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

Abdullah Ibrahim: Mukashi (Once upon a time)

Read "Mukashi (Once upon a time)" reviewed by Gabriel Medina Arenas

by Gabriel Medina Arenas
April 17, 2014

Japan and South Africa were never so close. The acclaimed pianist and flautist Abdullah Ibrahim fused the Asian zen calmness with stories and inspiration from his native homeland in his latest album Mukashi. Mukashi translates in Japanese as “Once upon a time" is a very appropriate title considering Ibrahim's impressive storytelling skills, as well as the visual evocations of the record. “Krotoa" is one of the most interesting tracks of the album and it is split ...

Album Review

The Wøøøh: The Wøøøh: Souvenirs, Souvenirs

Read "The Wøøøh: Souvenirs, Souvenirs" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
April 17, 2014

The Wøøøh is a Danish-French schizophrenic quartet. Its saxophonist thinks that he is is a singer in a rock band and its guitarist is addicted to myriad effects and sonic experimentations. This quartet treats melodies as a springboard to noisy excursions and its intense improvisations are charged with raw, aggressive power. The musicians are Danish saxophonist Henrik Pultz Melbye, guitarist Lars Bech Pilgaard (both play in Pilgaard-led Svin), and drummer Casper Mikkelsen (who hosts Melbye and ...

Album Review

Franklin Kiermyer: Further

by Dave Wayne
April 16, 2014

The great dilemma facing a music reviewer is how to discuss an artist's work intelligently within an historical continuum without getting too hung up on musical influences and reference points. Such is the case with drummer / composer Franklin Kiermyer whose music, while totally original, is redolent with the intensity and seeking spirituality of the John Coltrane Quartet. Describing this music as Coltrane-influenced simply doesn't do it justice. What the Canadian drummer and his quartet are doing here is unique, ...

Album Review

Onaje Allan Gumbs: Bloodlife: Solo Piano Improvisations Based on the Melodies of Ronald Shannon Jackson

Read "Bloodlife: Solo Piano Improvisations Based on the Melodies of Ronald Shannon Jackson" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
April 16, 2014

Best known for his mainstream work with Woody Shaw on classic albums like The Moontrane (Muse, 1975) and Stepping Stones (Columbia, 1978), it may come as a surprise to learn that pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs was not just a friend and mentor to Ronald Shannon Jackson, but that he also played on the drummer's Decode Yourself (Island, 1985)--an album that, like much of Jackson's Decoding Society work, took Ornette Coleman's harmolodic Prime Time group as a starting point for his ...

Album Review

Matija Dedić: Sentiana

Read "Sentiana" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
April 16, 2014

Croatian pianist Matija Dedić demonstrates exquisite taste in selecting trio mates for his projects. His debut--From The Beginning (Dallas Records, 2009)--brought him into contact with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, best known for their work in pianist Brad Mehldau's acclaimed trio. The follow-up record--M.D. In N.Y.C. (Origin Records, 2011)--found him working with bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Kendrick Scott, a pair that's done fine work together with pianist Danny Grissett. On a portion of this album, his third ...

Live Review

Bradford-Gjerstad Quartet at Philadelphia Art Alliance

by Tyran Grillo
April 16, 2014

Bradford-Gjerstad Quartet Philadelphia Art Alliance Philadelphia, PA March 29, 2014 Pivot or persevere? It's a question that frames every moment of jazz performance and one that suffused the Philadelphia Art Alliance loft, where on a rainy Saturday cornetist Bobby Bradford, reedman Frode Gjerstad, bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, and drummer Frank Rosaly cast their bones and divined whatever messages came spontaneously to mind. Under the auspices of the Ars Nova Workshop, which presents ...

Album Review

Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band: Mother's Touch

Read "Mother's Touch" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
April 16, 2014

Nobody does big bands these days. Nobody. Not without institutional support like a university or a foundation. Not unless you are Orrin Evans. The Philadelphia pianist writes and arranges music so appealing, a revolving cast of musicians can't resist playing his music. While we will never see an independent outfit like the Captain Black Big Band, which can swell to thirty plus musicians, touring for months on end, their occasional gigs and recordings are a godsend. The studio ...

Album Review

Machine Mass feat. Dave Liebman: Inti

by Glenn Astarita
April 16, 2014

Renowned saxophonist Dave Liebman's legacy as a musician who radiates illimitable vigor and a broad artistic expanse, hearkens back to his stint with Miles Davis and seemingly countless collaborations with a who's who in jazz amid an extensive resume as a leader. On this supercharged jazz-fusion gala he is the featured artist with spiraling young star, Belgium guitarist Michel Delville (The Wrong Object), ace drummer Tony Bianco (Elton Dean, and Alexander Von Schlippenbach). Delville's stinging phraseology, angular wah-wah ...

Multiple Reviews

Celebrating Blue Note Records 75th With Delicious Vinyl

by Mark Corroto
April 16, 2014

Everything old is new again. Except of course for the timeless music of Blue Note Records which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. The recordings Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff produced starting in 1939 have been collector's items since day one. While much of the label's music has been re-released in digital format, CDs and in iTunes, current chief Don Was decided to celebrate the 75th by compiling a list of 100 Blue Note Records to be released as remastered ...

Interview

Chuck Israels: Tribute to Bill Evans

by Robin Arends
April 16, 2014

Isn't it nice to meet someone who takes time for a good chat in these hectic times? Especially if this person has a lot to tell, carries the living memory of an important part of jazz history, and is called Chuck Israels?Bassist/arranger/composer Chuck Israels is in expansive form for this interview conducted in a room of a former monastery in Oegstgeest, a small town in the Netherlands near the North Sea. He is happy to be reunited again ...