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.

Extended Analysis

Jon Cowherd: Mercy

by John Kelman
July 11, 2014

It's always difficult for an artist who has become so intimately associated with a group--especially if he or she has been a significant compositional contributor--to build a separate identity outside of that group. It might be one of the reasons that Pat Metheny Group keyboardist Lyle Mays--who not only contributed compositions of his own, but also co-wrote some of the group's most well-known and well-loved material--has released so few recordings under his own name. Pianist/keyboardist Jon Cowherd is ...

Album Review

Bob Mamet: London House Blues

Read "London House Blues" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
July 11, 2014

Chicago's now defunct London House was one of the great jazz clubs from a bygone era. Stellar talents like pianist Oscar Peterson and vocalist Sarah Vaughan recorded live albums there, and most of jazz's legendary figures, from Dave Brubeck to Bill Evans to Cannonball Adderley, passed through at one time or another. On his first release for the Blujazz imprint, Chicago-based pianist Bob Mamet tips his cap to this venue and the other clubs (i.e. Mr. Kelly's, Rick's Cafe Americain, ...

Album Review

Jon Crowley: The Rehumanization EP

Read "The Rehumanization EP" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
July 11, 2014

The “EP" tag sitting on the title of trumpeter Jon Crowley's The Rehumanization EP is an obvious abbreviation for “Extended Play." Given an extended listening, it might be more apt to be interpreted as “exceptionally pleasing" or “exceptional performance." Both descriptions precisely fit this, Crowley's third release as leader. And, it is just as terrific as its two predecessors. With The Rehumanization EP Crowley, originally from the fecund musical womb of Philadelphia--and now a Brooklyn resident--continues to ...

Live Review

Marcus Miller and Mustapha Baqbou at Essaouira Festival 2014

by Mehdi El Mouden
July 11, 2014

Marcus Miller and Mustapha Baqbou Place Moulay El Hassan Essaouira Festival Essaouira, Morocco June 14, 2014 On Saturday a rebirth was being prepared at Essaouira Festival. The most awaited artist of the festival, bassist/composer Marcus Miller was going to play with accomplished gnaoua vocalist and guembri player, Mustapha Baqbou. At the conference room, and on his birthday, Miller confessed that he felt not the least uncomfortable about this fusion. To this end, he explained ...

Album Review

Jimmy Cobb: The Original Mob

Read "The Original Mob" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan

by C. Andrew Hovan
July 11, 2014

As the Smoke Sessions list of titles continues to grow, so too do we get to check out some of the country's greatest drummer. The much in-demand Joe Farnsworth has been featured on the label's releases by Harold Mabern and David Hazeltine. Furthermore, one of the most recent titles is a headlining date for the legendary Louis Hayes. Now, comes along a new set that puts the spotlight on renowned drummer Jimmy Cobb, a gentleman that for most of his ...

Live Review

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 at SFJazz, San Francisco

by Harry S. Pariser
July 11, 2014

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80SFJazz San Francisco, California June 19, 2014 A popular aphorism maintains that “the apple never falls fall from the tree." That certainly holds true for Seun Kuti, the son of the legendary saxophonist, songwriter, social activist and political rebel Fela Kuti. The roots run deep. While apples are not indigenous to Nigeria, neither is the Afro Beat music which Fela Kuti developed and popularized, a legacy which his son continues. It ...

Album Review

Louis Hayes: Return of the Jazz Communicators

Read "Return of the Jazz Communicators" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan

by C. Andrew Hovan
July 11, 2014

Much like what has happened with Smalls Records, the cottage industry that Smoke jazz club started when they debuted their own record label last fall has continued to grow into a viable commodity. So too, there is common ground to the look and feel of each release, even as the color scheme and the music itself changes. For the label's 5th full release, they have documented a November 2013 set led by the mighty Detroit drummer Louis Hayes and his ...

Album Review

Bitch 'n' Monk: FulafalonGa

Read "FulafalonGa" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
July 10, 2014

Bitch 'n' Monk is clearly willing and able to take a few risks. It's a strategy that succeeds: the duo's debut recording and self-described “short album," the beautifully-packaged FulafalonGa, lasts barely 25 minutes but packs more ideas into that brief span than most bands manage in the full 60-minutes plus of a standard CD. What's more, the ideas are exciting, surprising and strange by turns. The titular Bitch and Monk are vocalist/guitarist Heidi Heidelberg and flautist Mauricio Velasierra. ...

Extended Analysis

Sonzeira: Brasil Bam Bam Bam

by Phil Barnes
July 10, 2014

While roots linked to a sense of place are important, for music lovers the tunes that we first fell in love with, that formed our early tastes, can be just as potent. The late Laura Nyro called this “primal teenage heartbeat songs" and this superlative collection is Gilles Peterson's way of paying tribute to the Brazilian influence on his lifelong love affair with music. You can join the dots to the young Mr.Peterson, immersed in the music of ...

Extended Analysis

Max Johnson: Big Eyed Rabbit

by Karl Ackermann
July 10, 2014

Bassist Max Johnson is one of the most prolific and versatile musician/composers in music today and likely on the verge of a major breakthrough. Barely past the year's mid-point Johnson has offered three fine releases with different groups and distinctly different styles. Recording with Kirk Knuffke on cornet on Johnson's namesake trio release The Invisible Trio (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2014) the approach was a broad mix of multi-layered structure and unfettered originality. Shortly afterward, Johnson released The Prisoner (NoBusiness ...