Jazz Articles
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Alvin Cobb Jr: You'll Need This Later
by Hrayr Attarian
Atlanta-native, Chicago-based drummer Alvin Cobb, Jr puts his heart and soul into his debut You'll Need This Later. Using a melange of acoustic and electronic instrumentation as well as spoken word and singing, Cobb crafts an autobiographical album featuring several of Chicago's brightest rising stars. Cobb crafted these 13 originals on the basis of his journal entries, both written and recorded. “Before You Go" features vocalist Nola Adé whose chant floats over Cobb's rumbling polyrhythms. Pianist Julius Tucker's ...
Continue ReadingOhad Talmor, Marco Mezquida, Maurizio Giammarco, Ben Solomon & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Here is a set focusing on great contemporary saxophone players and on jazz projects shaped by a confluence of genres, from Brazilian popular music to flamenco, to classical music.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Ryan Keberle & Catharsis “Vera Cruz" Music Is Connection (Alternate Side) 0:16 Host talks 5:36 Milton Nascimento, Esperanza Spalding “Wings for the Thought Bird" Milton + esperanza (Concord) 7:08 Marco Mezquida, Chicuelo “Najando" Del ...
Continue ReadingKeith Fiala: Keith Fiala: The Quest
by Nicholas F. Mondello
The Quest from Austin-based trumpeter Keith Fiala presents twelve original tracks of varied textures, grooves and soundscapes. The album follows Fiala's well-received and charted New Beginnings (self-produced, 2024), which was released earlier this year. The Quest is deeper--more profound--and definitely an aurally stimulating “concept" presentation. “Always With Me" launches the session. A longer repetitive melody over a light hip-hop rhythm bed appears before Fiala's open horn solos. This is a laid-back track with an '80s vibe. It ...
Continue ReadingRyuichi Sakamoto, The Ize Trio, Jack Wood, & Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Darius Jones, Tommy Smith and John Taylor
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music, two selections from two releases by the late Japanese pianist and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto; the Boston, MA-based collective The Ize Trio; vocalists Jack Wood & Nichaud Fitzgibbon; composer & alto saxophonist Darius Jones; and saxophonist Tommy Smith and pianist John Taylor. Playlist Ryuichi Sakamoto “A Brief Encounter" from Coda (WeWantSounds) 2:28 Ryuichi Sakamoto “Lack of Love" from Opus (Milan) 4:53 Yonathan Avishai “La Mélancolie" from Shapes and Sounds ...
Continue ReadingArtifacts Trio At Black Box
by Ian Patterson
Artifacts Trio Black Box Belfast, N. Ireland October 16, 2024 Initially penciled in for a spring date that never materialized, Artifacts Trio finally made its Belfast bow five months later. This was the only Irish date for flautist Nicole Mitchell, cellist Tomeka Reid and drummer Mike Reid on their European tour. These seasoned musicians have been playing together as Artifacts Trio since 2015, though their orbits have been interlocking for decades as members of ...
Continue ReadingAndy Baker: From Here, From There
by Scott Lichtman
Andy Baker has crafted an uplifting recording featuring his trombone plus trumpet, upright bass and drums--no chordal instruments. From Here, From There is a fresh take on swing/bop ballads that melds top-notch instrumentalists--Baker, Russ Johnson on trumpet, Clark Sommers on bass and Dana Hall on drums--with beautiful compositions and cover arrangements. Baker luxuriates in “the incredible freedom you get, without explicit chords, to stretch the color of the solo and negotiate anything from there." The sparse 4-piece orchestration ...
Continue ReadingRule of 3
by Patrick Burnette
Three hundred podcasts is the kind of milestone worthy of an echo chamber at the very least and a themed episode at the very, er, leaster. Pat had the bright idea (he thought) of reviewing albums from 1953, 1963. 1973, and 1983. Mike explained that was in fact a stupid idea and so they might as well make this celebration a two-parter with 301 covering 1993, 2003, 2013, 2023. The rules were simple--pick an artist we hadn't discussed to death ...
Continue ReadingMeer: Wheels Within Wheels
by Glenn Astarita
Led by the dynamic brother-sister duo of Knut (vocals and keyboards) and Johanne Nesdal (vocals) from Norway, Meer's album Wheels Within Wheels is a vibrant tapestry woven from threads of progressive rock and symphonic influences. This is their third album, and it unfolds like an intricate maze, inviting listeners to explore its depths with each listen. The vocals are hauntingly beautiful, perfectly complementing the lush instrumentation. Meer's knack for blending diverse genres and styles is impressive; they have ...
Continue ReadingAaron Goldberg: It's Impossible To Separate Jazz From The Civil Rights Movement
by Leo Sidran
After the election of George W. Bush in 2000, Aaron Goldberg began wondering what he could do in the next election to help make a difference. At the time, he was a 26 year old pianist only a few years out of college, but who was quickly establishing himself as a credible musical voice in the jazz world, and a musician who is dedicated to helping move people in multiple senses of the word. Aaron was raised outside ...
Continue ReadingGino Amato: Latin Crossroads
by Richard J Salvucci
The urge to take advantage of a successful commercial genre never really dies. Back in the 1960s, a studio orchestra nominally assembled by bandleader Glen Gray released a recording, Sounds of the Great Bands in Latin (Capitol, 1964). It took tunes like “Early Autumn" or “A String of Pearls" and added a “Latin" flavor with jazz enhancements. No doubt, this was an early recognition of the success of Cal Tjader. The vinyl may or may not have done well, but ...
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