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

Mary Halvorson Septet: Illusionary Sea

by Phil Barnes
February 7, 2014

In 2009 Mary Halvorson was asked how relevant she felt that the word 'jazz' was to musicians of her generation. Her response was telling “Oh, I think about jazz all the time and although I don't play the traditional forms, I call myself a 'jazz musician.'.. trying to integrate everything into my own language." The corollary of this is that, while she has clear roots in jazz, Halvorson has assimilated influences from many genres of music and reflects this in ...

Album Review

L.A.6: Frame Of Mind

Read "Frame Of Mind" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
February 7, 2014

Comprised of musicians based in Los Angeles, California, the L.A. 6 are a group of seasoned professionals who came together fifteen years ago with one common bond, a history and affinity for West Coast Jazz and Frame Of Mind is their homage to the contemporary straight ahead style made so popular in the '50s and early '60s. Though the group borrows music from such icons as Sonny Stitt and Oliver Nelson among others, the album reflects a modern version of ...

Album Review

Dhafer Youssef: Birds Requiem

Read "Birds Requiem" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
February 7, 2014

Tunisian oud maestro Dhafer Youssef imparts a holistic world music vista, encompassing jazz, rock and spiritual inclinations while retaining the core Arabic modalities on the aurally picturesque Birds Requiem. And his chant-like, resonating vocals entwine mystical attributes with near-flawless control amid passages that induce an impression of sacred exchanges with a higher entity. Blending Souls & Shades touches your heart, emanating from Youssef's sprawling vocals, executed with conviction and soulfulness, followed by trumpeter Nils-Petter Molvaer's spiraling lyricism, leading ...

Album Review

Marco Sanguinetti: 8

by Sammy Stein
February 7, 2014

8 is the new album by Marco Sanguinetti, who has been around for a little while. Sanguinetti has made three previous albums Improvisiones (MDR 2005), Franz Processes (2008), The Other (2011) and now8, the last three being produced on the Acqua label. He has played with Rodrigo Gomez, Leila Cherro (who also plays on '8'), La Bomba de Tiempo and has been involved in many audio visual projects. Since 2008 Sanguinetti has collaborated as musical director with the dancer and ...

Interview

Pernille Bévort: Roundabouts And Novellas

by Ian Patterson
February 6, 2014

It's been over three years since multi-reedist, singer composer and arranger Pernille Bévort released Perfect Organisation (Gateway, 2011), her outstanding bringing together of jazz and tango nuevo that featured bandoneon player Marcelo Nisinman. Bévort, however, hasn't been slacking off in any way in the intervening years, oh no. She's simply been occupied in the execution of jury duty. Sitting on a jury casting judgment on thousands of hopeful artists sounds like the typical talent-spotting shows that clog ...

Album Review

Cava Menzies/Nick Phillips: Moment to Moment

Read "Moment to Moment" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
February 6, 2014

This feels like a chance ramble off of dimly lit streets into a wee hours night club; and the quartet--trumpet, piano, bass and drums--has slipped into a blue mood. A few notes from the muted horn, a half a dozen supple touches of the piano keys sets the introspective and melancholy tone for the evening. The bassist pulls deep, deliberate sounds from the strings; the drummer brushes up a hushed whisper, and in a corner booth a teardrop falls into ...

Album Review

Arshak Sirunyan: Hoodman's Blind

Read "Hoodman's Blind" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
February 6, 2014

Pianist/composer Arshak Sirunyan's Hoodman's Blind is likely to be one of the most unique and compelling releases of the year. The Armenian born musician was a finalist in that country's prestigious National J. S. Bach Concerto Competition in 1994. Now a Washington DC resident, he has assembled a top-tier ensemble of award-winning artists from around the globe in creating this collection of genre-defying compositions. Inspired by the medieval predecessor of the game “Blindman's Bluff," Sirunyan has woven a tale that ...

Extended Analysis

The Interplay Jazz Orchestra: My Love You're Free

by Dan Bilawsky
February 6, 2014

Is there any sound as glorious as that of a big band in full swing? While that question is somewhat rhetorical, there's no question about the fact that the big band was once synonymous with all that was right, good and adventurous in jazz. While it's true that these large ensembles haven't ruled the roost for quite some time, and the days of Basie, Ellington, Herman, Kenton and the like are long gone, the rumors of the ...

Extended Analysis

Nova Jazz Orchestra: Concerto Nova & the Jazz Music of W.A. Mathieu

by Jack Bowers
February 6, 2014

The Nova Jazz Orchestra, which was founded in the twin cities of Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN, more than two decades ago and has been on an upward curve ever since, was formally introduced to the music of W.A. Mathieu--now fondly known to members of the orchestra as “Uncle Billy"--in 2011as part of the two-CD set Double Feature, Volume 2 (Tantara Productions 1127). Disc 1 featured the Stan Kenton Orchestra's fiery 1959 edition, while on Disc 2 the Nova Orchestra ...

Album Review

Ari Brown: Groove Awakening

Read "Groove Awakening" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
February 6, 2014

It is easy to think of saxophonist Ari Brown as the heir to the late, great Chicago tenorists Von Freeman and Fred Anderson but that would not be a fair assessment. Far more than a successor, Brown is the youngest and remaining member of a powerfully unique musical triumvirate. His idiosyncratic style is equally appropriate to both provocative avant-garde explorations and the laid back swagger of hard bop. On his fourth release as a leader, Groove Awakening Brown ...