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.

Book Excerpts

Cal Tjader: The Life and Recordings of the Man Who Revolutionized Latin Jazz

by S. Duncan Reid
December 16, 2013

The following is an excerpt from the “Reaching for the Skye" chapter of Cal Tjader: The Life and Recordings of the Man Who Revolutionized Latin Jazz by S. Duncan Reid (McFarland, 2013). Tjader had reached the East Coast by November and on November 17, he arrived at Van Gelder Studio for a session ("Willow Weep for Me" and “Joey Joey") that probably included tenor sax man Jimmy Heath and trumpeter Donald Byrd. Two days later, Heath, Byrd, ...

Album Review

Kris Davis: Massive Threads

Read "Massive Threads" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
December 16, 2013

The first five minutes of “Ten Exorcists," the opening track of Massive Threads by pianist Kris Davis, consists of minimalist repetitive percussive playing of her prepared piano. The Steve Reich-like repetition mimics percussive tape-loops that cease, but the momentum endures and lays the foundation for her solo. This solo outing benefits from Davis' classically trained ear, the follow-up to her first solo attempt Aeriol Piano (Clean Feed, 2011). Her background has earned her praise, writing for jazz ensembles ...

Year in Review

John Sharpe's Best Releases of 2013

by John Sharpe
December 16, 2013

Here are twelve new releases which stood out from those I heard this year, in no special order. Mostly Other People Do The Killing Slippery Rock (Hot Cup Records) Leader and bassist Moppa Elliott's songwriting talents haven't deserted him: his charts, named after small Pennsylvania towns, are bursting at the seams with nagging melodies and rhythmic gear changes. Also present and correct are the affectionate nods to older forms and sources, this time ...

Year in Review

Hrayr Attarian's Top Dozen with a Feminine Bend for 2013

by Hrayr Attarian
December 16, 2013

Here is my top dozen for 2013 (with a feminine bent and in alphabetical order). Women remain unjustly underrepresented as instrumentalists in jazz. Hopefully these superb records will help improve that disparity by introducing listeners to these outstandingly creative artists and their stimulating work. Jamie Baum In This Life (Sunnyside Records) Celine Bonacina Open Heart (ACT) Billie Davies 12 Volt (Self Produced) Satoko Fujii Ma-Do ...

Album Review

Zlatko Kaucic Trio: December Soul

Read "December Soul" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
December 16, 2013

A highly musical drummer, Zlatko Kaucic's decades running resume encapsulates a who's who litany of modern jazz artists and avant-garde improvisers. Born in Slovenia, he's set up home base in Italy and Holland and has garnered industry and cultural awards. Kaucic's December Soul is a coolly stirring trio date, featuring Italian luminaries, pianist Stefano Battaglia and bassist Paolino Dalla Porta. Nothing gets too out of hand on this largely tantalizing session, comprised of ethereal inflections, avant-garde expressionism, and ...

Album Review

Théo Ceccaldi Trio + 1: Can You Smile?

Read "Can You Smile?" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
December 16, 2013

Prominent French violinist Théo Ceccaldi invited gifted bassist and supreme improviser Joëlle Léandre to augment the core trio for an album that contains semi-structured works, spanning a gamut of loosely orchestrated styles and genres. They touch on nouveau chamber, free-jazz, and avant-garde rock, but their omnipresent improvisational exchanges loom as the reigning factor. Léandre often acts as an instigator, where the performers fuse a multitude of hues, contrasts and coarse strings manipulations with minimalistic sojourns, understated delicacies and ...

Catching Up With

Daniel Bennett: Saxophone Man

by Sammy Stein
December 15, 2013

Daniel Bennett grew up in Rochester, New York and is now based in New York. The fourth and latest album from The Daniel Bennett Group, Clockhead Goes To Camp has had positive reviews and is a resounding success. The group are busy playing all through the festive season with many gigs in libraries and small venues across the US. Though he concentrates mainly on saxophone, Daniel also plays a range of instruments including flute, oboe and clarinet. However, ...

Album Review

Cory Wright Unit: Apples + Oranges

Read "Apples + Oranges" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
December 15, 2013

In jazz, there are composers and there are soloists and, as they say, “never the twain shall meet." Okay, not impossible, but it is rare in modern jazz for a musician to be both an outstanding soloist and a talented arranger. Listening to Apples + Oranges by West Coast saxophonist Cory Wright, the challenge is to determine which of the two talents makes this a thriving and effective recording. But then again, requiring one to choose will result ...

Profile

Kosi: Onwards and Upwards

by Sammy Stein
December 15, 2013

Akosua Gyebi, known as Kosi, has a voluptuous, mesmeric voice and has just released her first solo album One More Cup Of Coffee on her own label which received positive reviews. Kosi is a songstress who tells stories through her music. In her songs, you find tales of the seedier side of New York, the darker side where long shadows, broken relationships and hard life stories come to life. Kosi sings with emotion and candor and has an extensive vocal ...

Album Review

Carolin Widmann: Morton Feldman: Violin and Orchestra

Read "Morton Feldman: Violin and Orchestra" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
December 15, 2013

The innovative composer Morton Feldman is known for his experimental approach and his unique, signature sound that borders on the surreal. His contemplative pieces of floating sonic textures became more continuous and longer as he devoted himself to music full-time in the mid 1970's. Violin and Orchestra is one of his shorter works from the period clocking under an hour. As with most of his output, this is not a traditional concerto, where an orchestra supports a soloist. It is ...