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.

Meet the Staff

Meet Sammy Stein

by AAJ Staff
March 23, 2013

I currently live in: London, actually about 70 miles away but London is the nearest big city.I joined All About Jazz in: 2012What made you decide to contribute to All About Jazz? I am interested in free form jazz but also many other genres. I had written books and articles for many publications but never on music. I decided tentatively to give music writing a go as it has always been a passion and had a ...

Album Review

Phil Woods: Right To Swing

Read "Right To Swing" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
March 23, 2013

Alto saxophonist great Phil Woods and trumpeter/educator Dr. Bob Lark have a long history of recording together producing notable outings like Live at the Jazz Showcase (Jazzed Media, 2009) and In Her Eyes (Jazzed Media, 2006)--both with The Bob Lark / Phil Woods Quintet. The saxophonist association with Lark and the DePaul University bands has also resulted in three previous albums all with the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble. Right To Swing is now their fourth album together combining performances from ...

Live Review

Jim Holton: Philadelphia, PA, March 7, 2013

by Wade Luquet
March 22, 2013

Jim HoltonTemple UniversityPhiladelphia, PAMarch 7, 2013It's not often that one would want to cover a senior recital, but the rules change when the senior music student is fifty-two year old Philadelphia piano great Jim Holton. Holton took a thirty-year break from his studies at Temple University's famed jazz program to play in clubs, churches and other venues throughout the city. He gained considerable musical wisdom along the way as he played with many of the ...

Album Review

Maria Jacobs: The Art of the Duo

Read "The Art of the Duo" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
March 22, 2013

Simplicity in jazz performance is a sure bet when one has the chops to deliver. Jazz vocal in a duet format is one of the more exposed configurations, one where the singer liability is great. All mistakes, mis-steps and wrong notes are readily audible. Cleveland, Ohio native singer Maria Jacobs' fourth release features seven voice-guitar duets and one each with acoustic bass and piano. Jacobs is most refreshing because her voice is not over-trained and contains just enough grit to ...

Album Review

Jaleel Shaw: The Soundtrack of Things to Come

Read "The Soundtrack of Things to Come" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
March 22, 2013

Jaleel Shaw is one of the fiercest saxophonists to come out of Philadelphia; the city that has produced its share of music luminaries, such as pianist McCoy Tyner and bassist Stanley Clarke. Full of urgency, Jaleel Shaw channels his horn through music that's tinged with the sound of blues and gospel, soul music and streetwise hustle, as witnessed in performances with The Roy Haynes Quartet or as part of fellow Philly-native pianist Orrin Evans' energetic Captain Black Big Band and ...

Live Review

Amina Figarova Sextet: Golden, CO, March 6, 2013

by Geoff Anderson
March 22, 2013

Amina Figarova SextetMount Vernon Country ClubGolden, COMarch 6, 2013What do “jazz" and “Azerbaijan" have in common? Both have a “z" in their names. And jazz pianist Amina Figarova is from Azerbaijan. That's probably about it. Azerbaijan produces about as many international jazz stars as Cuba produces downhill ski champions. But there are exceptions to every rule. To be fair, Azerbaijan does have a jazz scene, it's just that not many Azerbaijanis break out to the ...

Album Review

Sidony Box: Rules

by Glenn Astarita
March 22, 2013

French mix-master Venux Deluxe (Magma, Gong), duly captures his fellow countrymen's exuberant sound amid his penchant for detail on the trio's third album which is a powerful composite of jazz power trio fare and other stylistic factors. Thumping backbeats, thorny time signatures, pumped-up grooves and a few quieter moments make for a comprehensive program. The band excels during the rapid fire episodes led by alto saxophonist Elie Dalibert, coupled with the rhythm section's crisp and often ferocious interplay; ...

Album Review

Steve Beresford / Martin Kuchen/ Stale Liavik Solberg: Three Babies

Read "Three Babies" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
March 22, 2013

Free improvisation is a relatively new form of musical art but it has already introduced a variety of approaches for spontaneous, creative and collaborative musical articulation. The trio comprises of one of the forefathers of the British school of improvised music, pianist Steve Beresford and fellow Scandinavian conspirators, Swedish saxophonist Martin Küchen and Norwegian drummer Ståle Liavik Solberg demonstrate how such distinct and idiosyncratic approaches make this delicate art form so stimulating. There is nothing obvious in ...

Meet the Staff

Meet Eyal Hareuveni

by AAJ Staff
March 22, 2013

I currently live in: Jerusalem, Israel I joined All About Jazz in: 2004 What made you decide to contribute to All About Jazz? At first, All About Jazz provided me a way to express my thoughts, insights and feelings about certain albums that I was listening to, and shared with other friends, online and in private talks. Later I found out that that through All about Jazz I coud get to know some of my favorite ...

Meet the Staff

Meet Dr. Judith Schlesinger

by AAJ Staff
March 22, 2013

I currently live in: Dobbs Ferry, NY I joined All About Jazz in: 2002 What made you decide to contribute to All About Jazz? Was thrilled to discover it back in 2002. Happy to do whatever I can to nurture and promote my favorite music. How do you contribute to All About Jazz? By doing CD reviews and two columns: Shrinktunes, about the overlap of music and psychology, and Nite ...