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

Jason Kahn & Tim Olive: Two Sunrise

Read "Two Sunrise" reviewed by John Eyles

by John Eyles
July 3, 2014

For those familiar with the two previous releases on Tim Olive's own 845 Audio imprint, the release of Two Sunrise will hold few surprises. As before, its brown chipboard sleeve is adorned with basic graphics and information, giving it a “cottage industry" feel--no bad thing as it follows a noble tradition created by such musician-run labels as Incus and Matchless. Again, the music was created by a duo of Tim Olive plus a like-minded player who complements Olive's use of ...

My Blue Note Obsession

J.J. Johnson: The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volumes 1 and 2 – Blue Note 1505 and 1506

by Marc Davis
July 3, 2014

Think of jazz, and the trombone almost never comes to mind. Didn't used to be. In the beginning, every jazz band had a trombone. But that was the Dixieland era, and Dixieland bands aren't much in vogue anymore. (Unless you're a fan of HBO's Treme and you listen to Trombone Shorty. Sadly, not enough people do, or Treme would still be on the air.) Then came the big band era, and suddenly lots of trombones were ...

Album Review

Charles Davis: For The Love Of Lori

Read "For The Love Of Lori" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
July 3, 2014

Coping with loss is never easy. Some are completely defeated by the death of a loved one, choosing to retreat into isolation. Others prefer to reflect, celebrate the life that was lived, and play on. Saxophonist Charles Davis is part of the latter group. Davis lost his wife--Lori Samet-Davis--in April of 2012, but he didn't let that loss break his will to create. This album, a straight ahead display of artistic expression and affection, is given up in tribute to ...

Live Review

Amos Lee at Celebrate Brooklyn

by Ernest Barteldes
July 3, 2014

Amos Lee Celebrate Brooklyn, Prospect Park Brooklyn, NY June 20, 2014 After a high energy opening set by Brooklyn-based Lake Street Dive, Philadelphia native and singer/songwriter Amos Lee took to the stage with a five-piece band that included two multi-instrumentalists who took turns on guitars, horns and mandolins. The group kicked off with “Windows Rolled Down," a funk-driven tune that was well received by fans who completely filled the concert space. He ...

Album Review

Thomas Maintz / Scott Colley / Johnathan Blake: Present

Read "Present" reviewed by Jakob Baekgaard

by Jakob Baekgaard
July 2, 2014

There's a certain trend that has developed on the Danish jazz scene and it keeps growing stronger. In recent years, many Danish jazz musicians have travelled to New York to make a record with some of the top musicians in the city. Danish guitarist Jakob Bro has done it several times, recently with his record December Song (Loveland, 2013) where he once again worked with legendary saxophonist Lee Konitz, pianist Søren Bebe recorded with bassist Marc Johnson on Eva (From ...

Interview

Martin Wind: Appreciating Bill Evans

by R.J. DeLuke
July 2, 2014

Bassist Martin Wind had already gigged with American jazz musicians prior to moving to New York City in 1996 to advance his musical studies. Though classically trained, Wind is highly versatile, having played in orchestras, small jazz groups, crossing genres on the electric bass prior to departing his native Germany. Now, years later, he is a well-established player on the New York scene, having performed with stalwarts like Monty Alexander, Pat Metheny, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Toots Thielemans, ...

Album Review

Mindi Abair: Wild Heart

Read "Wild Heart" reviewed by Jeff Winbush

by Jeff Winbush
July 2, 2014

Courtney Love courted controversy in a Rolling Stone interview when she shrugged off Clarence Clemons, the late and great “Big Man" saxophonist of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band, “My Springsteen problem is just that saxophones don't belong in rock & roll," she said. “They just don't belong." Mindi Abair would like a word with you Miss Love. The fusion of jazz and rock was not the most beloved of hybrids. As practiced by bands like Chicago and ...

Live Review

TD Ottawa Jazz Festival 2014, Days 7-9

by John Kelman
July 2, 2014

Days 1-2 | Days 4-6 | Days 7-9 Anat Fort / Susanna Torben Waldorff Wah Wah / Norma WInstone Partisans TD Ottawa Jazz Festival Ottawa, Canada June 20-July 1, 2014 For the last three days in Ottawa before heading to Montréal for five days of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, the emphasis was entirely on the Improv Invitational series, at the National Arts Centre's intimate, club-like Fourth Stage. It ...

Bailey's Bundles

Jazz Vocals June

by C. Michael Bailey
July 2, 2014

Andrea Balducci Bloom Schema 2012 Italian vocalist Andrea Balducci is so earnestly hip and so perfectly coiffed (he is a lawyer, after all) he is almost a metaphor: a talented metaphor. His debut recording, Bloom is equally hip and coiffed as the singer himself. With a keen ear for the edge of nostalgia, Balducci assembles a repertoire from 1960s American popular music. The heady brief Balducci prepares for us is one almost ...

Album Review

Steve Khan: Subtext

Read "Subtext" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
July 2, 2014

Steve Khan has always been a consummate, story-telling improviser. His extensive resume and distinguished solo career spans jazz fusion, modern mainstream, and with Subtext, he delves a bit deeper into the Latin element, when looking back at his days recording and performing with former Weather Report percussionist Manolo Badrena who was a member of Khan's early 80s bands. It's a sprightly session, featuring guest appearances by trumpeter Randy Brecker, keyboardist Rob Mounsey and others of note. But the core personnel ...