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

Alex Baboian: Curiosity

Read "Curiosity" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
January 12, 2015

Guitarist Alex Baboian's debut Curiosity is an intimate, contemplative and supremely lyrical work that draws from his various influences to create a cohesive whole. Admixed with seven Baboian originals are a classic Beatles song, a 1950s pop standard and a modern electronic tune; here stripped down to its melodic core. All ten are delivered with the same understated elegance and slow simmering passion. His “Mulatu" explores ethio-jazz flavored grooves with the spicy sound of a two-reed frontline. Clarinetist ...

Album Review

Martin Fabricius Trio: Out of the White

Read "Out of the White" reviewed by Budd Kopman

by Budd Kopman
January 12, 2015

The opening sounds of the title track of Out of the White herald that this is going to be something different. Electronic sounds begin the track, but closer listening reveals that these are being made ingeniously by Martin Fabricius' vibes. Bassist Christian Hougaard enters, stating the theme supported by the quasi-electronic vibe sounds. Fabricius takes over to recap the theme now as a recognizable vibraphonist. At the turnaround, Mathias Heise adds his harmonica to the mix, eventually with drummer Jacob ...

Rediscovery

David Friesen: Waterfall Rainbow

by John Kelman
January 12, 2015

David FriesenWaterfall RainbowInner City1977 Today's Rediscovery is Waterfall Rainbow, from a bassist who garnered significant attention back in the '70s and '80s, but sadly never sustained it for reasons unknown--certainly nothing to do with his talent--and has, in the decades since, remained an active player, but one largely forgotten by the general jazz public. After taking a relatively bold step and making Color Pool (Muse, 1975), his first album as a leader, a ...

Extended Analysis

Roller Trio: Fracture

by Phil Barnes
January 12, 2015

Fracture is an intriguing title for this follow up record to Roller Trio's eponymous Mercury nominated debut from 2012. Recent interview comments spoke of how little that nomination changed their financial situation, so it is tempting to read the title as a reference to the band's relationship with the music industry--after all the album is also their first on their own Lamplight Social label rather than F-ire who handled them previously. Or is the title intended to be a more ...

Album Review

Chris Potter Underground Orchestra: Imaginary Cities

Read "Imaginary Cities" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
January 11, 2015

Given the globe-trotting touring on the back of Unity Band (Nonesuch Records, 2012) and Kin ()(Nonesuch Records, 2014) with Pat Metheny's Unity Group it's a wonder that Chris Potter has had time for his own projects. Yet with The Sirens (ECM, 2013)--an acoustic suite inspired by Homer's Odyssey--Potter was in the composing form of his life. On Imaginary Cities Potter shows greater ambition still in blending a string quartet with his long-standing Underground band. Furthermore, electric bassist Fima Ephron and ...

Album Review

Allison Neale: I Wished On The Moon

Read "I Wished On The Moon" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
January 11, 2015

Classic tunes, played by a young alto saxophonist with a distinctive tone, impeccable taste and a talent for recruiting three of the best bandmates around. Add a quartet of guest appearances by a fine young Milt Jackson-inspired vibes player. Do the music justice by ensuring high-quality sound. Presenting I Wished On The Moon, the third album from Allison Neale. Neale, born in the USA when her British father was working for Boeing in Seattle, returned to the UK ...

Album Review

Leonard Cohen: Live in London

Read "Live in London" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski

by Nenad Georgievski
January 11, 2015

The Live in London LP could have easily been Leonard Cohen's last record and the tour that followed it could have easily been a low key farewell tour. Already at the twilight of his career or at an age when most acts go into retirement, Cohen slowly was secluding himself from recordings, performances or public appearances and instead he lived the life of a monk at a Zen monastery. Due to misfortune concerning his former manager, who bled his bank ...

Year in Review

Robert Bush Best of 2014

by Robert Bush
January 11, 2015

2014 proved a banner year for jazz recordings. Still, two of my favorite discs this year came in the form of previously unreleased material--the Jarrett Trio and Coltrane Quintet cannot be overlooked, in my opinion. Wadada Leo Smith The Great Lakes Suites (Tum Records) Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian Hamburg '72 (ECM) John Coltrane Offering Live at Temple University ...

Extended Analysis

David Hazeltine and Mike Kaplan: Two Perspectives On Cedar Walton

by David A. Orthmann
January 11, 2015

Years ago, I often went to a club in which a guest soloist was coupled with the house rhythm section. At one point in nearly every opening set, in an effort to find some common ground, the leader called Cedar Walton's “Bolivia." Sitting and waiting in anticipation for the theme to be played became an important part of witnessing each performance. Regardless of who was on the bandstand, “Bolivia" never failed to bring out the best in everyone.

Extended Analysis

Live at the Orpheum

by John Kelman
January 11, 2015

It was the reunion nobody expected. After years of touring in circumstances less than ideal--and, for him, distinctly and increasingly unpleasant-- co-founder and only remaining original member Robert Fripp was as clear as can be that he was done with his flagship group King Crimson. A brief four-city, eleven-date 2008 tour--with a revamped version of the 2000-2003 quartet, also featuring Adrian Belew, Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto reunited but with previous bassist/stick man Tony Levin replacing Gunn and a second ...