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.

562

Live Review

Jazz no Parque: July 15-17, 2011

by John Kelman
July 28, 2011

Mário Laginha e Convidados Jazz no Parque Fundação Serralves July 16, 2011 An invite to Porto, Portugal in the middle of the summer, to catch a single performance--a world premiere, at that--and spend some time soaking up the landscape and culture? Hard enough to resist under any circumstances, but when the local temperature in Ottawa, Canada, is 38 Celsius (a whopping 43 with the Humidex factored in), and sunny Porto hovering in the 20-25 range? ...

298

Album Review

Michael Dessen Trio: Forget The Pixel

Read "Forget The Pixel" reviewed by Robert Bush

by Robert Bush
July 28, 2011

Trombonist Michael Dessen once studied with George Lewis, hung with Ray Anderson, and has ascended to their level on the creative improvising scene. Dessen has his own distinct style, one that values nuanced gestures as highly as it does exuberance; therefore his music creates a micro world of detail and organically developed themes. The music for this album was actualized over the course of a year of experimentation. Dessen's trio-mates live in NYC, and he would visit ...

230

Album Review

John Santos Sextet: Filosofía Caribeña Vol. 1

Read "Filosofía Caribeña Vol. 1" reviewed by James Nadal

by James Nadal
July 28, 2011

John Santos is a sophisticated percussionist with impeccable credentials, so it is no surprise that Filosofía Caribeña, Vol. 1 is a brilliant foray into the broader scope of Caribbean music. As the title infers, there is an inherent rhythmic philosophy ingrained in this music which is as rich and vibrant as the culture which it represents. The John Santos Sextet teams Santos up, once again, with flautist John Calloway, and saxophonist Melecio Magdaluyo. Augmented with a premier ...

238

Profile

Eddie Jefferson: The Scientist of Vocalese

by Ed Hamilton
July 28, 2011

Detroit once had a reputation as the “Killer Kapital," but things have changed--Dave Bing, basketball Hall of Famer is Mayor and is striving to clean up the city. But 32 years ago, actress Brenda Vaccarro and altoist Richie Cole witnessed the drive-by shotgun slaying of the architect of Vocalese, Eddie Jefferson, at Bakers' Lounge. Jefferson was shot and killed May 8, 1979, walking out of the venue, after playing a set with co-leader Cole. Vocalese was first created ...

195

Album Review

Kayo: I Wish You Love

Read "I Wish You Love" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
July 28, 2011

Kayoko Hiraki may not be familiar to most jazz audiences but this is a musician whose pedigree alone makes her a unique artist. A native of Japan, Kayo--the name by which she prefers to be called--is the daughter of a classical pianist and began playing the piano at the tender age of three. A classically-trained pianist herself, when not touring in Japan and throughout Europe, Kayo, who calls New York home, can usually be found performing at Arturo's in Greenwich ...

325

Album Review

Eugene Marlow's Heritage Ensemble: A Fresh Take

Read "A Fresh Take" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
July 27, 2011

A Fresh Take is Eugene Marlow's third album of songs from the Hebrew tradition. It builds on the foundation of the excellent Celebrations (MEII Enterprises, 2010) but rather than extending the Heritage Ensemble's repertoire still further, it reworks the tunes on the 2006 debut, Making The Music Our Own (MEII Enterprises). It's unusual to find a band revisiting its back catalogue so early in its recording career, but keyboardist/leader Marlow has a clear justification for the move, explaining that the ...

279

Live Review

Ultra Music at Pori Jazz Festival: Pori, Finland, July 14-16, 2011

by Anthony Shaw
July 27, 2011

uLTRA mUSIC at the 46th Pori Jazz FestivalPori, FinlandJuly 14-16, 2011 The port of Pori has always been a hub of access for Finns living in the flatlands of the west coast area. As a center for the export of wood and cereals, the city traditionally has seen the import of ideas and styles from the visiting seamen. And for the last 46 years it has witnessed the influx of foreign musicians in mid-July, participants in ...

650

Film Review

Miles Davis: Live at Montreux - Highlights 1973-1991

by John Kelman
July 27, 2011

Miles DavisLive at Montreux--Highlights 1973-1991 Eagle Eye Media2011 When Miles Davis plugged in towards the end of the 1960s, it may have been a huge shot fired across the bow of the jazz intelligentsia, who loudly cried foul and began the first of many accusations of “selling out," but for the trumpet icon, it was business as usual. In a career that ultimately spanned five decades before he passed away, all ...

299

Album Review

Matt Nowlin Jazz Orchestra: The Good News!

Read "The Good News!" reviewed by Alex Marianyi

by Alex Marianyi
July 27, 2011

In a world full of negative media, the Matt Nowlin Jazz Orchestra only wants to talk about The Good News!. The good news is that Chicago- based composer/conductor Nowlin does not hesitate when referencing the great big bands of the past; however, this attitude does not keep him or his soloists from exploring new territory as well. While some tracks feature stride piano introductions à la early Count Basie or saxophone ensemble playing much like the Glenn ...

220

Album Review

Jamie Ruben: Groove-O-Ly-O-Scene

Read "Groove-O-Ly-O-Scene" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
July 27, 2011

With his debut album as leader, Canadian guitarist Jamie Ruben leads a quintet of Toronto's finest session and touring players in carving out a groove of relaxed and laidback light jazz on Groove-O-Ly-O-Scene. Inspired by the music of Medeski, Martin & Wood, The Bad Plus and the incomparable Frank Zappa, Ruben's music attempts a tasteful hybrid without Zappa's outlandish antics.Offering an all-original selection of music, the light grooves begin with “AQ Giraffe" and continue throughout the disc. Of ...