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.
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Luis Vicente Trio: Come Down Here
by Glenn Astarita
The Luis Vicente Trio's Come Down Here is a bold exploration of free jazz that morphs pure improvisation with hints of conventional structure. While it may not aspire to be a masterpiece, it offers an engaging and often exhilarating journey into the unpredictable realms of spontaneous musical creation. From the opening notes of the title track, Vicente's trumpet leads with fearless energy, charting a course through uncharted sonic territories. He is joined by Gonçalo Almeid on bass and ...
Continue ReadingMilitary Music: Part 2
by Monk Rowe
Music played a positive, even lifesaving role for soldiers during the Korean and Vietnam War years. In this episode, we hear from Jake Hanna, Frank Foster, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Junior Mance, and Hal Espinosa. ...
Continue ReadingChris Greene Quartet: Conversance
by Bridget A. Arnwine
Saxophonist Chris Greene is back. The Evanston, IL native and his group the Chris Greene Quartet--comprising Greene on sax, Marc Piane on bass, Damian Espinosa on piano and Steve Corley on drums--recently released its newest project, titled “Conversance." The album is the first jazz recording released on the Pravda Records label in the label's forty-year history. According to the recording's press release, the Chicago-based indie rock label took a chance on Greene, but it feels more accurate to state that ...
Continue ReadingBrad Shepik: Human Activity: Dream of the Possible
by Richard J Salvucci
All About Jazz is not an academic journal, but once in a while, a little academic insight may not hurt. Two psychologists from McGill University have published an interesting piece in Impact: The Journal of the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning produced by the College of General Studies at Boston University. In “Waking Up to No Sound: Music Psychology and Climate Action," Lindsey Fleming and Daniel Levitin write: “Music is a cultural universal and for ...
Continue ReadingNo, Don Porfirio Did Not Invent Jazz, but It Doesn't Matter
by Richard J Salvucci
Visiting Mexican Bands, 1876-1955 Dan Vernhettes 220 pages ISBN: #9782900946046 2022 It is a safe bet that asking a group of music aficionados “Who invented jazz" is likely to elicit a range of answers from “Everyone" to “No One." Even the earnest seeker is apt to come up with a Louis Armstrong-like formulation of “lots of ingredients," which is certainly true. But we live in an age in which the phrase “cultural appropriation" is ...
Continue ReadingGiuseppe Venezia: I've Been Waiting For You
by Neil Duggan
One of the crucial abilities for a jazz bassist is to blend a group together; regardless of who is playing or soloing, they usually provide rhythmic or harmonic support. So when a bassist acts as leader, they have an intriguing viewpoint around which instrument should play when, and how to structure ensemble compositions for best effect. Italian bassist Giuseppe Venezia has over 20 years of international experience to call upon to demonstrate this. He makes it count across his seven ...
Continue ReadingAndrew Hill, Gaia Wilmer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Anat Cohen & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Unearthed gems, re-releases and brand new albums showcasing the work of piano masters, up-and-comers, and champions of Brazilian music.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Ryuichi Sakamoto “The Sheltering Sky" Opus (Milan) 6:24 Host talks 8:16 Ryuichi Sakamoto “Last Regrets" Coda (WEWANTSOUNDS) 10:17 Host talks 8:16 Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Dongfeng Liu “Ode to the Yellow River" China Afro Cuba (Zoho) 12:04 Anat Cohen Quartetinho “Coco Rococo" Bloom (Anzic) 18:19 Host ...
Continue ReadingYamabiko Quintet: Yamabiko Quintet
by Glenn Astarita
Yamabiko Quintet, the group's self-titled album, is a sonic adventure through the labyrinth of free jazz, where improvisation is the guiding star and the unexpected lurks around every corner. This quintet, featuring Frank Paul Schubert on saxophones, Michel Pilz on bass clarinet, Reiner Winterschladen on trumpet, Christian Ramond on bass and Klaus Kugel on drums, delivers a performance that is both intricate and accessible, a feat in a genre often labeled as esoteric. The album's structure is an ...
Continue ReadingCopa Salvo, Joyce Moreno, Ashley Henry, Les Hommes, And More
by Tony Poole
Tony Poole selects his favourite tracks from the latest new releases and pre-releases. Playlist Lefto Early Bird “Diane Charlemagne (Iman Houssein Remix)" single (Brownswood) 00:00 Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad “Uana Ete ft. Joyce Moreno e Tutty Moreno" from Jazz Is Dead 021 (Jazz Is Dead) 07:22 Ashley Henry “Oh La (feat. Binker Golding)" from Who We Are (Royal Raw) 10:12 The Tailfeathers “Tailfeathers" from Chakalaka Jazz--A Selection of South African Gems (Heavenly Sweetness) 16:06 Olivier Robin ...
Continue ReadingMyra Brownbridge: The Voyage Out
by Konstantin N. Rega
First albums are not the end-all-be-all, but they certainly count for something. London bassist Myra Brownbridge crafts a strong debut that shows a younger musician with spirit and intuition. The Voyage Out delivers softer melodies that still have a groove to them. With guitarist Tom Ollendorff, George Garford on alto sax and Matthew Holmes on drums, the quartet plays together with ease. Striking the right balance between instrumental solos, providing a clear tune to follow and a variety in compositional ...
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