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.

Take Five With...

Take Five With Felix Langford

by AAJ Staff
May 17, 2013

Meet Felix Langford:At 13, I fell in love with the art of percussion and I credit my brother, John (Doc), as the one responsible for teaching me basic beats and exposing my ears to some of the hippest and most innovative cats on the jazz scene. He exposed me to trendsetters like John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Candido Camero, Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Mongo Santamaria, just to name ...

Album Review

Miss Sophie Lee: Love Street Lullaby

Read "Love Street Lullaby" reviewed by James Nadal

by James Nadal
May 17, 2013

If there is one constant element in New Orleans music, it is tradition. Though there are many styles and genres to be discovered and enjoyed within this vibrant and energetic city, there is a defining acoustic syncopated sound which is most identified and associated with New Orleans. Vocalist Miss Sophie Lee with Love Street Lullaby has upheld this steady emphasis on roots music blended with modern sophistication to become one of the premier singers of the Crescent City.The ...

Album Review

Confusion Bleue: East Side Banquet

Read "East Side Banquet" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
May 17, 2013

Luminously recorded at East Side Studio in New York City, the superfine Confusion Bleue band reemerges with a sterling exposition, centered upon its democratic, but largely cohesive free-form manifesto. The musicians present a resonating group-centric sound, aided by Lee Pembleton's exquisite audio-engineering via a consortium of gusty improvisations and swirling breakouts. With rapidly-moving pulses, keyboardist Nobu Stowe often steers or provokes the variable theme-building components, transferring to a rather inspiring group dynamic. “Movement III" is one of seven ...

Multiple Reviews

Under the Banner of McBride: Two Bass Hits from a Low-End Giant

by Dan Bilawsky
May 16, 2013

Bassist Christian McBride is many things to many people. Leader, sideman, writer, and conceptualist are just a few of the hats that he happens to wear on these two quintet- centered dates. One album puts McBride's name up in lights, while the other finds him in a supporting role, but his work is central to the success of both outings. His on-the- money groove work, killer chops and tasteful tidings tie these albums together; they both share space under the ...

Opinion

Will Budget Cuts Hurt Jazz Education's Swing in the USA?

by Joan Gaylord
May 16, 2013

Though economic indicators suggest we are slowly emerging from the Great Recession here in the United States, repercussions could echo through the jazz world for a generation. The past five or so years of extreme cuts to public school budgets--especially the arts programs-- could mean a dearth of well-trained, young musicians.“I am seeing students arrive proficient only in the basic instruments," said trombonist Chris Washburne, director of the jazz performance program at Columbia University. “Finding a well-trained trombone ...

Album Review

Pierluigi Balducci: Blue from Heaven

Read "Blue from Heaven" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
May 16, 2013

Traveling the world from South Africa to Svalbard, a harsh truth is revealed: despite challenges facing recorded music--and, paradoxically, the sheer volume being released--an increasing number of musicians deserving broader recognition are unable to transcend their native countries. Hiring internationally renowned players might seem a good tactic, but the result too often reflects exactly what it is: unknown musicians playing with ringers. The music may be well-played--as it better be from such musicians of caliber--but does it actually feel like ...

Take Five With...

Take Five With Roger Aldridge

by AAJ Staff
May 16, 2013

Meet Roger Aldridge:I am primarily a jazz composer. A wide range of influences are found in my music including jazz, tango, blues, samba, fusion, new music, and back to American roots music.My exploration of the jazz family tree does not stop at New Orleans. I've gone further back to old fiddle styles--especially, Appalachian--as an early branch in the evolution of the music. For me, looking back to roots music and looking ahead to new music are ...

Album Review

Daniel Bennett Group: Clockhead Goes to Camp

Read "Clockhead Goes to Camp" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
May 16, 2013

Colleague Sammy Stein said of Clockhead Goes to Camp: “Clockhead Goes to Camp is an album which is easy to listen to but not easy listening. The tone is light, mellow and uplifting yet it has enough depth to give many surprises." These adjectives all describe Daniel Bennett's music. More globally, this is music devoid of dark gravity, meaning while the music is deep it is not negatively so. This is positive, whimsical music ...

Album Review

Daniel Bennett Group: Clockhead Goes to Camp

Read "Clockhead Goes to Camp" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
May 16, 2013

Reedman Daniel Bennett's Clockhead Goes to Camp is a crystallization of the motifs explored in his previous work. The thirteen short tracks--the longest clocking at less than six minutes--are concise, crisp and deceptively simple. The intriguingly surreal ambience results from the mixture of international folk influences and futuristic minimalism.“Last Summer At Camp Creepy" is imbued with Levantine mysticism, with Bennett unfurling a poetic and passionate tale over the percussive tones of the rhythm section. Bassist Peter Brendler's oud-like ...

Album Review

Phil Robson: Jazz For Babies - The Guitar Album

by Bruce Lindsay
May 16, 2013

Just what is the target demographic for a typical jazz album? Twenty to thirty year-olds? Forty to sixty year-olds? Anyone with enough spare cash to buy a copy? This series of recordings from bassist Michael Janisch makes its target audience perfectly clear both in the title--Jazz For Babies--and in the bottom left of the rather snazzy album cover, where a brown circle boldly states “In Utero to 3 years +." Janisch has put together a set of five ...