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

Donald Edwards: Evolution of An Influenced Mind

Read "Evolution of An Influenced Mind" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
March 27, 2014

With Evolution of An Influenced Mind , drummer Donald Edwards makes a piercing statement about his percussiveness and musicality. Having gained attention for his craftsmanship on a number of noteworthy Criss Cross dates-- Introducing Opus 5 (2011) and Orrin Evans's excellent It was Beauty (2013)--Edwards's debut on the prolific Dutch jazz label is a cohesive work of forward thinking music. Dedicated to the memory of the great New Orleans clarinetist Alvin Batiste who mentored Edwards at Southern ...

Live Review

Live From Old York: Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Penetration, Juan Martín, Ugly Duckling & She'Koyokh

by Martin Longley
March 27, 2014

Lee 'Scratch' Perry Fibbers March 13, 2014 A legend of reggae music, at home in a small club, with a crammed crowd. This was Lee 'Scratch' Perry's second visit to Fibbers, and judging by his onstage comments, he really digs the joint. Scratch is a legend on several levels, from producer to performer, notably working with Bob Marley & The Wailers, right at the beginning, then developing into reggae's prime innovator, plunging into ...

Album Review

Soren Kjaergaard / Ben Street / Andrew Cyrille: Syvmileskridt

Read "Syvmileskridt" reviewed by Jakob Baekgaard

by Jakob Baekgaard
March 27, 2014

The relationship between stillness and movement is something that has occupied pianist Søren Kjærgaard for a long time and with bassist Ben Street and drummer Andrew Cyrille, Kjærgaard has found the perfect vehicle to explore the essence of musical creation. Syvmileskridt is the fourth album from the trio. Each musician is a master in his own right, but individual excess isn't the point in this group that shuns the trite formula of head-solo-head. Instead, the virtuosity of ...

Book Review

America's Music: Jazz In Newark

by David A. Orthmann
March 27, 2014

America's Music: Jazz In Newark Barbara J. Kukla 324 pages ISBN: #978-0-9768130-3-3 Swing City Press 2014 Every jazz fan has a story about how the music became an important part of their life. For some the point of entry was taking up a musical instrument. Others fell under the music's spell after hearing a family member's or neighbor's jazz records. And there are those whose exposure to sounds intended as an aphrodisiac ...

Album Review

Franklin Kiermyer: Further

Read "Further" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
March 27, 2014

Expat Canadian drummer Franklin Kiermyer's sublime and passionate Further is a cohesive work that is both transcendent and crackles with a visceral vitality. The album revolves around themes that are inspired by saxophonist John Coltrane's late career explorations but the Oslo-based Kiermyer and his band are not mere impersonating devotees. They imbue every tune with originality and a brilliant and imaginative urgency. The centerpiece of the recording is “Between Joy & Consequence," with its two takes. Pianist Benito ...

Album Review

Paul Taylor: Tenacity

Read "Tenacity" reviewed by Jeff Winbush

by Jeff Winbush
March 27, 2014

Paul Taylor is an innovative, inquisitive saxophonist who is constantly pushing the creative envelope of both his instrument and the audience's expectations...no, wait...that's somebody else. Paul Taylor is a cutting edge player who is always surprising in his restless and innovative musical explorations...nope, that's not right. Paul Taylor is a musical chameleon constantly changing his style and approach over the years...nah, that's not it either... Paul Taylor is a solid performer whom while not a particularly distinctive artist, ...

Album Review

Jorg Schippa's UnbedingT: Zirkus Bizarr

Read "Zirkus Bizarr" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
March 27, 2014

Berlin-based guitarist Jorg Schippa imparts the best of German engineering with his estimable associates. Take a little off-center Frank Zappa like trickery; high-octane organic/acoustic jazz rock, and morph with chamber-like ambience then add complex progressive jazz and European folk into the big picture. Somewhat remarkably, the band possesses a unique identity with a signature sound and line of attack, fronted by Schippa and the dual clarinet attack of Jurgen Kupke (The Clarinet Trio) and Florian Bergmann. At times, the unit ...

Album Review

Miles Davis: We Want Miles (Bonus Track Version)

Read "We Want Miles (Bonus Track Version)" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
March 26, 2014

The audaciously titled We Want Miles has one of the more interesting histories in the catalog of trumpeter Miles Davis. Originally released by Columbia Records in 1982, it was not made widely available outside of Japan where it was recorded live in 1981. For those who managed to find it, it was both celebrated and vilified. This new reissue (with additional material) illuminates that debate. We Want Miles was the first live recording of Davis' return to music following a ...

Profile

Victor Biglione: The Best of Brazil's Best?

by Mark Holston
March 26, 2014

Growing up in the 1960s had one propitious cultural benefit; exposure at an early age to Brazil's amazing popular music of the day, the bossa nova. As my record collection grew, so did a desire to see first hand the country responsible for producing so much singular music. In 1970s, I spent three months in the country, seeing it from its southernmost realms to the heart of the Amazon in the far north. More trips to Brazil followed ...

Roads Less Travelled

Rio de Janeiro’s shrine to Brazil’s fabled Bossa Nova

by Mark Holston
March 26, 2014

While CD stores have virtually disappeared in most countries, Brazil remains a notable exception. In most large cities, specialty shops featuring contemporary and historic recordings by the country's legendary music-makers are still prospering. Visitors from abroad will delight in finding so much entrancing Brazilian sound at their fingertips. Enter the multi-level Bossa Nova & Companhia store in Rio de Janeiro and one is transported to a magical time and place. Enveloped by sultry bossa nova grooves and surrounded ...