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

Joelle Leandre / Nicole Mitchell: Sisters Where

Read "Sisters Where" reviewed by John Sharpe

by John Sharpe
July 25, 2014

Sisters Where forms another installment in the fertile collaboration between French bassist Joëlle Léandre and American flutist Nicole Mitchell, following on from Before After (Rogue Art, 2011) and Flowing Stream (Leo Records, 2014). One enduring feature of the pairing is the attractive opposition of high and low ends represented by their respective axes, although of course Léandre can effortlessly traverse that divide with her virtuosic bow handling. What further helps make the session work so well is that each includes ...

Extended Analysis

Mansur Scott: Great Voices of Harlem

by Larry Reni Thomas
July 25, 2014

Those of us who know better laughed, snickered, recently, when we read that Harlem-based vocalist extraordinaire Mansur Scott was a “rising star." We will agree that he is definitely a “star" because he always shines when he sings. His first album, Sometimes Forgotten Sometimes Remembered (Pao Records, 2010), was excellent and caught the attention of a great deal of music lovers. His latest recording, Great Voices Of Harlem (Pao Records) includes two other singers, Gregory Porter and Donald Smith, who ...

Album Review

Lars Bech Pilgaard: I Want You To Be Around Me

Read "I Want You To Be Around Me" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
July 25, 2014

Danish guitarist Lars Bech Pilgaard is known for restless, left-of-center aesthetics that characterize his solo efforts and work in bands such as SVIN and Slowburn. In 2012 he released a limited edition, handmade solo disc featuring mostly low-fi recordings. Now he continues with the same collector's- item, do-it- yourself philosophy. This release featured only 100 12” vinyl copies, with handmade covers. I Want You To Be Around Me was recorded at the former train station Lygten ...

Book Review

Amanda Petrusich – Do Not Sell at Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World's Rarest 78 rpm Records

by C. Michael Bailey
July 24, 2014

Do Not Sell at Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World's Rarest 78 rpm Records Amanda Petrusich 272 Pages ISBN: # 978-1451667059 Scribner 2014 The text for Jonathan Edwards' famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was based on the Old Testament scripture of Deuteronomy 32:35: “Their foot shall slide in due time." But, rather than referring to the Christian unconverted, this admonition ...

Live Review

Baby do Brasil at Blue Note Jazz Club

by Ernest Barteldes
July 24, 2014

Baby do Brasil Brasil Summerfest at Blue Note Jazz Club New York, NY July 21, 2014 On her second performance as part of the lineup for the 2014 edition of Brasil Summerfest (she performed the previous evening at the South Street Seaport), legendary Brazilian singer Baby do Brasil was backed by a stellar band. Rounded out by Skoota (drums ), Mike Ciro (guitar), Jon Deley (keyboards), Ze Grey (bass ) Daniel Sadownick ...

Live Review

Ljubljana Jazz Festival 2014

by Henning Bolte
July 24, 2014

2014 Ljubljana Jazz Festival 2014 Ljubljana, Slovenia July 2-5, 2014 Ljubljana--capital of the Republic of Slovenia, member of EU, neighbored by Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Italy--hosts the oldest jazz festival in Europe, which held its 55th edition this year. The event is usually organized by Cankarjev House--Cankarjev Dom, in Slovenian--a prestigious, state-run cultural centre in midtown Ljubljana, residing in one half of an impressive twin tower building, the other part being the National Bank of Slovenia. ...

Album Review

Laurie Antonioli: Songs Of Shadow, Songs Of Light: The Music Of Joni Mitchell

Read "Songs Of Shadow, Songs Of Light: The Music Of Joni Mitchell" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
July 24, 2014

The concept of a jazz-informed program of Joni Mitchell tunes isn't exactly novel anymore. Herbie Hancock's high profile River: The Joni Letters (Verve, 2007) took home two Grammy Awards; vocalist Tierney Sutton got some well-deserved attention when she put her own spin on Mitchell's work with After Blue (BFM, 2013); somewhat under-the-radar releases from artists like David Lahm and Rachel Z have made something of an impact on a smaller scale; and numerous other albums that aren't necessarily built around ...

Album Review

Harrison Birtwistle: Chamber Music

Read "Chamber Music" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
July 24, 2014

Released in celebration of composer Harrison Birtwistle's 80th birthday; his Chamber Music on the ECM label, is a collection of introspective, minimalistic and superbly abstract mesmerizing works. The four pieces share a subtle yet definite theatricality and a sense of deep contemplation that has a visceral impact.His “Trio" opens with pianist Till Fellner's furious, rapid-fire percussive notes followed by the gentle brooding strings. This contrast sets a tense ambience that is maintained throughout the composition by alternating Fellner's ...

Album Review

Francesco Lo Castro: Chasing Beauty

Read "Chasing Beauty" reviewed by Jeffrey Uhrich

by Jeffrey Uhrich
July 24, 2014

Positive energy flows and pleasing melodies abound in Chasing Beauty by guitarist and composer Francesco Lo Castro, the fifth album released on his own label. Using an array of outstanding musicians, voice and instrumentation, Lo Castro creates a sonic canvass that's reminiscent of artists Pat Metheny and Mike Stern. Throughout the disc, Lo Castro displays an innate skill and sensibility in relation to his supporting musicians, instinctively knowing when to hold back and also when to unleash their joyful vigor. ...

Album Review

Reginald Cyntje: Elements of Life

Read "Elements of Life" reviewed by Geannine Reid

by Geannine Reid
July 24, 2014

Born on the island of Dominica and raised on St. Thomas, USVI, trombonist Reginald Cyntje has been mixing cultural heritage with black American music from the beginning. Growing up in the US Virgin Islands (USVI), Cyntje was immersed in the rich cultural music known as Quelbe (the official music of the USVI), which is based primarily on African, European and North American cultures and musical structures. One of the key characteristics of Quelbe is that there is improvising in the ...