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

Scottish National Jazz Orchestra: In the Spirit of Duke

by Jack Bowers
July 22, 2013

It had long been saxophonist Tommy Smith's dream to perform and record a live concert of music written by or associated with the great Duke Ellington. As leader of the acclaimed Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Smith set about making that dream come true, and in October 2012 it happened, as an enthusiastic audience saw and heard a stellar performance In the Spirit of Duke by Smith and the SNJO, one that those who weren't lucky enough to be present that ...

Take Five With...

Take Five With Otmar Binder

by AAJ Staff
July 22, 2013

Meet Otmar Binder:I live in Vienna, Austria and work mainly as an theater accompanist. This includes writing film music and songwriting for myself as well as others. As a piano teacher, I focus on songwriting and piano playing for singers and actors.Instrument(s):Piano and vocals.Teachers and/or influences?I really had two really great piano teachers in Vienna, one being Elzbieta Wiedner-Zajac, who was my classical piano teacher when I was a kid. ...

Album Review

Peter Ehwald: Double Trouble

Read "Double Trouble" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
July 22, 2013

It doesn't always follow that the teacher channels the direction a student takes. In separate stints in London and New York, German saxophonist Peter Ehwald has studied with bassist John Patitucci, saxophonists Julian Argüelles, Stan Sulzmann and Rich Perry, yet his style is not nearly as based in the tradition as might be expected. Ehwald displayed his quite contemporary idiom on the Italian outfit Monome's debut recording, Monome (Konnex, 2012), and explores Korean folk music with Shin Hyo-Jin and Bo-sung ...

Album Review

Lifesigns: Lifesigns

Read "Lifesigns" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
July 22, 2013

UK-based trio Lifesigns combines expressive soloing, stately overtones and heart-pumping opuses via impressive progressive-pop sensibilities and multi-tiered compositions, hardened by classic prog virtuosity. The band acquires compassionate support from icons, guitarist Steve Hackett (Genesis) and flautist Thijs Van Leer (Focus). Guitarists Jakko Jakszyk and Robin Boult (Fish) contribute, yet the listings do not identify the guest musicians on a per-track basis, other than what may appear to be obvious. “Carousel" showcases the artists' holistic capabilities, featuring John Young's ...

Reassessing

Gerry Mulligan & Thelonious Monk: Mulligan Meets Monk

by C. Michael Bailey
July 21, 2013

Gerry Mulligan & Thelonious MonkMulligan Meets MonkOJC2013 (1957) The beauty of the Concord Music Group's treasure trove of a catalog is that it will always provide material for the “Reassessing" column at All About Jazz and similar columns elsewhere. The newest round of re-releases celebrate the 60th anniversary of Riverside Records. Riverside Records was founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer in 1953, remaining a major force in jazz recording in ...

Album Review

Ben McDonnell: Aleph Trio

Read "Aleph Trio" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
July 21, 2013

Guitarist Ben McDonnell's Aleph Trio takes its name from a story by Jorge Luis Borge involving a poet who “discovers a point in space which contains all other points." Aleph Trio, likewise, explores and exploits all points present within McDonnell's compositions on its self-titled debut EP. Cyclical thoughts, complex colors, light and airy textures, and dark and brooding pathways are all present during this brief and compelling production. Some of the music is episodic and kaleidoscopic in ...

Album Review

Howard University Jazz Ensemble: Journey of a Friend

Read "Journey of a Friend" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
July 21, 2013

Although the Howard University Jazz Ensemble isn't quite as dependable as a morning sunrise, it has been present and accounted for in a recording studio once each year since it was formed in 1976 by Fred Irby III, who not only directed that first session but has supervised every one since, right up to No. 37, Journey of a Friend, which showcases the 2012 ensemble in a typically engaging album dedicated in part to the memory of former student Dianne ...

Extended Analysis

Henri Roger: When Bip Bip Sleeps

by Eyal Hareuveni
July 21, 2013

How can a free improvised setting, a typical serious musical happening, serious-as-your-life, almost by definition, blend with music associated with fun, such as cartoons soundtracks? Quite naturally if open-minded musicians participate in such happening, ones who disregard such artificial distinctions and like to blur outdated conventions. French self-taught guitarist and pianist Henri Roger thought about such a mixed happening. He asked vocal artist {[Emile Lesbros}}, cello master Eric Maria Couturier, solo cellist for the noted Ensmble InterContemporain ...

Take Five With...

Take Five With Cecilia Wennerstrom

by AAJ Staff
July 21, 2013

Meet Cecilia Wennerstrom:Cecilia Wennerstrom is a Swedish saxophonist who has received several awards by the Swedish Arts Grants Committee. During the '80s, she led the band Salamander and released several albums on Dragon Records. During the '90s, she led her own quartet and released records through Four Leaf Clover. Recently she formed Wela Records/Plugged. Instrument(s):Tenor and baritone saxophones, alto flute and flute.Teachers and/or influences?Ove Johansson, Helge Albin, Nisse Sandstrom, Bernt ...

Album Review

Pete McGuinness: Voice Like A Horn

Read "Voice Like A Horn" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
July 21, 2013

"Did you hear the one about the singing trombonist?." It's not even a joke because there have been many a fine trombonist that also sing, to wit: beginning with the inestimable Jack Teagarden. Then there's Billy Eckstine, Wycliffe Gordon, Henry Darragh, Natalie Cressman, and one Pete McGuinness who releases his third recording as leader, Voice Like A Horn. It is McGuinness' vocal abilities that are showcased on this recording, where the singer is supported by a piano trio augmented with ...