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.

Extended Analysis

Loose Tubes: Sad Afrika

by John Kelman
June 28, 2012

Loose TubesSäd AfrikaLost Marble2012With virtually none of its discography available on CD--and the only one, Open Letter (EG, 1988), shamefully out-of-print--it's no mean accomplishment that Britain's Loose Tubes has remained, if not exactly legendary, then at least firmly etched into the minds of those aware of them. Of course, any group that was the breeding ground for a number of now-significant British jazzsters--not limited to, but including keyboardist Django Bates, saxophonists Iain ...

Album Review

Choban: Elektrik

Read "Elektrik" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
June 28, 2012

Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist Jordan Shapiro extends the reach of Balkan music with a gentrified twist, hinting at a New York City downtown aura amid the indigenous fundamentals that coalesce into a variegated offering. With straight-four backbeats, streaming violins, harmonious vocal chants and dreamy electronics maneuvers, the album presents a nouveau spin on traditional southeastern European folk.“Beratche from Prespa" is an Albanian dance, treated with Shapiro's psychedelic guitar parts, concocted on grunge-rock and gravelly keyboards-based intonations. With linear progressions, the ...

Behind the Lens With...

Behind the Lens With Paul Brouns

by Paul Brouns
June 28, 2012

Meet Paul Brouns: Born (1967), raised and currently living in the Netherlands, I started out as an artist creating abstract geometric paintings. Photography always has had a special position in my work. I started out taking pictures of architectural details that had a similar quality compared to my drawings and paintings. In recent times I was mostly involved with creating graphic design, but whenever I needed imagery for my graphic work I gladly took up my camera. During ...

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Album Review

Sidsel Endresen: One

by John Kelman
June 28, 2012

While those around her were busy exploring the nexus of technology and conventional instrumentation at the 2006 Punkt Festival in Kristiansand, Norway, Sidsel Endresen was demonstrating just how much could be done with one unaltered human voice. One documents the advances she's made in stretching the potential of voice and articulation. It's a record that eschews, for the most part, conventions like melody, pulse and lyric. Still, despite its improvised nature, this brief 32-minute set is not without form or ...

Live Review

Ottawa Jazz Festival, Days 1-3: June 21-23, 2012

by John Kelman
June 27, 2012

Days 1-3 | Days 4-8 TD Ottawa International Jazz FestivalOttawa, CanadaJune 21-Jul 1, 2012After a paradigm shift in 2011--deserting its largely “pure" approach to programming for one that acknowledged how, in order for it to survive, it needed to (a) attract a larger percentage from the youth demographic, and (b) find ways to bring some big bucks into the coffers, in order to fiscally support the many fine “real" jazz acts it was ...

Album Review

Sara Gazarek: Blossom & Bee

Read "Blossom & Bee" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
June 27, 2012

Vocalist Sara Gazarek was in a recording slumber for the past half decade, but 2012 seems to be the year that this sleeping jazz vocal beauty finally awakens. She eased her way back into the ears of her fans with Where Time Stands Still (Charleston Square Recordings, 2012), a collaboration that paired her with Germany's Triosence, and returns full force now, with the sublime Blossom & Bee. This twelve-song program is strongly influenced by the work of vocalist Blossom Dearie ...

Live Review

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival: Burlington, VT, June 1-10, 2012

by Doug Collette
June 27, 2012

Burlington Discover Jazz FestivalBurlington, VTJune 1-10, 2012 Now in its 29th year, Burlington Vermont's Discover Jazz festival generates a tremendous amount of anticipation as its 10-day interval arrives each June. Followers plan their vacations around it, residents arrange family gatherings in time with it and those coming in from afar look forward to it as one of the most significant events of the year. The level of anticipation for this year's festival ...

Album Review

Adam Baldych And The Baltic Gang: Imaginary Room

Read "Imaginary Room" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
June 27, 2012

Despite the perceived similarities between musical groups and gangs, there are surprisingly few examples of bands with a “gang" appellation. There's American rockers the James Gang, Brit-punks the Tyla Gang and of course there's the Purple Gang (although that was just a rhythm section). Imaginary Room, the debut release from violinist Adam Baldych and The Baltic Gang, has none of this outlaw chic, but there's plenty of excitement to be found in the music.Baldych is a member of ...

Album Review

Remi Alvarez / Ingebrigt Haker Flaten: First Duet Live

Read "First Duet Live" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza

by Jerry D'Souza
June 27, 2012

Tenor saxophonist Remi Àlvarez has drawn several musicians into his sphere as an improviser. The collaborations have spawned several fine recordings that brim with intense interplay and resolute imagination. His encounter with bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten is no exception. Born in Oppdal, Norway, Flaten has made an impact on the Scandinavian free jazz movement. Wanting to expand his horizons, he moved to Chicago and then to Austin, where he now makes his home. His journeys have served him ...

Live From New York

Henry Cole, Joe McPhee & Ravi Coltrane

by Martin Longley
June 27, 2012

Henry Cole & The Afrobeat Collective 92Y Tribeca May 30, 2012 The Checkout is a monthly live broadcast for the WBGO radio station, presented by DJ Josh Jackson. The deal down at 92Y Tribeca always involves two formidable combos, often featuring a very familiar act coupled with a surging fresh presence on the scene. As the red light of “live" winks on, the night is governed by the demands of a tight start ...