Jazz Articles
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Graham St. John: Terence Mckenna's Hallucinatory Life
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Graham St John, a cultural anthropologist and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Huddersfield in the UK. Graham has spent decades studying transformational events, psychedelic culture, and electronic dance music scenes. He's written ten books, and his latest is Strange Attractor: The Hallucinatory Life of Terence McKenna (MIT Press, 2025). McKenna was the 20th century's psychedelic renaissance man, a stand-up philosopher who became a sampled voice on rave tracks and ...
Continue Reading¡Viva la resistencia! Cafe Central, Madrid
by Leo Sidran
A story of Madrid's Cafe Central, going out of business after over 40 years as the beating heart of jazz in the Spanish capital. The old saying “wherever you go, there you are" is one of those deceptively simple adages that never lets you down. And yet, the longer I've lived with it, the more I've come to believe that there are certain times and places when a person is just a little more where they are.
Continue ReadingRalph "Bigfoot" Hamilton: The Lost Legend Behind Two Guitar Pioneers
by Kyle Simpler
Nowadays, every move we make is recorded in some way, and wherever a person goes, whatever they do or say is often captured. Of course, this has not always been the case, and in fact, many details concerning historical events frequently rely on speculation based on the evidence at hand. This is undoubtedly the case with many blues and jazz musicians during the early twentieth century, such as Charlie Christian and T-Bone Walker, two of the most influential ...
Continue ReadingJerome Wilson's Favorite Jazz Albums Of 2025
by Jerome Wilson
Many things in the world were not faring too well in 2025 but jazz music, as always continued to thrive and evolve throughout the year. The music that really caught my ear this year included a number of imaginative and ambitious large ensemble albums and two powerful solo piano sets from veteran artists who are rarely heard from. Claire Cope Every Journey Adhyâropa Records Amina ...
Continue ReadingDomo Branch: Hand of Gifts
by Jack Bowers
Even though Oregon-bred Domo Branch is traversing an enviable path as a drummer and composer, he hasn't forgotten how he got where he is and those to whose wisdom and guidance he owes a large measure of his success. On Hand of Gifts, his second recording as leader of his own group, Branch salutes his high school band director, Thara Memory, not only by performing one of his compositions, “Our Man Bogle," but by writing one of his own, “A ...
Continue ReadingHarper Trio: Dialogue of Thoughts
by Nenad Georgievski
With their sophomore album, Dialogue of Thoughts , the Harper Trio returns with a record that feels both intimate and expansive, a journey through sound that. is subtly exhilarating. Maria-Christina Harper's electric harp, paired with Josephine Davies' expressive saxophone and Evan Jenkins' precise, yet fluid drumming, forms a trio that listens as much as it plays. The album is less about showcasing individual virtuosity than about the subtle chemistry of three musicians shaping each moment together. “Quiet Mind," ...
Continue ReadingEH3: Close to Nothing
by Glenn Astarita
EH3, comprising guitarist Erland Helbø, bassist Frode Berg, and drummer Erik Smith, presents a vibrant fusion of jazz-rock on Close to Nothing. Recorded in January 2025 at Schizophonia Studio in Jessheim, Norway, the album draws from American traditions of blues, soul, and funk, while infusing Scandinavian precision and exploratory spirit. The group demonstrates tight ensemble work, with Helbø's guitars leading melodic adventures, Berg's bass providing rhythmic depth, and Smith's drums offering dynamic propulsion. Occasional additions of Hammond organ and synthesizers ...
Continue ReadingSasha Berliner: A Homecoming That Charts the Future of the Vibraphone
by Steven Roby
In this episode, Steve Roby sits down with acclaimed vibraphonist, composer, and producer Sasha Berliner. A San Francisco native, Sasha discusses her genre-defying approach to jazz, her journey from rock drummer to jazz innovator, and the influence of the Bay Area's vibrant music scene on her sound. She shares insights into her latest album, Fantôme, her upcoming electric band project, and her experiences collaborating with top artists.Playlist Sasha Berliner “Jade" from Onyx (J.M.I. Recordings) Sasha Berliner “Zenith" from ...
Continue ReadingKyle Simpler's Best Jazz Albums Of 2025
by Kyle Simpler
As I was preparing my selections, the line, “He's making a list and checking it twice," from “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" kept running through my head. It turned out to be a pretty accurate description of my process. Well, other than the fact that I have no interest in finding out who was naughty or nice. Instead, I was trying to figure out which 2025 albums resonated most with me. That may sound like an easy ...
Continue ReadingErbtMäderAmBerg? & Lehn: In Echoes' Shadow
by Glenn Astarita
The Swiss German quartet ErbMäderAmBerg? & Thomas Lehn offers a striking and complex exploration of electroacoustic improvisation with In Echoes' Shadow,, released in May 2025 on Lucerne-based Veto Records. The ensemble brings together three of Switzerland's most adventurous bass clarinetists--Christoph Erb (Veto Records founder), Elio Amberg, and Niklaus Mader--alongside German electronic music veteran Thomas Lehn on analog synthesizer. Lehn, a classically-trained pianist turned synthesizer specialist, has a decades-long pedigree, having worked with figures like John Butcher and Marcus Schmickler, ensuring ...
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