Jazz Articles
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New Year, New Releases From Benjie Porecki, Brulez Les Meubles, Remembering Jay Clayton, Marlena Shaw, Angela Bofill & More
by Mary Foster Conklin
This broadcast includes includes new releases from Benjie Porecki and Brulez Les Meubles, with birthday shoutouts to Myra Melford, Naama Gheber, James Shipp, Susannah McCorkle, Carol Sudhalter, plus a remembrance of several artists who left us in 2024--Jay Clayton, Marlena Shaw, Angela Bofill and Sergio Mendes. Happy listening and please support the artists you hear. See them live, purchase their music so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke, inspire and remind the world that A Woman's Place Is In ...
Continue ReadingSam Blakeslee Large Group at BLU Jazz+
by John Chacona
Sam Blakeslee Large Group BLU Jazz+ Akron, OH December 20, 2024 In December, flowers bloomed in northeast Ohio, but climate change had nothing to do with it. The sudden blossoming was the work of Sam Blakeslee who returned to his home state to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, 18 of whom joined him on the stage of Akron's BLU Jazz+ for a performance of his “Flowers for Rubber City" suite. The ...
Continue ReadingArthur Blythe Quartet: Live From Studio Rivbea, July 6, 1976
by John Sharpe
Saxophonist Arthur Blythe arrived in New York City in 1974 with a gorgeous tone and a fully formed conception. Having featured in the ensembles of pianist Horace Tapscott in his native LA, he first caught the ear in the Big Apple after his recruitment into the bands of drummer Chico Hamilton and pianist/composer Gil Evans. This gem from Sam Rivers' Studio Rivbea archive constitutes his debut as a leader, recorded some seven months before the previous contender for that title, ...
Continue ReadingTwo First Visits From ezz-thetics
by John Eyles
So far, ezz-thetics' label First Visit (motto: First Visit archive offers previously unreleased recordings of historic and musical importance) has lived up to expectations with historic recordings from Cecil Taylor (two albums), Anthony Braxton, Albert Ayler (two) and Steve Lacy making the juices of classic jazz fans flow. Interspersed with such treasures have been recordings like Live Amsterdam 2006 which was recorded by pianist Ran Blake and electric guitarist Dave Knife Fabris at the Bimhaus in Amsterdam in ...
Continue ReadingJoe Robson: Home
by Neil Duggan
Many artists draw inspiration from their homeland's folk traditions, which are often reflected in their compositions and playing style. This fusion is particularly evident in Scottish jazz, where prominent performers like Fergus McCreadie, Norman Willmore and Stephen Henderson incorporate strong folk elements. Guitarist Joe Robson advances this blend in his ambitious project Home, achieving a complete marriage of both genres across his ten compositions that make up the album. Supporting his vision are several similarly inspired Scottish musicians. ...
Continue ReadingMeet Jenny Scheinman
by Cheryl K.
In this hour, an interview with violinist and composer Jenny Scheinman. Her release of last year on Royal Potato Family is titled All Species Parade. Scheinman appears during this year's Winter Jazzfest, scheduled at various locations in NYC. Playlist Dennis Mitcheltree “911" from Nevermind the Circus (Dengor Music) 6:27 Jessica Jones Quartet “Little Melonae" from Edible Flowers (Reva) 7:50 Jenny Scheinman “The Cape" from All Species Parade (Royal Potato Family) 4:13 Jenny Scheinman “House of Flowers" from All ...
Continue ReadingA Bouquet of Basho: The Musical Legacy of a Legend
by Jakob Baekgaard
It is hard to underestimate the importance of a documentary when it comes to the goal of preserving the legacy of a musician. Unlike a book, a documentary tells the story of an artist in a way that is much more condensed and adds a visual and aural aspect that the written page misses. Liam Barker's beautiful documentary, Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho (2020), was a gamechanger in many ways. Not only did ...
Continue ReadingBen Paterson: Cookin' in the Couvre
by Pierre Giroux
Ben Paterson's release Cookin' in the Couve captures the energy and intimacy of a jazz trio in full swing. The album features Paterson on piano, Neal Miner on bass and Aaron Seeber on drums as they deliver hard-swinging blues-infused jazz, balancing technical finesse with soulful expression. The set list is a delightful mix of Paterson originals and some of his favorite blues-heavy standards, each chosen to showcase the trio's cohesion and groove. The session opens with ...
Continue ReadingSpace: Embrace the Space
by John Sharpe
The second album from the Swedish collective Space, comprising pianist Lisa Ullén, bassist Elsa Bergman and drummer Anna Lund, finds further intrigue and sustenance in the soil that nurtured its eponymous 2022 debut. The three principals share a vision of the piano trio that accentuates the percussive aspects of the format. They have honed that synergy over several years, having first united as the engine room of saxophonist Anna Högberg's celebrated Attack, which can be heard on another eponymous debut ...
Continue ReadingMads Tolling: Jazz Collaborations and Classics Reimagined
by Steven Roby
When two-time Grammy-winning violinist Mads Tolling picks up his bow, magic happens. From reinterpreting classics like The Beatles' “Blackbird" to crafting soul-stirring arrangements of “What a Wonderful World" with the iconic Kenny Washington, Mads continues to redefine the boundaries of jazz and classical fusion. In the latest episode of Backstage Bay Area, Tolling delves into his career, his unique collaborations with John R. Burr and Kenny Washington, and what audiences can expect at their upcoming show at the ...
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