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

Jan Bang: Narrative from the Subtropics

Read "Narrative from the Subtropics" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
September 6, 2013

There are times when it seems everything that has come before suddenly coalesces, reaches critical mass and engenders near-exponentially increased success and opportunity. For Jan Bang and Erik Honoré, their Punkt live remix festival has evolved, since its early inception in Kristiansand, Norway, into a musical aesthetic brought to other festivals like Mannheim's Enjoy Jazz and Estonia's Jazzkaar. In nine years it's become a multinational event of world renown, its ever-expanding “Punkt Family" including a network of musicians that has-- ...

Extended Analysis

Kenny Wheeler: Six for Six

by John Kelman
September 6, 2013

When artists move into their eighties, every new album is a gift. It's difficult enough for any octogenarian musician to maintain his/her game, but especially horn players, for whom embouchure and breath are so essential to tone and reach. Six for Six is, however, a curious gift from expat Canadian trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, who's made Britain his home since the mid-'50s. Recorded in 2008, it's his first sextet recording since 2003's Dream Sequence--and even that album only featured one piece ...

Take Five With...

Take Five With Mike Norris

by AAJ Staff
September 6, 2013

Meet Mike Norris:From Jersey City, NJ. Mike Norris has played drums all across the country for show bands, jazz bands, headliners, music directors, and conductors for many shows and venues. Norris is living now in the sunshine state and plays with some of the best jazz musicians--what could be better than that? Instrument(s):Drums for performance, and many other instruments for writing and enjoyment.Teachers and/or influences?Bob White was my first teacher ...

Album Review

Martin Archer: Blue Meat, Black Diesel & Engine Room Favourites

Read "Blue Meat, Black Diesel & Engine Room Favourites" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
September 6, 2013

One never knows what direction British multi-reedman Martin Archer will impart as he surges forward in a stealthy world of avant-jazz, electronics, or discombobulated jazz-rock. Hands down, he's one of the more creative musical souls on mother earth. Each new album marks a distinct journey. His fresh outlook and cornucopia of disparate concepts, executed with large and small ensembles--along with several albums collaborating with legendary British vocalist Julie Tippetts--represent a succession of distinguished agendas. Here, Archer's bountiful resourcefulness once again ...

Album Review

Tedeschi Trucks Band: Made Up Mind

Read "Made Up Mind" reviewed by Doug Collette

by Doug Collette
September 6, 2013

Tedeschi Trucks Band's debut, Revelator (Sony Masterworks, 2010), was a marvel of modern blues-rock. Songs deeply rooted in genre tradition ultimately comprised a deeply felt personal statement by the dual leaders of the group, guitarist Derek Trucks and vocalist/guitarist Susan Tedeschi.The group's sophomore album, Made Up Mind, not surprisingly, radiates an even more mature sense of style. Placing the title song first may seem an obvious ploy to set a tone, but the sequencing works: Tedeschi's singing, as ...

Album Review

Arve Henriksen: Places of Worship

Read "Places of Worship" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
September 5, 2013

In a career that, from an international perspective, began with Norwegian noise improv group Supersilent's debut, 1-3 (Rune Grammofon, 1997), trumpeter Arve Henriksen's ascendant trajectory has gone from strength to strength, milestone to milestone. It's been a long wait for Places of Worship, the follow-up to his leader debut for ECM Records, Cartography (2008), but it's not as if Henriksen hasn't been busy.Still, six years is a long time. In its own gentle way, Cartography signaled a paradigm ...

Extended Analysis

Stefano Bollani / Hamilton de Holanda: O que sera

by Ian Patterson
September 5, 2013

There's a relative paucity of piano and guitar duo recordings; Bill Evans and Jim Hall in the world of jazz, Horacio Salgán and the late Ubaldo de Lio in the world of tango, and Pamela and Robert Trent in the classical world are notable exceptions. When it comes to crossover, jazz pianist Michel Camilo and flamenco guitarist Tomatito's collaborations Spain (Verve, 2000) and Spain Again (Decca Music Group, 2006) set the bar high with their exhilarating blend of Afro-Caribbean, tango, ...

Take Five With...

Take Five With Snow Owl

by AAJ Staff
September 5, 2013

Meet Snow Owl:Juan Garcia-Herreros, also known by his stage name Snow Owl, is a world-renowned electric bassist. He has performed with world famous stars like Elton John, Al Jarreau, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and Christina Aguilera with his electric six-string contrabass guitar. Garcia-Herreros has been honored with numerous prestigious awards. His work and virtuosity with the electric contrabass guitar has been received with the highest recognition from international bass and music publications. Instrument(s):Electric contrabass ...

Album Review

Tom Kennedy: Just Play!

Read "Just Play!" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
September 5, 2013

Bassist Tom Kennedy is often relegated to the back of the stage, both in literal and figurative terms. He's an in-demand sideman, well-known for his work with guitarist Mike Stern, his decades-long musical relationship with drummer Dave Weckl, and his studio work with everybody from guitarist Lee Ritenour to clarinetist Ken Peplowski, but he doesn't get noticed often enough in those situations; he really draws attention, however, when he takes control, as on this standards-based set. Just ...

Live Review

Christian Scott at Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

by Ernest Barteldes
September 5, 2013

Charlie Parker Jazz FestivalNew York, NYAugust 25, 2013During a warm afternoon at Tompkins Square Park, trumpeter Christian Scott brought his sextet for a short set that featured many of the band leader's influences and sonic textures, starting with a very contemporary up-tempo groove that showcased his dexterity--he often distanced himself from the microphone for effect, allowing his instrument's sound to be picked up by the microphones intended for the drums or the alto sax, which resulted in ...