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.
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Kirsten Carey and Aaron Edgcomb: Mature Defense Mechanism
by Hrayr Attarian
Guitarist Kirsten Carey and drummer Aaron Edgcomb are both genre defiers with unique and highly personal styles. Both thrive in improvised settings, as their work is seeped in spontaneity. Conceived during the COVID 19 pandemic, Mature Defense Mechanism consists of 11 tracks, each carrying a wallop. The album was recorded while the artists were in different cities, Carey in Detroit and Edgcomb in New York. The music is a deft and riotous melange of influences, moods and ideas. ...
Continue ReadingChuck Israels, Alvin Queen, Arturo Sandoval & Bryn Roberts
by Joe Dimino
Off the graceful and sophisticated notes of Aloft, the 2024 album by pianist and composer Bryn Roberts, we go right into this week's journey. From there, we delve into the timeless artistry of jazz legend Chuck Israels, a master whose collaborations have defined an era. Next, we spotlight the talented Marie Goudy, imagining her delight at a dream performance featuring the brilliant Chris Potter. The energy continues as we dive into fresh offerings from jazz veterans Bevan Manson, Alvin Queen, ...
Continue ReadingSome Jazz with Aziza Mustapha Zadeh, Pat Metheny and John McLaughlin
by Len Davis
Azibaijan pianist Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, Alan Pasqua and drummer Frank Briggs.Playlist Aziza Mustapha Zadeh “Dangerous Piece" from Always (Sony) 00:00 Troy Roberts “Big Night In" from Nu-Jive Nations United (Toy Robot) 10:13 Pat Metheny “Day Trip" from Day Trip (Nonesuch) 20:26 Pat Metheny “Two Folk Songs" from 80/81 (ECM)30:39 John McLaughlin “Healing Hands" from The Heart Of Things (Verve)40:53 Alan Pasqua “Fast Food" from The Anti Social Club (Cryptogramaphone) 51:06 Frank Briggs “China Ranch" ...
Continue ReadingJae Sinnett Quintet Featuring Randy Brecker and Ada Rovatti at the Attucks Theater
by Mark Robbins
Since the mid-'70s, when he came to this part of Southeastern Virginia to serve in the Navy, Jae Sinnett's name has become synonymous with excellent jazz drumming nationally and internationally. His first album as a leader, Obsession (Self Produced), was released in 1986 and featured Frank Foster, John Hicks, Wallace Roney, Steve Wilson and Clarence Seay. As either leader or sideman, he has appeared on countless albums since, many of which have featured his compositions, played by some of the ...
Continue ReadingSteve Davis Quintet at Smoke Jazz Club
by G. Pascal Zachary
Steve Davis Quintet SMOKE Jazz & Supper Club New York, NY November 7, 2024 Steve Davis is a compelling trombonist who has gained deserved attention from his periodic gigs at Smoke and for his excellent recent recordings on Smoke's Sessions label, which draws chiefly on live performances from this cozy club on Broadway in upper Manhattan. I heard the opening set on Thursday November 7 when the Davis and his current all-star group released a ...
Continue ReadingThe Necks: Bleed
by Rob Garratt
There is a diverting theory that modernist developments in the visual arts were mirrored in the evolving language of jazz: the rigid melodies of classic swing analogous with the formal representation of realism; the harmonic blurring of modalism an impressionistic step towards ambiguity; and the breakdown of order that came with free jazz the divisive audio equivalent of abstract expressionism. It is a compelling if imperfect notion: Jackson Pollack's “action painting" was famously fueled by his jazz LP ...
Continue ReadingLisa Hilton: Lucky All Along
by Mike Jurkovic
Throughout the course of her quietly triumphant, just south-of-the-spotlight, virtuoso career, pianist/composer Lisa Hilton has never actively pursued, Captain Ahab-like, the biggest fish in the sea. She has played alongside many of the biggies--Christian McBride, Antonio Sanchez, Nasheet Waits, Sean Jones, JD Allen--but finds the greatest comfort, harmony, and camaraderie among her long-standing rhythm mates: bassist Luques Curtis, drummer Rudy Royston and, for their third quartet recording, trumpeter Igmar Thomas. Hilton does a lot of pretty things with a simple Latin sway ...
Continue ReadingStephanie Chou Quintet at SF Jazz 2024
by Walter Atkins
SF Jazz's intimate Joe Henderson Lab hosted the multi-talented Stephanie Chou Quintet on their first visit to San Francisco and the storied West Coast music venue on November 8, 2024. New York composer, alto saxophonist and vocalist Chou presented an authentic jazz flavored blend of original compositions and traditional Chinese folk tales, performed with modern and Chinese traditional instrumentation. Her competent group consisted of: band leader Chou on saxophone, Lin on erhu and viola, pianist Park, bassist Copeland and drummer ...
Continue ReadingJason Robinson: Ancestral Numbers II
by Terence Collie
Ancestral Numbers II is saxophonist, flautist and composer Jason Robinson's second album of music reflecting on his ancestry, following the May 2024 release of Ancestral Numbers I. The album launches with “Sweet Tooth," a simple but compelling composition that starts with a vamp. Opening melodic statements--with saxophone and trombone playing together over infectious piano and bass hits propelled by the energetic drums--then move into a hard swinging walking bass section. Pianist Joshua White takes the first solo, followed ...
Continue ReadingTaylor Deupree & Joseph Branciforte: Reimagining Stil
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines On experimental music producers and label owners Taylor Deupree and Joseph Branciforte. Back in 2002, Taylor Deupree released an electronic album called Stil. (12k Music). That release captivated listeners with its quiet, repeating patterns and stark digital sound. Twenty years later, Taylor and producer Joseph Branciforte linked up to reimagine the album as Sti.ll (greyfade), rebuilding the entire work using only non-electronic instruments. The new version takes all of the computer-generated sounds ...
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