a wide spectrum of creative music, including Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura, Ivo Perelman, Barry Guy, Agustí Fernández and Angelica Sanchez--and that list reaches well beyond the realms of jazz and free improvisation. López has performed in intimate ensembles and large jazz orchestras, and his deep study of both flamenco and Indian classical music adds rich dimensions to his artistry. This ...
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