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

Tarek Yamani Trio: Ashur

by Jerry D'Souza
October 20, 2012

Accolades often disappear in the mists of time but Tarek Yamani who won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composer's Award 2010, for “Sama'i Yamani," stamps his credentials in no uncertain terms on Ashur. Born in Lebanon, he is a self-taught pianist who found his groove in several styles including hip-hop, Afro-Cuban and flamenco music. He began concentrating on jazz in 2004 and has gone on to make his mark in the genre. When the inaugural International Jazz Day was proclaimed ...

Film Review

Anton Corbijn: Inside Out

by Nenad Georgievski
October 20, 2012

Anton Corbijn Inside Out CTM Films 2012There are plenty of documentaries about all kinds of bands and musicians, but there aren't many documentaries about photographers that have helped put them on the music pedestal. Probably the only existing documentaries on music photographers are those about photographers Annie Leibovitz and Robert Knight. Inside Out is director Klaartje Quirijns's insightful portrait of Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn, whose career can be described as original, creative and prolific.

Film Review

Takayuki Kato/ Yasuhiro Yoshigaki/ Kumiko Takara: Tu-Mu-Go #1

by Eyal Hareuveni
October 19, 2012

Takayuki Kato/ Yasuhiro Yoshigaki/ Kumiko TakaraTu-Mu-Go #1Studio Ba-Lu-Lu Ba-Lu2012 This Japanese trio is comprised by one of the most innovative and inventive guitarists on the Japanese scene, Takayuki Kato, who rarely plays outside Japan; prolific drummer and percussionist Yasuhiro Yoshigaki, leader of his own percussion ensemble, Orquesta Nudge! Nudge!; and member and collaborator of countless other important Japanese bands such as Otomo Yoshihide New Jazz outfits, Shibusashirazu Orchestra, Altered States}and Emergency!, ...

Album Review

Negroni's Trio: On The Way

Read "On The Way" reviewed by James Nadal

by James Nadal
October 19, 2012

Live recordings, when properly produced, have a way of capturing the vitality and sense of urgency in the performance. The musicians are keenly aware that there will be one take only, so concentration and focus are at an optimum level. Negroni's Trio's On The Way was recorded live at Miami-Dade College, demonstrating the veracity upon which this group thrives when the pressure is on.Pianist José Negroni and his son, drummer Nomar, are as much in sync musically as ...

Multiple Reviews

The Year of the Trio: Fred Hersch and Masabumi Kikuchi

by Hrayr Attarian
October 19, 2012

The grouping of piano, bass and drums is perhaps the most popular combo in jazz and hence 2012, like most years, has seen its share of sessions in that format. It is, however, not because of the quantity of the output but because of the issuance of two exceptional albums that it should be known as the year of the trio.Fred HerschAlive at the VanguardPalmetto2012 Despite or maybe because ...

Album Review

Kvintetten Som Sprängdes: Järnet!

Read "Järnet!" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
October 19, 2012

Järnet!--the limited edition (300), vinyl-only debut of Gothenburg, Sweden-based Kvintetten Som Sprängdes (The Quintet That Blew Up)--features a unique musical language. Led by Niklas Persson, the saxophonist's compositions reference modern and free jazz heroes from both sides of the Atlantic--including saxophonist Ornette Coleman, reed multi-instrumentalists Eric Dolphy, Anthony Braxton and Evan Parker, and Swedish hero, saxophonist Lars Gullin--intertwined with a clear affinity for lyrical folk melodies and the strong individual voices of every member of this quintet. ...

Album Review

Connie Evingson: Sweet Happy Life

Read "Sweet Happy Life" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
October 19, 2012

There are surprises galore and much to be enjoyed in Sweet Happy Life, from fine Minneapolis-based vocalist, Connie Evingson. Perhaps the most immediate of those discoveries, even before a listen, is the canon of work from Grammy and Academy Award-winning lyricist, Norman Gimbel, to whose oeuvre this CD is a tribute.With Sweet Happy Life Evingson and her mates superbly cover some of the most well-known selections in popular music. The fascinating thing is that Gimbel, while not as ...

Album Review

Beka Gochiashvili: Beka Gochiashvili

Read "Beka Gochiashvili" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
October 19, 2012

An amazingly talented prodigy from Tbilisi, Georgia, sixteen year-old Beka Gochiashvili is nothing short of extraordinary, emerging as the latest piano virtuoso to hit the jazz circuit with an impressive self-titled debut sure to turn some heads and garnish well-deserved attention. Keyboardist Chick Corea's influence permeates the album, beginning with performances from Return To Forever band mates, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White. It was White who came across this young man, who he found to be musically mature ...

Album Review

Andy Hunter: Think Like A Mountain

Read "Think Like A Mountain" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
October 19, 2012

Trombonist Andy Hunter has taken a seat in many of the most important big bands of the past decade, yet many are still unaware of his skills. He sadly suffers from “section man syndrome": that ailment that afflicts those who are heard by many, yet never truly seen for who they are. Hunter, who has resided in Brooklyn for the better part of a decade, has put his round and occasionally robust horn to good use in bassist Dave Holland's ...

We Travel the Spaceways

Merzbow Brings The Noise

by Mark Corroto
October 18, 2012

Merzbow MerzbientSoleilmoon Recordings 2012 Are you of the mind, that in the big scheme of things, the really big scheme of things, there are no accidents? That everything happens for a purpose? Call it synchronicity or a Shirley MacLaine cake recipe, and I'm sure Kevin Bacon would agree, that fate or destiny plays a role in everyone's life, even a music critic. What am I talking about? I'm talking about kismet. ...