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.

Album Review

Jean-Brice Godet Quartet: Mujo

by John Sharpe
July 16, 2016

Young French reedman Jean-Brice Godet enlists a seasoned cast for his debut leadership album, recruited during one of his frequent visits to NYC. Downtown stalwart Michael Attias completes the two horn front line, while bassist Pascal Niggenkemper and drummer Carlo Costa man the engine room. Godet works regularly with celebrated bassist Joelle Leandre, appearing on Can You Hear Me (Ayler, 2016) by her tentet, and has also performed in the past with the likes of Anthony Braxton and Fred Frith. ...

Live Review

The Anat Fort Trio with Gianluigi Trovesi at the Rubin Museum of Art

by Budd Kopman
July 16, 2016

Anat Fort Trio with Gianluigi Trovesi Rubin Museum Of Art New York, NY July 8, 2016 Pianist/composer Anat Fort's trio last played at the Rubin Museum of Art in November, 2008, and it seemed like the packed house had collectively been waiting for its return. Applause, and even cheers washed over the stage as she was introduced; it felt like a homecoming. The concert was part of the CD release tour for her new album, Birdwatching, ...

Album Review

Rich Halley 5: The Outlier

Read "The Outlier" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
July 16, 2016

After a string of impressive quartet recordings, saxophonist Rich Halley adds multi-instrumentalist Vinny Golia to the lineup for The Outlier. The band is the Rich Halley 5, not the Rich Halley 4 + 1. There is an important distinction here. This session gives the impression of a functioning quintet, not just a guest appearance. Halley's recordings of late have focused on his quartet with trombonist Michael Vlatkovich, bassist Clyde Reed, and drummer Carson Halley. They released six stellar ...

Album Review

Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders: Garcia Live Volume Six: Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders July 5 1973, Lion's Share

Read "Garcia Live Volume Six: Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders July 5 1973, Lion's Share" reviewed by Doug Collette

by Doug Collette
July 16, 2016

A cursory review of Garcia Live Volume Six reveals much that's familiar about such titles including personnel (keyboardist/vocalist Merl Saunders, bassist John Kahn and drummer Bill Vitt) and material ("I Second That Emotion," “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"). But a closer perusal uncovers elements that make July 5, 1973 Lion's Share a distinctive entry in the solo discography of guitarist/songwriter/vocalist Jerry Garcia. Rare choices of song, such as “She's Got Charisma," suggest an expansive approach to ...

Live Review

Thelma Houston at the Catalina Jazz Club

by Belinda Ware
July 16, 2016

Thelma Houston and Taalam Acey Catalina Jazz Club Los Angeles, CA April 29, 2016 It was a beautiful starry night. The weather was just right. Perfect for a stroll down Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood. I took a short cut walking from the Walk of Fame as I made my way to the Catalina Jazz Club, one of L.A.'s premiere jazz venues. I heard about a specialty show, Motown, Memories ...

Live From New York

Darius Jones, Mara Rosenbloom, Christian McBride, Tom Harrell & Leon Parker

by Martin Longley
July 15, 2016

The Darius Jones Quintet/The Mara Rosenbloom Trio Ibeam June 13, 2016 This appealing double bill made a Monday night visit to Ibeam a certainty, even if only for a select-sized audience. This musician-orientated room in the Gowanus part of Brooklyn is completely dedicated to the activity of performance, without a bar, or snack hatch, reminiscent of The Stone in Manhattan. The stage, or rather, the far floor-corner, is surrounded with acoustic baffles that add ...

Live Review

Anat Fort Trio with Gianluigi Trovesi at the Rubin Museum of Art

by Tyran Grillo
July 15, 2016

Anat Fort Trio with Gianluigi Trovesi Rubin Museum of Art New York, NY July 8, 2016 On July 8, 2016, Israeli pianist Anat Fort made a welcome return to her New York comfort zone. Having forged relationships with many of that city's greats over the years, not least of all drummer Paul Motian, reputation preceded reappearance at the Rubin Museum of Art, where her trio with bassist Gary Wang and drummer Roland Schneider, ...

Album Review

Miguel Crozzoli / Pablo Díaz: Tierra

Read "Tierra" reviewed by Jakob Baekgaard

by Jakob Baekgaard
July 15, 2016

There is a poem by the Swedish poet Gunnar Ekelöf (1907-1968) called “Den svarte bilden" (The black image) in which he tells about an icon whose image is kissed away. It is a spiritual act of love where the image of representation is transgressed. Interestingly, Ekelöf's poem could be an illustration of what is going on in the meeting between drummer Pablo Díaz and saxophonist Miguel Crozzoli. As a part of the session for their album Tierra, ...

Album Review

Vasil Hadzimanov Band featuring David Binney: Alive

Read "Alive" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski

by Nenad Georgievski
July 15, 2016

Critical to the success of this live album by the VHB is the fact that this band is, at its core, a working band. If you have seen VHB live, you will recognize that this album faithfully relays both the showmanship and ingenious punch of this unit. Obviously, this installment of the VHB is a highly maneuverable vessel that is capable of executing a multitude of ideas, be it electronica, African, free jazz or rock ideas. The stage is the ...

Album Review

Big Harp George: Wash My Horse In Champagne

Read "Wash My Horse In Champagne" reviewed by James Nadal

by James Nadal
July 15, 2016

There is positive news on the blues front, as it continues to evolve and be held in high esteem by its faithful practitioners and audience. Already a generation removed from the heyday of legendary originators; there is a crop of players who have been keeping the blues flourishing, and contributing a renewed outlook to the idiom. Among those is Big Harp George (George Bisharat) whose instrument of choice is the chromatic harmonica, on which he offers an inventive take on ...