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Enoch Smith Jr.: The Book of Enoch Vol. 1
by Jim Trageser
With a longstanding residence as a music worship leader at Allentown Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, pianist / composer Enoch Smith Jr. comes to jazz with a gospel perspective. Once common in soul music and even blues, this gospel background is rarer in jazz, especially in recent years. On The Book of Enoch, Vol 1, as in his previous outing, The Quest: Live at APC (2016), Smith's performance is in a jazz vein--albeit one with significant ...
Continue ReadingVincent Peirani, John Sturino, and Nucleus
by Jerome Wilson
This episode features recent music from Vincent Peirani, John Sturino, and Frank Carlberg as well as older work from Graham Bond, Terry Gibbs, and Nucleus.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 Terry Gibbs Dream Band “The Fat Man" from One More Time (Contemporary) 00:52 Doctor Professor Leonard King “The Comeback" from In Tribute to Joe Williams (Eastlawn) 8:05 Host Speaks ...
Continue ReadingKalia Vandever shares Another View while While Billy Hart is Multidirectional!
by Hobart Taylor
Innovative trombonist/composer Kalia Vandever shares her new music, as well as tunes from Shoko Nagai, Jane Ira Bloom, Montreal's Hugo Blouin and an homage to Ray Brown from Dave Holland and John Scofield. Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Yazz Ahmed “A Paradise in the Hold" from A Paradise in the Hold (Remixed) (Night Time Stories) 00:07 Billy Hart “Amethyst" from Multidirectional (Smoke Sessions) 10:10 Maria Kaushansky “Northbound To Finch" from Northbound To Finch (Flat 6th) 19:36 Mark Masters/Billy Harper ...
Continue ReadingJoni Jazz, Part 2
by Chuck Lenatti
Part 1 | Part 2 As a young woman growing up in Canada, Joni Mitchell was fond of American popular music and bought records whenever she could afford them. She would sometimes swap painting jobs for jazz albums. Among her favorite jazz artists were Duke Ellington and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. She later recorded “Twisted" by Annie Ross and Wardell Gray and “Centerpiece" by Jon Hendricks and Harry Edison. She was also fascinated ...
Continue ReadingThe Genius of Ray Charles is on display in this four-album Tangerine Records Master Series
by Bridget A. Arnwine
Ray Charles Robinson, known the world over as multi-award-winning icon Ray Charles, may have departed this world, but his music endures thanks in part to the Ray Charles Foundation. Recently, the Foundation released four albums as part of the Tangerine Records Master Series. Those albums which include Come Live with Me, Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul (1963), Love Country Style (1970), and No One Does It Like Ray Charles were released as individual projects throughout 2025. While Ingredients in ...
Continue ReadingOscar Hernández & Alma Libre at Jazz Alley
by Paul Rauch
Oscar Hernández & Alma LibreJazz AlleySeattle WANovember 19, 2025 The appearance of legendary Latin jazz pianist Oscar Hernandez at Jazz Alley brought with it a special designation. His performances in Seattle have largely been as part of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the award-winning ensemble that Hernandez leads. His Alma Libre Quintet is aptly named, considering that the smaller ensemble indeed frees the soul of the pianist/composer to engage in full expression as a instrumentalist. ...
Continue ReadingSpinifex: Maxximus
by Glenn Astarita
Spinifex, the Amsterdam sextet formed in 2005 by saxophonist Tobias Klein, has spent two decades rattling jazz conventions with math-metal precision and global rhythmic flair. With trumpeter Bart Maris, tenor saxophonist John Dikeman, guitarist Jasper Stadhouders, bassist Gonçalo Almeida, and drummer Philipp Moser, their live shows ignite like sonic wildfires. Maxximus marks their twentieth anniversary and first acoustic venture. They welcome violist Jessica Pavone, cellist Elisabeth Coudoux, and vibraphonist Evi Filippou. This unplugged pivot swaps electric chaos for chamber- like ...
Continue ReadingLinda Dachtyl: Full Steam Ahead
by Jack Bowers
Full Steam Ahead, Ohio-based organist Linda Dachtyl's fifth recording as leader of her own groups, is a largely upbeat studio session wherein she oversees a trio--guitarist Don Hales, drummer and husband Cary Dachtyl--on six of ten numbers. The threesome by itself is quite good, so much so that one might reasonably argue that no more help is needed. Nevertheless, saxophonist Mark Donavan makes it a quartet on three tracks, and joins two guests, trumpeter Ben Huntoon and ...
Continue ReadingYogev Shetrit: Way of Tradition
by Anastasia Bogomolets
Ever miss music quizzes? This album is the perfect way to test your musical intelligence. It keeps its jazz roots while weaving in all sorts of global influences. Some Central Asian rhythms and melodies emerge in “Bishkek Ancient City." A different kind of vibe, though from the same region, appears in “Uzbekistan." Distinct Moroccan influences shape Way of Tradition. Listeners might notice echoes of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, or Max Roach. However, the next bar suggests ...
Continue ReadingClassic jazz from Blue Mitchell and others, recognizing Geoffrey Keezer's birthday and others
by David W. Daniels
Classic jazz from Blue Mitchell, Reuben Wilson, and more. New music from Brandon Sanders, Michael Dease, and more. Birthday recognition for Geoffrey Keezer, Cindy Blackman Santana, and others.Playlist Eddie Palmieri “Random Thoughts" from Exploration (Coco) 00:00 Blue Mitchell “Chick's Tune" from The Thing To Do (Blue Note) 8:58 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers “El Toro"from The Freedom Rider (Blue Note) 18:31 Lena Horne and Gabor Szabo “Watch What Happens"from Watch What Happens! (Skye) 24:42 Reuben Wilson “Bus ...
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