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.
Sign in to customize your My Articles page —or— Filter Article Results
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80: Heavier Yet Lays The Crownless Head
by Chris May
Seun Kuti is a chip off the old block: inheriting his father Fela Kuti's band Egypt 80, pushing at the edges of but staying more or less within Afrobeat's classic instrumental paradigm, unconditionally championing all oppressed and marginalized people, and, not least, enjoying blunts the size of baseball bats. One place where Seun has pushed at the edges is in his choice of co-producers. From Africa With Fury: Rise (Knitting Factory, 2011), for instance, was co-produced with ...
Continue ReadingThe 20th Anniversary DC JazzFest
by Jerome Wilson
2024 DC JazzFest Potomac Riverfront Washington, DC August 31 to September 1, 2024 Being the birthplace of Duke Ellington among other things, Washington, DC has had a long tradition as a hotbed for jazz, and been the site of several ambitious jazz festivals over the years. The most prominent one currently is the DC JazzFest which held its 20th anniversary edition over Labor Day weekend. The entire festival ran from August 28th thru ...
Continue ReadingMike Stern: Echoes and Other Songs
by Neil Duggan
Echoes and Other Songs is guitarist Mike Stern's first release since the loss of pianist, friend and confidante, Jim Beard in March, 2024. Beard, perhaps best known for his association with Steely Dan, appears here as pianist, keyboardist and producer. Stern is still on the long road to recovery following a fall in 2016 that broke both his arms and left him with nerve damage. He has adapted his technique and now uses a homegrown solution to hold his pick ...
Continue ReadingMy Summer with Sonny: The Podcast
by Patrick Burnette
Summer's winding down. How'd you spend yours? Pat spent his immersed in the music and life of Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest improvisers to grace the story of jazz. In this podcast, which is kind of an upcoming article in summary (and audio) form, Pat looks at the massive new biography of Sonny as well as four recent reissues of some of his best loved music, most of which involve trios.Playlist Discussion of Aidan Levy's book Saxophone ...
Continue ReadingDawn Clement / Steve Kovalcheck / Jon Hamar: Dawn Clement / Steve Kovalcheck / Jon Hamar
by Dan Bilawsky
A trio sans drums offers the opportunity for a capacious clarity that you can't find anywhere else. And this particular collective with pianist Dawn Clement, guitarist Steve Kovalcheck and bassist Jon Hamar embraces that possibility while highlighting an inviting style all its own. Splitting compositional duties and showcasing an empathetic sixth sense that involves baton-passing bonhomie, dovetailing joints, melodic volleying, conversational chemistry, steady support and sympathy, these three demonstrate what egoless creativity is all about. There is ...
Continue ReadingMeet Joseph Bowie and Oliver Lake
by Cheryl K.
In this hour, an interview with trombonist Joseph Bowie and saxophonist, composer, painter, and poet Oliver Lake, two members of the interdisciplinary arts ensemble BAG--Black Artist Group. The reissue label, WeWantSounds, is set to release its long-lost concert recording “For Peace and Liberty--In Paris, Dec. 1972." BAG was founded in St. Louis, MO in 1968 and included the core members of Bowie, Lake, trumpeters Baikida Carroll and Floyd LeFlore, and drummer Charles “Bobo" Shaw . Playlist Black Artist ...
Continue ReadingPeter DiCarlo: The Other Side
by Richard J Salvucci
On “The Other Side," Peter di Carlo plays a repeated figure that reminds one of John Coltrane trying to find “Giant Steps." Nonetheless, DiCarlo is an alto player, and more in the vein of Marc Russo or someone out of Tower of Power than a typical post-bop alto player. The figure, the shape and pacing of which reappears in “Fluffy Cloud," brings the entire weight of DiCarlo's band, which just happens to be Turkish, and based in Istanbul. ...
Continue ReadingGood Company
by Bob Osborne
The title of Art Hirahara's new release embraces the spirit of jazz. Music made in good company with musicians interacting to create something special. Two new albums from ground-breaking saxophonist Ivo Perelman reflect this approach as well with the creation of music which pushes at boundaries. Other brand new releases from 2024 make up the rest of the show apart from a coda of two great tracks from Miles Davis electric period in 1969-1970.Playlist Show Intro 00:00 Art ...
Continue ReadingJohn Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival 2024
by La-Faithia White
A collection of photos from the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival in High Point, NC from Saturday, August 31st to Sunday, September 1st, 2024 featuring British band Incognito led by composer, producer, guitarist and singer Jean-Paul Maunick, pianist Jesus Molina and Grammy Award nominated blues singer and guitarist Samantha Fish, Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Bilal, and award-winning multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson. The festival is rain or shine and was dampened with heavy rains the entire weekend making ...
Continue ReadingBill Charlap Trio at Music Mountain
by Steve Blomgren
Bill Charlap Trio Music Mountain Falls Village, CT August 24, 2024 At Music Mountain, in Falls Village, CT, the Bill Charlap Trio played a memorable set to a near-capacity crowd one late August evening. The group was in fine fettle as it worked through a set list heavy on Broadway classics and standards. Charlap, who recently passed the baton after a lengthy stint as the Artistic Director of the 92nd Street Y's Jazz in July ...
Continue Reading
