Jazz Articles

Our daily articles are carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. You can find more articles by searching our website, see what's trending on our popular articles page or read articles ahead of their published dates on our Coming Soon page. Read our daily album reviews.

New York Beat

John Pizzarelli Soars at Birdland

by Nick Catalano
September 16, 2016

Wowing a late night crowd of worshipful fans at a packed Birdland, John Pizzarelli showcased his guitar mastery, vocal excitement, and hilarious patter this past Saturday night. Accompanied by his Swing Seven band of jazz all-stars, the scion of the famed New Jersey Pizzarelli clan (guitarist father Bucky will celebrate his 90th birthday this week at the Jazz Gallery) continued his world-renown jazz parade with a set featuring the work of legendary composers. Pizzarelli has performed in ...

Album Review

Ryan Quigley: What Doesn’t Kill You

Read "What Doesn’t Kill You" reviewed by Roger Farbey

by Roger Farbey
September 16, 2016

Born in 1977, Ryan Quigley began playing trumpet at age 11 and later became an in-demand musician touring with the likes of Curtis Stigers and Tim Garland, and working as a member of award-winning Glaswegian band Brass Jaw. He's now the jazz trumpet tutor and one of the directors of the Big Band at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. What Doesn't Kill You is the follow-up to his 2008 album Laphroaig-ian Slip. Bookended by two ...

Live Review

Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin Competition 2016

by Martin Longley
September 16, 2016

The 2nd International Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin Competition The Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre For Music, Luslawice Manngha Museum Of Japanese Arts & Technology Kraków, Poland August 24-27, 2016 The violinist Zbigniew Seifert was one of Poland's best-known jazz players, who died tragically early, a victim of cancer at the age of only 32. One of the aims of this competition is to maintain Seifert's profile and reputation in his homeland. ...

Album Review

Øystein Blix: Conditions

Read "Conditions" reviewed by Mark Sullivan

by Mark Sullivan
September 16, 2016

Norwegian trombonist/composer Øystein Blix presents a work with the unusual instrumentation of trombone, guitar (& electronics), drums (& electronics) and male choir. Composed for and premiered at the Northern Lights Festival in Tromsø in 2013, “the libretto is a commentary on the struggle that artists and cultural institutions in Italy must endure during these hard financial and political times." Blix says that the idea occurred to him during his own experiences in Italy, working and performing with Italian artists.

New York @ Night

Steve Turre at SMOKE

by Peter Jurew
September 15, 2016

Steve Turre SMOKE New York, NY September 11, 2016 It's not an exaggeration to state up front that New York, jazz capital of the world, contains a virtually limitless variety of jazz music joys available to anyone on any given night, which can make choosing which gig to see, and where, no simple matter. For a few reasons, the third and final night of Steve Turre and an all-star ensemble at SMOKE ...

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Philosophisticated Lady

According to Adorno: A Portrait Of Jazz's Harshest Critic, Part 1

by Marithe Van der Aa
September 15, 2016

Part 1 | Part 2 Though the vast majority of his writings on music dealt primarily with the classical tradition, Theodor Adorno (1903-1969) also devoted a considerable amount of attention to jazz. To say Adorno was skeptical of this dance music that had paddled its way across the Atlantic, would be a gross understatement at best. On top of being incredibly biased, his opinions on jazz music were so harsh, that one may wonder if they are to ...

Interview

Ron Carter: Detroit Jazz Festival 2016 Artist-In-Residence

by C. Andrew Hovan
September 15, 2016

As the artist-in-residence for the 37th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival, Ron Carter maintained an active role in both the artistic and educational functions that accompanied this distinguished position, made even more extraordinary by the fact that it was all happening in his hometown. Having teamed with Pat Metheny last year for a stellar duo set at the festival, artistic director Chris Collins got the idea that the time was ripe for the seventy-nine-year-old bassist to return to Detroit ...

Album Review

Paolo Fresu & Omar Sosa featuring Natacha Atlas & Jaques Morelenbaum: Eros

by Dan Bilawsky
September 15, 2016

While the connection between Cuban pianist Omar Sosa and Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu was established back in 2006, their partnership truly blossomed with Alma (Ota Music, 2012), a beauty of an album with a soft sell approach. That record--quite possibly the most moving item in either man's discography--prioritized heart over all else, and this follow-up date follows suit. Eros--the god of love--serves as muse and sculptor on this easygoing outing. Sosa and Fresu are both in fine ...

Album Review

The Old Hat Jazz Band: The Sparrow

Read "The Sparrow" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
September 15, 2016

The Old Hat Jazz Band is a London-based group of young musicians that made its first appearance on record with its self-titled and self-produced four-track EP in 2015. The debut release established the band's musical prowess as well as its genuine feel for early jazz. The Sparrow proves that the band has strength-in-depth, as it swings and sways through its first full-length album of varied--and hugely enjoyable--moods. The Sparrow is a collection of original tunes by individual band ...

Album Review

Monocled Man: We Drift Meridian

Read "We Drift Meridian" reviewed by Roger Farbey

by Roger Farbey
September 15, 2016

Formed in 2011 and led by Loop Collective trumpeter Rory Simmons this is the intriguing follow-up to Monocled Man's 2014 debut album Southern Drawl. The album's title reflects Simmons's intention to tell the story, via his compositions, of real people who lived on remote islands across the globe. Tromelin Island was the site of the wreckage of a slave ship run aground in 1761. The plaintive echoey trumpet melody at the opening of “Tromelin" reflects the loneliness and desperation of ...