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
Various Artists: The Roots of Chicha Volume 2: Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru
by Chris M. Slawecki
The modern tradition of cumbia music in Peru goes back to the 1960s. But in the 1970s, cumbia began to be known as “chicha," the name for an alcoholic drink of which the Incas were famously fond, and cumbia and chicha both somehow became associated with the poor and downtrodden living in Peruvian slums--ghetto music. Following up Barbes' 2007 release The Roots of Chicha Volume 1, Volume 2 delivers chicha from Los Destellos' founder and guitarist Enrique Delgado, ...
Continue Reading...Yair Yona: Remember
by Eyal Hareuveni
Yair Yona is a resourceful Israeli guitarist and producer, whose solo debut salutes legendary and innovative finger-picking guitarists from both sides of the Atlantic such as John Fahey, Leo Kottke and Bert Jansch. But Yona does not shy away from updating these guitarists' influential legacies and sounds, with references to modern indie post-rock groups and guitarists such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Jack Rose and Robbie Basho. Throughout the album, Yona experiments with different strategies that reflect ...
Continue Reading...Lauren Sevian: Big Voice on the Big Horn
by R.J. DeLuke
Swaying slightly, with eyes closed, Lauren Sevian pours a lot of heart and grit into the big, baritone saxophone--the largest of the most commonly played saxophones and an axe that looks even more considerable when seen against her small frame. She comes out with an imposing sound and welcoming style, put forth through a striking conception.Sevian is a hard-working New York musician who's coming into higher recognition, abetted by some of the coolest big band gigs, including sitting ...
Continue Reading...Captain Black Big Band: Captain Black Big Band
by Dan Bilawsky
The Posi-Tone label has positioned itself as a prime purveyor of small group jazz, with artists like pianist Orrin Evans leading the way, and both parties are breaking new ground with the release of The Captain Black Big Band. After putting out dozens of small group sessions, the label has taken a bold step in a bigger direction by releasing the debut big band recording from one of jazz's rising stars. Evans' prior output for the label--his own Faith In ...
Continue Reading...Duduka Da Fonseca: New York City, March 19, 2011
by Dan Bilawsky
Duduka Da Fonseca QuartetJazz StandardNew York, NYMarch 19, 2011 (First Set) Everybody in Manhattan seemed to be celebrating something on the evening of Thursday, March 17. Those with Irish eyes were smiling as green beer flowed freely in corner bars throughout New York City, but a different kind of celebration was taking place at Jazz Standard. On this particular evening, the club kicked off a four day celebration of drummer/percussionist Duduka Da Fonseca's birthday, ...
Continue Reading...Dan Raphael / Rich Halley / Carson Halley: Children Of The Blue Supermarket
by Bruce Lindsay
There have been times when jazz and the spoken word appeared inseparable. Brief times, but times when the combination was a powerful artistic and (counter) cultural force. Children Of The Blue Supermarket brings those times back, a reminder of how effective a partnership the jazz musician and the poet can create. Maybe it's the new thing. The musicians: experienced saxophonist Rich Halley and his percussionist son, Carson; and poet Dan Raphael, who's been writing and performing poetry ...
Continue Reading...Trio Mediaeval: Toronto, Canada, March 23, 2011
by John Kelman
Trio Mediaeval with The Toronto ConsortSt. Anne's Anglican Church Toronto, Canada March 23, 2011 When there's the kind of chemistry that Trio Mediaeval has sharpened over the past decade, the loss of one of its singers--even if temporary--could be a recipe for, if not disaster, then, at least, a significant shift in its internal dynamics. With Anna Maria Friman on temporary hiatus, following the birth of twins last summer, the remaining vocalists--founder Linn Andrea Fuglseth ...
Continue Reading...Native Soul: Soul Step
by Greg Simmons
Native Soul Soul Step is a stylistically coherent and well executed effort. The quartet--a classic keyboards, saxophone, bass and drums lineup--plays mostly straight-ahead, but adds enough instrumental and musical variation to keep it fresh throughout. Keyboardist Noah Haidu is the collective's founder, and is the source of a good portion of the music's diversity. By switching between piano and Fender Rhodes--with a dash of B-3 organ and synthesizer--he adds just the right touch of funk and nostalgia to ...
Continue Reading...Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet: To Hear From There
by Raul d'Gama Rose
Trombonist Wayne Wallace is one of the most melodic players on his instrument. And although he might inhabit a somewhat narrow range--eschewing the very high register--he is also one of today's most expressive trombonists. His husky tone is one of a kind and gives his playing tremendous character. Moreover, he is one of the few players who comfortable in virtually every idiom, and this is something unique as it enables him to extend his playing with subtle changes in rhythmic ...
Continue Reading...Conrad Herwig: The Latin Side of Herbie Hancock
by Chris M. Slawecki
Trombonist and bandleader Conrad Herwig has quite colorfully and majestically explored the Latin side of some of modern music's most enduring composers and performers, and herewith adds his survey of Herbie Hancock's compositional catalog to previous Latin sets that honored Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter. “It's a little daunting in the sense that these tunes are so iconic," Herwig admits. “I grew up idolizing Herbie's music. His tunes became the new standards for a whole generation of post-Coltrane players."
Continue Reading...
Trending
In Tribute To...
Points of View: Celebrating Dave Holland
In Tribute To...
John Coltrane At 100: A Global Perspective
Jazz Raconteurs
Julius Hemphill: Marty Ehrlich and Tim Berne Remember a...
Interview
Boney James: A Simple Man And A Lifetime Study
Musician 2 Musician
Steve Coleman on Dave Holland
Interview
Miles Okazaki's Monkathon: The Complete Thelonious...
Reanimating Conversations Past
John Scofield: Meant To Be
VOTE!
