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.

317

Album Review

Tomasz Stanko Quartet: Dark Eyes

Read "Dark Eyes" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
September 2, 2010

As a trumpeter, Tomasz Stanko clearly owes a debt to Miles Davis; yet, after four decades making some of the most arresting small ensemble jazz music in Europe, the Polish veteran perhaps deserves to be considered in the same category as the iconic legend. As a trumpeter, composer and leader, Stanko has few peers, past or present. Dark Eyes introduces Stanko's exciting new band after three wonderful recordings with pianist Marcin Wasilewski, bassist Slavomir Kurkiewicz and drummer Michal Miskiewicz, and ...

165

Album Review

Monkadelphia: Crepuscule

Read "Crepuscule" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
September 1, 2010

At first glance, Monkadelphia might be confused with the Belgian religious monks who brew dark beers. However, these postulants are, instead, a cover band for the jazz high priest of bebop, Thelonious Monk. WithCrepuscule, Monkadelphia releases the follow-up to its self-titled debut.As Monk cover sessions tend to go, bands generally opt for the far ends of the spectrum, either replicating Monk's style with exacting technique or reconfiguring his music into something unaccustomed. Monkadelphia opts for a satisfying middle- ...

633

Interview

Wycliffe Gordon: What This is All About

by Esther Berlanga-Ryan
September 1, 2010

Versatility is an important part of a well-developed artistic soul. The arts provide a wide range of outlets of expression that can be nurtured and grown into their finest results. Music could very well be a reason to believe in the extraordinary, and jazz musicians are no exception; they might even be a norm. It is the dream of every artist to create freely, as improvised notes are gathered in an instrument and then exposed to the world at a ...

182

Unsung Heroes

Sammy Cahn, Vernon Duke, and Earl Zindars

by Sean Dietrich
September 1, 2010

Standards are the language of jazz. Standards represent music that have withstood the ruthless test of time. Songs built by craftsman, instead of limericks scribbled by American idols adorned in sequins and leather chaps. Music that has been constructed to last, built with the brick and mortar of harmony and melody. And yet, too often, the timeless master-song-craftsman's names are not usually recognized by listening audiences of today.Sammy CahnFew songwriters are able to weave such picturesque ...

469

Album Review

Tamir Hendelman: Destinations

Read "Destinations" reviewed by Dr. Judith Schlesinger

by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
September 1, 2010

Destinations, pianist Tamir Hendelman's second CD as leader, is a bold and satisfying follow-up to his 2008 debut, Playground (Swing Bros). There are many fine pianists with impressive technique and swing who are convincing in a number of styles, play with real feeling, and contribute a tuneful original or two. What increasingly distinguishes Hendelman is his gift for imaginative arranging. For one thing, he will compose an introduction that makes it difficult to predict what follows, but seems perfectly suited--even ...

305

Album Review

Adrian Iaies Trio: A Child's Smile

Read "A Child's Smile" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose

by Raul d'Gama Rose
September 1, 2010

On A Child's Smile, Adrian Iaies sheds the Argentinean persona that occasionally shrouds his music. Here the pianist has become a complete, swaggering, swinging entity, and one who melds his mentors--Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland and principally Bill Evans--into an entirely new entity. The result is a brooding artist who looks deep within his wandering soul. His personality is complex and wonderful. He is a musician and a colorist who plays with the multiple shades of light ...

197

Album Review

Michael Landau / Robben Ford / Jimmy Haslip / Gary Novak: Renegade Creation

Read "Renegade Creation" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
September 1, 2010

While by no means an absolute, there's a strong case for great jazzers making great rockers: Larry Carlton with Steely Dan and Michael Jackson; drummer Steve Gadd with Eric Clapton and Paul Simon; and saxophonist Michael Brecker with Billy Joel and Blue Oyster Cult. Renegade Creation's four artists may possesses a broader jazz vernacular, but it's all in service of the grit and grease of an unequivocal rock record, from the Bo Diddley beat of “What's Up" and slow grind ...

274

Album Review

Dolores Scozzesi: A Special Taste

Read "A Special Taste" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
September 1, 2010

Los Angeles-based vocalist Dolores Scozzesi concludes A Special Taste with the time-honored Kosma/Mercer standard, “Autumn Leaves." Her approach is one of simplicity and elegance, opening the piece with Jacques Prevert's French lyrics, an alto Edith Piaf crossed with Roberta Gambarini and accented with Daniela Schachter. Scozzesi is accompanied to great effect by guitarist Grant Geissman, who arranged the piece as a light samba decorated with his intricate Latin latticework. In such close confines, a potent musicality is ...

151

Dan's Den

A Hot Night in the Old Town

by Dan Morgenstern
September 1, 2010

What might well be the most spartan jazz club anywhere (if you didn't know it was there, you'd walk right past it) is The Stone, way down at Avenue C and East 2nd Street in Manhattan. Founded by John Zorn, the avant-garde composer, arranger and record producer, as a venue for intrepid music, it's a new kind of jazz club where no refreshments or merchandise is sold, only music, and all nightly revenues go to the musicians. The door charge ...

282

Album Review

Alex Sipiagin: Generations

Read "Generations" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
August 31, 2010

Alex Sipiagin pays it forward with his eighth Criss Cross release, Generations, dedicated to the late Woody Shaw, a lesser celebrated but brilliant trumpeter who performed with artists including Anthony Braxton, Chick Corea, Eric Dolphy, Andrew Hill. A fiery stylist with perfect pitch and lyricism, Shaw was admired by peers and emulated by up-and-comers as Sipiagin confirms, “Even now, many years later, every time I listen to Woody, I always find something new and inspiring." Sipiagin is ...