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.

Extended Analysis

John Scofield: Past Present

by Doug Collette
September 30, 2015

During the course of his storied career, guitarist/composer John Scofield has never shown much of of a predilection to repeat himself. Rather, he navigates through projects as diverse as trio outings, experiments with horns, collections of ballads and collaborations with the likes of Gov't Mule and the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh in a such a way that, when he completes a cyle of activity, he's grown discernibly as an artist. Which is why the title of Past Present ...

Extended Analysis

Matthew Halsall & the Gondwana Orchestra: Into Forever

by Phil Barnes
September 30, 2015

Some artists epitomise the times they live in, while others go their own way, standing apart from the herd, ploughing their own furrow. As the self-aggrandising, dishonest and downright greedy seem to gain ever greater prominence in our world, those whose work can provide a few moments of respite, refuge and reflection become more and more important--artists like Manchester's Matthew Halsall, who here releases his sixth album since 2008. On Into Forever Halsall shares the billing with the Gondwana Orchestra ...

Album Review

Dale Head: Swing, Straight Up

Read "Swing, Straight Up" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
September 30, 2015

Dale Head is a high-energy singer who doubles on trumpet and makes up in drive and enthusiasm for what he may lack in singularity and polish. Swing Straight Up, on which Head is backed by Rory Snyder's admirable Night Jazz Band, underlines the singer's strengths (strong voice, an abundance of self-confidence) while serving as a reminder that Head is several furlongs short of his leading role model, the incomparable Frank Sinatra. There's no doubt that Head's heart ...

Album Review

Bob Albanese: Time Remembered

Read "Time Remembered" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
September 30, 2015

What of the lunchpail musicians? The blue collar jazz players like pianist Bob Albanese, are craftsmen who work to complete the jazz cathedrals whose foundations were laid by the masters. Albanese acknowledges the jazz icons, yet his artistry is as imaginative as the names written on the cornerstones. Proof positive is Time Remembered with guest Eddie Gomez. This disc follows his One Way/Detour Zoho Music (2009) and also has the pianist and longtime collaborator Willard Dyson at the ...

Album Review

Kamasi Washington: The Epic

Read "The Epic" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
September 30, 2015

Kamasi Washington's masterwork The Epic showcases an incisive saxophonist/composer who has performed with jazz luminaries Gerald Wilson and Herbie Hancock but is probably better known for his work with creatives outside of jazz--Grammy winning electronic musician/producer Steven Ellison aka Flying Lotus (grand-nephew of Alice Coltrane); rising Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar and Steven Bruner aka Thundercat who is one of the best electronic bassists in any music genre. Washington's intrepid concepts are in full force in this auspicious ...

Multiple Reviews

Losen Records: Jazz Around the World

by Jakob Baekgaard
September 29, 2015

Since the beginning, the Norwegian label Losen Records, which is run by the indefatigable Odd Gjelsnes, has not been satisfied with a replication of the so-called Nordic sound. Instead, Gjelsnes has literally spread himself around the world, with albums recorded in Australia, Sweden, South Africa, Norway and Spain. Gjelsnes is a true world citizen and the music on Losen reflects this. The following six releases cover a wide range of genres and sounds, but they all have one thing in ...

Live Review

Bob DeVos Quartet at the 12th Annual OSPAC Jazz and Brew Fest

by David A. Orthmann
September 29, 2015

Bob DeVos Quartet Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center 12h Annual Jazz and Brew Fest West Orange, NJ September 19, 2015 A loud, protracted rumble, not unlike the sound of aircraft hovering overhead, briefly marred the second selection of a set by guitarist Bob DeVos' Quartet. It took a minute or two for the sound crew at the 12th Annual OSPAC Jazz and Brew Fest to get things back on course. The unwelcome interruption ...

Album Review

Christian Artmann: Fields Of Pannonia

Read "Fields Of Pannonia" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
September 29, 2015

Flautist Christian Artmann's work seems to be rooted in the notion that art can and will stretch as far as the imagination will take it. And in his case, that's quite a distance. With Fields Of Pannonia, Artmann presents an album-length fantasia, bringing jazz language, baroque influences, impressionistic ideals, swing, straight-eighth grooves, open-ended thoughts, and solidly-structured songs into contact with one another. Part of the charm of this music is in the way that Artmann and his ...

Album Review

Chris Spedding: Songs Without Words

Read "Songs Without Words" reviewed by Roger Farbey

by Roger Farbey
September 29, 2015

All five musicians on this retrieved-from-the-vaults archival release were at various times alumni of bands or recordings directed by British veteran jazz composer Mike Westbrook. Songs Without Words was produced at the end of 1969 under the aegis of Peter Eden (who produced several early Westbrook records for the Deram label), on the condition, imposed by Chris Spedding, that if he didn't like the finished product it wouldn't be released. So it was shelved after the recording, probably because Spedding ...

Album Review

Josh Shpak Band: Astatic

by James Nadal
September 29, 2015

If one is driven to the edge of sound and requested to hear the future of jazz, whoever is spinning the tunes might consider the Josh Shpak Band to open the show with music from Astatic . Led by trumpet prodigy Josh Shpak, who was personally mentored by the legendary Clark Terry, this outfit is propelled by the vitality of youth and exuberance with a wisdom well beyond their collective years. The cosmic throb which opens “The Vibe," ...