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

Ryan Keberle & Catharsis: Into The Zone

Read "Into The Zone" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
September 10, 2014

At the tail end of 2013, trombonist Ryan Keberle contributed an enlightened article-cum-manifesto to The NYC Jazz Record. In said piece, Keberle used Music Is Emotion (Alternate Side Records, 2013), the debut project from his piano-less quartet called Catharsis, as a springboard into discussion about left-brain vs. right-brain forms of creation, the importance of stressing musicality over complexity, and the need to find a way to that zen-like space where the music flows. The article--"Into The Zone"--foreshadowed the direction and ...

Album Review

David Neves: Progress Report

Read "Progress Report" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
September 10, 2014

At twenty-five years of age, Boston-based trumpeter David Neves can't be expected to boast a big recorded with/played with resume. But he can boast a first rate education--Berklee and the New England Conservatory. And with his Progress Report, a marvelous debut as leader, Neves blows way beyond expectations for a new kid on the block. Neves offers up nine of his distinctive and engaging original compositions in the company of a group of stellar sidemen. With a continuity ...

JazzLife UK

ReVoice! 2014: collaboration is a key to success

by Bruce Lindsay
September 10, 2014

The ReVoice! Festival--a celebration of the human voice--is five years old in 2014. Happy Birthday congratulations are in order for the London based festival--this milestone anniversary is an indication of its success and of the wealth of vocalists in the jazz world and beyond. From small beginnings (just five concerts) in 2010 the festival has grown year on year. The 2014 festival program, running from 9-20 October, includes a total of 26 performances across 12 nights in four different venues. ...

Live Review

Miguel Zenon Quartet at 36th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival

by Hrayr Attarian
September 10, 2014

Miguel Zenon Quartet Millenium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion 36th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival Chicago, IL August 31st 2014 The last evening of the festival was pleasantly warm and mild and the millennium park, around the Jay Pritzker Pavilion band shell was packed with people. The Frank Gehry designed signature stainless steel headdress with its custom designed sound system to replicate impeccable indoor acoustics has been the new home of the festival for the past ...

Extended Analysis

Marko Churnchetz: Devotion

by Phil Barnes
September 10, 2014

Recorded in Brooklyn in April 2012 this excellent modern Quartet session led by Slovenian born pianist and composer Marko Churnchetz (native spelling is Črnčec) only recently saw the light of day in July 2014 courtesy of London's enlightened Whirlwind label. The delay is all the more inexplicable given the prominent contributions of hot saxophonist Mark Shim, who played on those wonderful recent Steve Lehman records Mise en Abime and Travail, Transformation & Flow. While this is Churnchetz's Whirlwind ...

Album Review

Arve Henriksen: Arve Henriksen: The Nature of Connections

Read "Arve Henriksen: The Nature of Connections" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
September 10, 2014

There are musicians who defy compartmentalization based on ever shifting interests and styles. Fewer are those like trumpeter Arve Henriksen whose organic nature precludes musical definition. Throughout his career as a leader on the Rune Grammofon label, he has created collections that seem bound together only by his presence. The delicate Asian influences of Sakuteiki (2001), the electronics of Strjon (2007) and the poetically haunting Places of Worship (2013) bear little resemblance to each other save the sometimes intangibly recognizable ...

Album Review

Walter Smith III: Still Casual

Read "Still Casual" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
September 9, 2014

There are countless musicians who perform but few that can make their instruments breathe as melodically as saxophonist Walter Smith III. In the opening track “Foretold You" from his release Still Casual, it's as if his horn is an extension of his thoughts and will--notes burning, graceful and flowing like a stream of ideas. Yet with these obvious abilities Smith is a diligent craftsman whose arduous schedule includes education, tours, and performances within a rotation of rising jazz leaders that ...

Live Review

Live From Birmingham: The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger, Danny Bryant & The Delegators

by Martin Longley
September 9, 2014

The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger The Hare & Hounds September 1, 2014 Sean Lennon expressed seemingly genuine surprise at the room's crowded nature. After all, GOASTT don't really push the knowledge that Lennon is frontman to this deeply psychedelic miasma-orientated combo. The gig's local publicity was extremely and supposedly deliberately low key, but at the very least, mere curiosity alone would have been sufficient to gather a reasonable number of Beatles ...

Album Review

Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood: Juice

by Troy Collins
September 9, 2014

For over two decades, keyboardist John Medeski, percussionist Billy Martin and bassist Chris Wood's abiding fascination with the endless possibilities of groove-based music has taken them from intimate jazz clubs to outdoor festival stages. Their eclectic efforts have included a number of high-profile collaborations; the most prolific and successful has been with esteemed guitarist John Scofield. Following the concert performances issued as In Case the World Changes Its Mind (Indirecto, 2011), Juice is their fourth album together since 1998's pace ...

Extended Analysis

Jason Jackson: Inspiration

by Victor L. Schermer
September 9, 2014

Jason Jackson is an outstanding versatile and well-heeled New York-based trombonist. Somehow, you don't hear his name mentioned along with peers like Robin Eubanks, Steve Turre, Steve Davis, John Fedchock, and Conrad Herwig. Perhaps that's because Jackson plays first chair in big bands, studio work, and Broadway musicals. He doesn't often link up with small groups or front his own, where musicians achieve their notoriety. In addition, his style represents the by now “classic" meld of swing, bebop, and post ...