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.

478

Extended Analysis

The Complete Ahmad Jamal Trio Argo Sessions 1956-62

by David Rickert
September 10, 2010

Ahmad JamalThe Complete Ahmad Jamal Trio Argo Sessions 1956-62Mosaic Records2010 If you're familiar with pianist Ahmad Jamal, it's more likely through his reputation and not through his music. Trumpeter Miles Davis famously remarked that Jamal taught him to be more economical in his playing: that the notes that aren't played are just as important as the ones that are. He was an enormously influential pianist in the 1950s who, despite a hit ...

136

Album Review

Jacam Manricks: Trigonometry

Read "Trigonometry" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose

by Raul d'Gama Rose
September 10, 2010

The reason that there is seldom a wrong note played by Jacám Manricks on Trigonometry is that notes, phrases and the spiraling flow of seemingly unending lines appear to be so extremely well thought-out that nothing could possibly sound out of place. To hear the saxophonist play in soft, dulcet tones that occupy the paler colors of a woodwinds player's tonal palette is like listening to an apothecary conjuring up a mysterious aural recipe that will ultimately produce some magic ...

315

Album Review

Ton Van Bergeyk / John James / Sam Mitchell / Dale Miller: I Got Rhythm

Read "I Got Rhythm" reviewed by David Rickert

by David Rickert
September 10, 2010

Back in the seventies, a group of acoustic guitar players in England hit upon the ingenious idea of mining the early twentieth century for songs that would make for pleasant finger-style arrangements. Given the heavy syncopation and catchy melodies of the novelty tunes and rags from that era, they figured correctly that such songs would translate seamlessly to the guitar. I Got Rhythm, originally recorded in 1976, features four guitarists playing dazzling arrangements of these songs. A few will be ...

389

Take Five With...

Take Five with Albert Beger

by AAJ Staff
September 10, 2010

Meet Albert Beger:Albert Beger, the free-jazz pioneer and innovator, with his ninth album Peacemaker. Accompanied by his new electro-acoustic band, combining acoustic instruments and noise/glitches laptop works. Albert brings his music to a new level of creation and band dynamic. Following his critically acclaimed Big Mother, Peacemaker returns to a more personal, introspective observation of the inner self, and merges delicacy and aggression in one of the most unique jazz records of recent times. Instrument(s):

317

Album Review

Milton Suggs: Things to Come

Read "Things to Come" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
September 10, 2010

There is a warm wind blowing in from Chicago and his name is Milton Suggs. With male jazz vocalists an endangered species, any new discovery is noteworthy, but Suggs is something special. Suggs is a brilliant throwback-bring-forward combination of Joe Williams's grace, Johnny Hartman's sensuality, and representing the singer's anima, Betty Carter's electric elasticity. Things to Come boasts the singer's embarrassment of talent as composer, lyricist, and singer. He is equally competent in all band formats, from ...

377

Album Review

Jacky Terrasson: Push

by Glenn Astarita
September 10, 2010

There's no lack of variety on pianist Jacky Terrasson's debut for Concord Records. With his trio and special guests, Terrasson generates a multihued program, featuring jazz-funk, spunky bop and cleverly envisioned ballads, such as Thelonious Monk's timeless classic, “Ruby My Dear." On this piece, Terrasson and harmonica ace Gregoire Maret share the lead via sweet-toned passages and a capacious backdrop that elicits imagery of a sultry breeze. The soloists caress and rephrase the familiar theme into a ...

229

Extended Analysis

Karl E. H. Seigfried: Portrait Of Jack Johnson

by Dan Bilawsky
September 9, 2010

Karl E.H. SeigfriedPortrait Of Jack JohnsonImaginary Chicago Records2010 Boxing and jazz don't seem like a natural fit, but the two disciplines share ideals at their cores. Both thrive on the unexpected and live as poetry in motion. Jazz musicians and boxers both work hard and long, spending hours and hours honing their skills so that they can be used in a spontaneous fashion when they are thrown into action, and both ...

255

Album Review

Doug Webb: Midnight

Read "Midnight" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
September 9, 2010

Saxophonist Doug Webb leads a superb quartet on Midnight, creating a late-night atmosphere with a hint of nostalgia on a range of classic tunes. Webb's career stretches back for 30 years and includes work with some of the finest jazz musicians, including Bud Shanks, Horace Silver and Freddie Hubbard, as well as leading rock and pop acts including Rod Stewart. Midnight sees Webb joined by an equally talented rhythm section; the result is a true ensemble performance ...

748

Afrobeat Diaries

Part 11 - Knitting Factory releases Fela Kuti "Zombie" batch

by Chris May
September 9, 2010

Knitting Factory Records' meticulous, immaculately packaged and altogether exemplary Fela Kuti reissue program reaches its third, broadly chronological chapter with the six-disc “Zombie" batch, comprising eleven LPs originally released between 1976--1980. The batch chronicles Kuti's music from shortly before the Nigerian army's destruction of his live/work commune, Kalakuta Republic, in 1977, through that outrage's aftermath, and up to the cusp of the dissolution of Afrika 70 and the formation of its successor band, Egypt 80. It was ...

151

Album Review

Paul Hartsaw / Andrew Young/ Jerome Bryerton: Matter & Memory

Read "Matter & Memory" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
September 9, 2010

Improvising trios come and go. When a special session is documented, it focuses attention, clears the mind, and opens pathways to a happening. That is exactly what Matter & Memory accomplishes as an improvised session.Recorded in 2007, this trio of saxophonist Paul Hartsaw, bassist Andrew Young, and percussionist Jerome Bryerton executes these eight impromptu pieces as if they have been preparing each track for years.Organized by Hartsaw, his previous work has been with the various ensembles ...