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.

Bailey's Bundles

Christmas 2012, Part II: Charlie Haden and Hank Jones

by C. Michael Bailey
December 12, 2012

Pianist Hank Jones (1918-2010) was the senior member of musical siblings that included trumpeter Thad Jones (1923-1986) and drummer Elvin Jones (1927-2004), both of whom he outlived. Jones was a musician of impeccable elegance and a holy grace who could be compared with Teddy Wilson and Tommy Flanagan had he any peers. Everything bassist Charlie Haden touches turns to gold starting with saxophonist Ornette Coleman and The Shape of Jazz to Come (Atlantic, 1959). When he met up with Jones ...

Album Review

Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii: Muku

by Dave Wayne
December 12, 2012

It's surprising that trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and pianist Satoko Fujii--partners in music and life--have only recorded five duet CDs during the course of their incredibly prolific and artistically fecund collaboration. As Fujii wryly explains in her liner notes, each of their duet recordings is different--some are entirely freely improvised, others consist solely of compositions written by either Fujii or Tamura. The location--an important metric in the Fujii/Tamura universe--of each duet recording has also been different. Recorded in New York City, ...

Multiple Reviews

Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura: Emotional Intimacy, Musical Breadth

by Jeff Dayton-Johnson
December 12, 2012

Natsuki Tamura & Satoko FujiiMukuLibra2012Gato LibreForeverLibra2012Pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, wife and husband, maintain a staggering productivity, in terms of quantity, quality--and, most incredibly, in terms of variety. At one moment, they lead a powerful post-free ensemble; When We Were There (Polystar , 2006), with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Jim Black, is a particular high water mark in that vein. At ...

Catching Up With

Jerry Bergonzi: Eternal Student

by Marta Ramon
December 12, 2012

Jerry Bergonzi is regarded as one of the most important saxophonists in the world. Equally, he continues to make significant contributions in the world of jazz education. He is the author of Inside Improvisations Series (Jazzwise Publications), a manual developed in seven volumes--his eighth book is due to come out soon--that has become essential for jazz students around the world.The only element that speaks to time is his white hair, because his enthusiasm hasn't changed since recently deceased ...

Album Review

Animation: Transparent Heart

Read "Transparent Heart" reviewed by Jeff Dayton-Johnson

by Jeff Dayton-Johnson
December 11, 2012

Bob Belden is a sort of jazz renaissance man. He's worn many hats in his long career: producer, arranger, composer and reeds player, a combination of roles for which there are few parallels in the business.Transparent Heart highlights Belden the bandleader, the third release by his group, Animation. This is an all-new lineup for the group, constituted of students and recent grads from the highly reputed jazz program at the University of North Texas, where Belden graduated many ...

Interview

Yuwen Peng: Putting a Spin on Sizhukong

by Ian Patterson
December 11, 2012

Yuwen Peng doesn't like resting on her laurels. The pianist, composer and founder of Taiwanese sextet Sizhukong had already taken a bold step in integrating Western instruments, African music and jazz harmonies with traditional Taiwanese and Chinese folk songs on Sizhukong's self-titled debut recording in 2007. The follow-up to that, Paper Eagle (Sizhukong Records, 2009), followed a very similar pattern, though the refinement in the band's sound was notable. More of the same wouldn't have been a ...

Album Review

Sharp Radway: Hymns And Things (Introspection And Reflection)

Read "Hymns And Things (Introspection And Reflection)" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
December 11, 2012

All forms of jazz are a means of artistic personalization, but gospel jazz may be the ultimate form of individualized musical expression for those who believe. It serves as an aural representation of the individual communing with a higher power, and giving thanks. A broad yet set repertoire often binds gospel jazz projects and artists together, but no two people approach this style of music in the same manner. Pianist Hank Jones favored quiet musings on the divine while others, ...

Big Band Caravan

Albert–Hobbs Big Band / Jeff Hamilton–DePaul University Jazz Ensemble / Steve Taylor Big Band

by Jack Bowers
December 11, 2012

Dave Albert--Brian Hobbs Big Band Love Remembered Eidolon Records 2012 What a bold and unusual idea, opening a big-band album with a waltz performed by a trio. The Albert-Hobbs Big Band does exactly that with “For Mr. C," one of several dedications on its debut recording, Love Remembered. Once it becomes clear that the ensemble is missing in action and won't be heard from before Track 2, the change of pace ...

Album Review

Ferenc Nemeth: Triumph

Read "Triumph" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
December 11, 2012

Ferenc Nemeth bursts onto the jazz scene with his second release as a leader. Triumph is the follow-up to his lyrical, more reserved debut Night Songs(Dreamers Collective 2007), and finds the Hungarian-born drummer in the company of a superb quartet including his boss in the Gilfema trio, guitarist Lionel Loueke. Where Night Songs bore the heavy influence of Loueke's approach to ethnic fusion, Triumph is unique in its mix of styles that seamlessly blend into a gem ...

Big Band Report

After 15 Years, a "Caravan" Ends Its Journey

by Jack Bowers
December 11, 2012

For nearly fifteen years now, I've been writing two monthly columns here at All About Jazz: this one (Big Band Report) and Big Band Caravan. That is about to change. Starting next month, the two will be pared down to one inclusive column using as its title Big Band Report. So rather than searching the AAJ website each month for two columns, you'll need only look for one, which will encompass both big-band news and reviews. The change is being ...