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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Multiple Reviews

Bill Frisell: Live Download Series #1-13

by John Kelman
January 4, 2013

DS#001-013 | DS#014-017One of the biggest problems facing contemporary jazz musicians is that they often have far more projects on the go than could ever be recorded and released commercially by conventional record labels--even small and relatively responsive indie labels. Special projects abound, or personnel changes for a tour are forced when members of a regular group are unavailable, the plight of the 21st century working musician being how to remain viable and available. Of course, it's not ...

Take Five With...

Take Five With Todd Gordon

by AAJ Staff
January 4, 2013

Meet Todd Gordon:In just a few years, Todd Gordon has established himself as “one of Britain's most popular singers and entertainers" (Scottish Television). An avid Beatles fan until the age of 11, his musical horizons broadened when he heard Frank Sinatra's Songs for Swingin' Lovers! album. From that moment, he collected almost every recording by Ol' Blue Eyes whilst expanding his interest in jazz and swing, encompassing numerous other renowned singers and instrumentalists.Further inspiration came in ...

Album Review

Aleksandar Pejovski: Um Zaum

Read "Um Zaum" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski

by Nenad Georgievski
January 4, 2013

Can greatness be anonymous? In the case of composer/pianist Aleksandar Pejovski, and many before him, it certainly can. Unknown to the general public except for certain musicians' circles, he has been quietly releasing “Do It Yourself" (DIY) recordings of either contemporary classical music, filled with intriguing ambiances and sparkling ideas, or jazz compositions that manage to miss the public's radar. Um Zaum is a collectively improvised album recorded live at Macedonia's Channel 103 radio show, Ako Nikoj ne Sviri, hosted ...

Mr. P.C.'s Guide to Jazz Etiquette and Bandstand Decorum

January 2013

by Mr. P.C.
January 3, 2013

Dear Mr. P.C.:I was playing at a club in town, a pretty fancy place, the gig all the guys in town want. On the break a pretty woman in the audience came up to me and complimented my playing. So far so good! But then she asked if I play professionally! What should I have said? John G., Denver

Dear John:

You should be flattered! Obviously she was attracted to you and just wanted to ...

Album Review

Jackie Ryan: Listen Here

Read "Listen Here" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
January 3, 2013

Jackie Ryan isn't simply a singer; she's a force of nature. Her voice possesses a weighty power, yet soars with grace and ease. Her ability to transmute into different characters and forms, as dictated by the song, lyrics and style, makes her one in a million and she's managed to parlay that unique gift into project after successful project with some of the best in the business backing her up. This date is no exception. Ryan recruited ...

Album Review

Pete La Roca: Basra

by Greg Simmons
January 3, 2013

Pete La Roca was one of those musicians with a long but under-sung career. He was a sideman to some great Blue Note leaders including saxophonists Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, and Joe Henderson, but he only ever recorded one date (1965's Basra) under his own name during the label's heyday, and indeed only three records total as a leader over a fifty-year career. He was a drummer in the background in almost every sense.According to La Roca's obituary ...

Big Band Report

Dave Brubeck: Small Groups, Large Stature

by Jack Bowers
January 3, 2013

Dave Brubeck wasn't really a big-band kinda guy; in fact, he was seldom seen in groups larger than four or five. On the other hand, he was an extraordinary musician, one whose influence will no doubt be felt for generations to come. Brubeck, who remained active almost to the end of his life, died December 5 in Norwalk, CT, one day before his ninety-second birthday. The particulars of Brubeck's long career are well known, so there's no need to dwell ...

Take Five With...

Take Five With Petros Klampanis

by AAJ Staff
January 3, 2013

Meet Petros Klampanis: Bassist, composer, and arranger Petros Klampanis grew up on the Zakynthos Island in Greece, a place with a very rich musical heritage, where Italian and Balkan music traditions melt together.This music amalgam was Petros' first major influence and seed of inspiration to pick up the piano and guitar, and start singing in local choirs at a very early age.After finishing high school, he moved to Athens in order to attend the city's Polytechnic ...

Album Review

Hardcoretet: Do It Live

Read "Do It Live" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
January 3, 2013

Hailing from Seattle, Hardcoretet convey glimpses of vintage jazz fusion along with inferences to the region's renegade stylistic tendencies, topped off with youthful fortitude. Essentially, the group packs a big punch into this LP-length outing. A tight-knit and well-rehearsed unit, the musicians also delve into loose-groove frameworks, awash with clear and articulately executed sax and keys parts amid spiking dynamics and subtle shifts in tempo. Hardcoretet also transmits a radio-friendly vibe in spots, owing to compositions that are designed with ...

Album Review

Jonathan Saraga Quintet: First Vision

Read "First Vision" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
January 2, 2013

When young artists release their first album, it's always tempting to say they “show potential" or “are off to a good start," but those comments tend to be kindly veiled takes on “you get an A for effort, but should have waited a bit longer." Jonathan Saraga need not worry about having such pacifying comments thrown his way; the trumpeter's First Vision isn't the stuff of amateurs on the brink of musical maturity, it's a stand-up-and-take-notice offering. ...