Jazz Articles
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Ben Goldberg / Todd Sickafoose / Scott Amendola: Here to There
by Mark Corroto
There was a very good reason that James Brown would shout “take me to the bridge." In an interview, he explained: “I heard someone use that expression maybe 45 years ago, referring to the middle part of a song, and I changed it to mean a release." Clarinetist Ben Goldberg, bassist Todd Sickafoose and drummer Scott Amendola utilize that same release with an exploration of the bridges from Thelonious Monk's compositions. Goldberg and Amendola have explored Monk's music ...
Continue ReadingIntroducing Pianist Karen Xie
by Sanford Josephson
While attending City University of New York's Hunter College as a music major, Karen Xie stumbled upon one of the jazz studies program's big-band concerts. “There were four other people in the audience and 20 people on stage," she recalled. Xie, who is classically trained, felt the band's performance was “really cool. I thought that was something I could do because I could read music. Right after, I started sitting in on their classes, and the next semester I started ...
Continue ReadingJoe Brent: Mandolin Magic from Vivaldi to Vinegar Hill
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines On composer, mandolinist, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and label founder Joe Brent.Joe has worked with artists ranging from Regina Spektor to the Philip Glass Ensemble, but his collaboration with Grammy-nominated violinist Sara Caswell and bassist Andrew Ryan in 9 Horses was the impetus for our time together. 9 Horses creates music between classical precision and folk intimacy with mandolins and violins. On their album, Strum (Adhyâropa Records, 2024), 25 musicians create what Joe calls “identifiably human-made ...
Continue ReadingPeter Evans, Stefano Risso, Godwin Louis, Or Bareket & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Mondo Jazz is back on its path of discovery of the finest new jazz releases which are found off the beaten path... and there's plenty of them to enjoy in this playlist!Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Stefano Risso, Francesco Bearzatti, Mattia Barbieri “Lee's Dance" Behind Anatomy (Auand) 0:16 Host talks 4:58 Peter Evans feat. Petter Eldh, Jim Black “Underworld" Extra (We Jazz) 6:32 Host talks 13:01 Orrin ...
Continue ReadingEmily Remler: Cookin' at the Queens: Live in Las Vegas 1984 & 1988
by Jack Kenny
"And death shall have no dominion," wrote Dylan Thomas. To prove the truth of the poet's assertion, Zev Feldman has found and promoted this beautiful album, bringing the talent and creativity of Emily Remler back to life. It is easy to see why Feldman says that for him this is an important project. All of Feldman's projects have lavish extras. This is extra special. Remler was one of those lost souls who seemed destined to disappear under the weight of ...
Continue ReadingThe Ritual Music of Kolida Babo
by Lawrence Peryer
High in northern Greece's Epirus region, an abandoned village sits empty, yet its voice echoes through the music of Kolida Babo. The woodwind duo of Sokratis Votskos and Harris P draws its name from an ancient winter ritual of fire and dance. Their album Spirits Of Mauronoros (Veego Records, 2024) finds inspiration in this remote borderland near Albania, where emptiness and life intertwine. Between Athens and Aridaia, they blend Armenian duduk melodies with Greek folk traditions, free jazz, ...
Continue ReadingEmily Remler: Cookin' at the Queens: Live in Las Vegas 1984 & 1988
by Pierre Giroux
Emily Remler's Cookin' at the Queens Live in Las Vegas 1984 & 1988 is a dynamic 2 CD showcase of her guitar prowess, co-produced for Resonance Records by Zev Feldman and Bill Milkowski, and is firmly rooted in her admiration for jazz legends like Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino and George Benson. Across these live sessions, Remler captures the spirit of jazz guitar in its purest form -intimate, exploratory and deeply expressive. Spanning two vibrant sets, Remler's quartet performance in 1984 ...
Continue ReadingMicroplastique: Blare Blow Bloom!
by Lawrence Peryer
Chicago's experimental music scene welcomes a new voice as Microplastique, four multi-instrumentalists, release their debut album, Blare Blow Bloom! (Irritable Mystic Records), on December 6, 2024. Formed in April 2023, the group includes Ben Zucker, Molly Jones, Josh Harlow and Adam Shead, with Shead composing and leading. Blare Blow Bloom! documents Microplastique's July 2024 US tour. Ten tracks from shows in Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Lafayette, and Indianapolis display the group's talent for reshaping composed material through improvisation. Each ...
Continue ReadingB.B. King: In France: Live At The 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival
by Pierre Giroux
B.B. King In France captures the blues legend at a pivotal moment in his career, showcasing his impeccable musicality and performance style rooted in nuance rather than sheer force. In this live recording produced by Zev Feldman, King offers something akin to jazz standards, channeling timeless emotional narratives through a blues lens that feels as classic as it does fresh. With King on guitar and vocals, the ensemble surrounding him represents a rich tapestry of musical experience with Walter King ...
Continue ReadingJohn Chacona's Favorite Jazz Albums of 2024
by John Chacona
First the bad news: There are too many recordings being released these days. In the past 12 months, I have received or purchased 769. That's insane. Now the good news: There are a great many very good recordings being released these days. The following 10 are a snapshot, on one day, of my favorites released during the past year. They're not the best or the most important, because who am I to say what's best and only history ...
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