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.

Album Review

Thought-Fox: My Guess

Read "My Guess" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
January 11, 2013

Thought-Fox is a quintet led by Lauren Kinsella, whose adventurism was already apparent on All This Talk About (WideEarRecords, 2012), an intimate series of improvisations with drummer Alex Huber. In a short time, the Irish singer has garnered glowing praise for her voice--a thing of rare beauty--and for her very personal improvisational style. Improvisations certainly color the music here, and though possible to imagine Kinsella performing these songs as duos--a format she enjoys--the quintet lends greater structural form as well ...

Album Review

The Charles Gayle Trio: Look Up

by John Sharpe
January 10, 2013

Fire-breathing saxophonist Charles Gayle has had to wait a long time for his ESP-disk debut. Allegedly, there was a 1974 session in the can, but the label folded in its earlier incarnation, before it saw the light of day. But now, a 1994 live date from Santa Monica has been issued on the revived imprint. Recorded during the spell that saw issue of such titles as Consecration (Black Saint, 1993), Kingdom Come (Knitting Factory Works, 1994) and Testaments (Knitting Factory ...

Extended Analysis

Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra: Bloom

by Dan Bilawsky
January 10, 2013

The difference between a “big band" and an “orchestra" in jazz is usually more than nominal in nature. On the surface, they may seem the same, but their intent, musical scope and arranging/compositional methodology are usually very different. While it can be seen as a bit of a generalization, the “band" tag often refers to groups that take the straightforward path, while the “orchestras" tend to take the road(s) less traveled. Duke Ellington paved the way for every adventurous jazz ...

Album Review

Chris Abrahams & Sabine Vogel: Kopfuberwelle

Read "Kopfuberwelle" reviewed by John Eyles

by John Eyles
January 10, 2013

Kopfüberwelle features the duo of German flautist Sabine Vogel and The Necks' pianist, Chris Abrahams, uncharacteristically on pipe organ. Of the six tracks, the first five were recorded in May 2010 in St. Annenkirche in Zepernick and the sixth in June 2009 in Potsdam, where Vogel holds a university teaching position. The rationale for Abrahams' switch of instrument from piano to organ is explained by the duo's “explorations of both differences and similarities between the flute and organ." There are ...

Album Review

Sara Serpa / Ran Blake: Aurora

Read "Aurora" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
January 10, 2013

Aurora is vocalist Sara Serpa's second release with her mentor, pianist Ran Blake. A duet recital recorded live at Lisbon's Auditório da Culturges, despite being more laidback and slightly less adventurous, it is just as creative as the pair's engrossing Camera Obscura (Inner Circle, 2010). Serpa and Blake's sparse and atmospheric delivery of these dozen songs is inventive, intellectually stimulating and satisfying. The cinematic “Dr. Mabuse" features Serpa's wordless vocals, moving from wistfully contemplative to fiercely passionate, ...

Take Five With...

Take Five With Tony Vitti

by AAJ Staff
January 10, 2013

Meet Tony Vitti: In 2008, I was a singer in a metal band, but I decided to play jazz and blues in 2012, after some tours, some scenes. Instrument(s): I'm a singer, even if I play guitar, I sing, sing and sing again. Teachers and/or influences? I can't say I have a teacher because I always learn everything on my own. Music lessons are expensive and I never had the ...

Extended Analysis

Circular Dreaming

by John Kelman
January 10, 2013

Now entering its fourth decade, Quest has covered a lot of territory in that time. Featuring, since inception, saxophonist Dave Liebman and pianist Richie Beirach—truly one of the longest-lasting partnerships in jazz; one marked by an inimitable shared understanding and distinct musical language—Quest's initial approach was perfectly articulated by Storyville's 2010 reissue of the quartet's second and third releases, Searching for the New Sound of Be-Bop, the first to stabilize its lineup with bassist Ron McClure and drummer Billy Hart). ...

Extended Analysis

The Jim Hall Quartet: Live at Birdland

by Victor Verney
January 9, 2013

Guitarist Jim Hall, now in his eighth decade, continues to be a vigorous performer, fresh-minded arranger and creative composer. He's been around so long, and done so much, that it's humbling to try writing something fresh about him: there is little to say that hasn't already been said, and in many cases quite eloquently. A Google search turns up a lengthy list of well-chosen adjectives: subtle, fluid, daring, poetic, empathetic, graceful, economical, experimental, intuitive, inquisitive. Many reviewers ...

Album Review

Food: Mercurial Balm

Read "Mercurial Balm" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
January 9, 2013

While Anglo/Norwegian musical encounters have recently been on the rise--Norway's In the Country and Jaga Jazzist, for example, recently discovering respective nexus points with British pedal steel guitarist BJ Cole and the Britten Sinfonia--it's of no small significance that Food has been exploring trans-national connective threads for a considerably longer time, with its eponymous 1999 recorded debut on British saxophonists Iain Ballamy's Feral imprint recorded nearly 15 years ago, at the 1998 Molde International Jazz Festival.But much has ...

Live Review

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue: Denver, CO, December 29, 2012

by Geoff Anderson
January 9, 2013

Trombone Shorty and Orleans AvenueOgden TheaterDenver, CODecember 29, 2012“Supafunkrock." That's the word singer/trombonist/trumpeter Trombone Shorty coined to describe the music he and his band Orleans Avenue play. The term captures only part of the ingredients the band mixes into its musical mélange. Besides funk and rock, the band adds generous helpings of soul, blues, hip-hop and jazz. Mostly, however, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue sets out to create one big party. And it's no wonder; ...