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.

Live Review

Chicago at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion

by C. Michael Bailey
May 10, 2015

Chicago Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion Rogers, Arkansas May 3, 2015 I saw the Eagles with Yes in 1975 at Barton Coliseum and then saw them both 25 years later at our river amphitheater. I saw Chicago 35 years ago at Barton Coliseum and then recently. While I am not an authority...I do know from where I come. Musical acts from the 1960s and '70s have made a cottage industry and cash ...

Album Review

Ted Piercefield: Chasing My Dream

Read "Chasing My Dream" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
May 10, 2015

Ted Piercefield's Chasing My Dream, as titled, is interesting wordplay. You see, it not only is a highly accurate description of Piercefield's lengthy career in music and his fierce dedication to the art, but, this superb recording is also a musical acknowledgement and salute to one Bill Chase and his eponymous fire-breathing group. Piercefield is a superior trumpeter, vocalist, composer and arranger --and one of the original members of the legendary group, “Chase" with which ensemble he ...

Album Review

Russell / Beresford / Edwards / Liavik Solberg: Will It Float?

Read "Will It Float?" reviewed by John Eyles

by John Eyles
May 10, 2015

Will It Float? features Norwegian drummer Ståle Liavik Solberg in the company of three of London's most esteemed improvisers, guitarist John Russell, bassist John Edwards and keyboardist Steve Beresford on objects and electronics. The genesis of this album can be traced back to the recording of the excellent No Step (Hispid, 2014) which paired Liavik Solberg and Russell. The success of that duo convinced the drummer to put together a quartet consisting of more musicians from the British improv scene. ...

Extended Analysis

Hans Zimmer: Interstellar OST

by Nenad Georgievski
May 10, 2015

With audacity and style, director Christopher Nolan has created another visual masterpiece that defines the science fiction genre. The epic Interstellar definitely was one of the most interesting and moving films that came out in 2014. The film itself gave a grim glimpse of the future of mankind and the inevitable cataclysm. The food has run out, the armies are all disbanded and there wasn't much use of technology Because of that NASA has built a sort of a “space ...

Album Review

Steve Coleman and the Council of Balance: Synovial Joints

Read "Synovial Joints" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
May 10, 2015

The recipient of a 2014 MacArthur Genius grant, alto saxophonist Steve Coleman is one of the most innovative contemporary improvisers and composers. Over a career that has spanned three decades Coleman has restlessly explored unique and ingenious ways of spontaneous expression and artistic conceptualization. On Synovial Joints Coleman leads his large ensemble The Counsel of Balance on a provocative and intricately constructed series of interconnected pieces. The harmonically complex and textured music flows seamlessly from one track to ...

Multiple Reviews

Catching up with John Butcher at 60

by John Eyles
May 10, 2015

In November 2014, saxophonist John Butcher celebrated his sixtieth birthday over two evenings at Cafe Oto, London, in the company of musicians including Gino Robair, Tony Buck, Magda Mayas, dieb13, Olie Brice, Guillaume Viltard, Adam Bohman and Ute Kanngiesser, with Butcher playing both solo and in various small groupings. At those gigs, he demonstrated all the attributes that have made him one of the most adventurous and intriguing saxophonists of the past few decades and showed that the arrival of ...

Live Review

Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble at the Paramount

by Mike Perciaccante
May 9, 2015

Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble the Paramount Huntington, NY April 25, 2015The reigning champions of bass-driven avant rock made its appearance at Huntington, NY's the Paramount on a mild Saturday evening in late April. Since its inception in 1984, and its first release ( Suck on This released on Prawn Song Records in 1989), Primus has made its name by performing tongue-in-cheek, cutting edge, alternative, but always unique ...

Live Review

The English Beat at the Gramercy Theatre

by Mike Perciaccante
May 9, 2015

The English Beat Gramercy Theatre New York, NY April 29, 2015 Formed in Birmingham, England, the English Beat have been fusing pop, ska, punk, reggae, rock and soul since 1978. Its upbeat songs deal with peace, love, harmony and, of course, as any good English band worth its salt does--politics. The original band, which consisted of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Everett Morton (drums), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), ...

Album Review

Mike Fletcher Trio: Vuelta

by Bruce Lindsay
May 9, 2015

Vuelta is the debut release from the Mike Fletcher Trio, a band with a strong emphasis on improvisations based on Fletcher's melodies. The result is an accessible collection of tunes that draw on the creativity and technical skills of all three players.The trio is based in Birmingham, the major city of the English midlands. Fletcher, a 2014 ECHO Rising Star, plays the rather rare combination of flute and C-melody saxophone. Olie Brice and Jeff Williams stick with the ...

Album Review

Anthony Braxton Quartet: (Santa Cruz) 1991 1st Set

Read "(Santa Cruz) 1991 1st Set" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
May 9, 2015

Decoding the music of Anthony Braxton might be a lifetime's mission. With his symbol system compositions and grand unification theories, even the trained ear admits to perplexity and a certain ignorance. Braxton has never stopped, nor slowed to explain himself to listeners. There are moments of insights though, in his performances. One can glean his approach when he covers jazz standards, plays the music of Charlie Parker or Lennie Tristano. Perhaps another window into the mind of the great one ...