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Cab Calloway & The Nicholas Brothers: Jumpin' Jive
by Ian Patterson
Born on Christmas Day 1907 in Rochester, New York, bandleader Cab Calloway enjoyed a brilliant career that spanned the 1920s to the 1990s. He made his name at the helm of the Cab Calloway Orchestra between 1930-1948, a period that included a four-residency at the Cotton Club. At various times his swing orchestra included musicians of the caliber of Chu Berry, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Milt Hinton, Doc Cheatham and Dizzy Gillespie--the latter who was fired from the band for ...
Continue ReadingElijah Shiffer: City Of Birds, Volume 3: Fly By Night Blues
by Max Kutner
Few current composers are as restlessly inventive as saxophonist-clarinetist Elijah Shiffer. Over the past decade, Shiffer has led numerous ensembles and written an ever-expanding catalog of original music, all crafted and thematically tied closely to and informed by distinct aspects of his interests and tastes. Fly by Night Blues, the third volume in his City of Birds series, speaks to all those qualities. Like the previous two offerings, Shiffer uses meticulously transcribed songs and voices from birds native to the ...
Continue ReadingRevenge of the Son of Holiday Jazz: Koz and Effect
by Patrick Burnette
It's that time of year again, when Mike insists on a holiday music themed episode and Pat is too worried about upsetting Santa to say “no." This year's bag o' tunes has very little coal in it, unless you are allergic to smooth jazz. Mike, anyway, thinks his choice is one of the least offensive as the genre goes. You be the judge. Playlist Discussion of CCJO's album The Nutcracker Remixed (Self-Produced) 2:15 Discussion of Lincoln Center Jazz ...
Continue ReadingCheryl Duvall: The Plains
by John Eyles
Canadian composer Linda Catlin Smith was born in New York City in 1957. She began her composition studies in high school in New York and continued music study at SUNY Stony Brook. In 1977 she went to Canada to study composition and theory at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. In 1981 she moved to Toronto. In 1986 she was invited by Morton Feldman to attend his lectures at SUNY Buffalo, NY, as a guest. Her compositions have been ...
Continue ReadingNew Music From Politzer, Davis, West, Genovese & More
by Bob Osborne
This set moves through solo sketches, trio interplay, and full ensemble fire, tracing acoustic and electric textures across studio, live, and archival formats. It opens with flowing piano, moves into exploratory trio improvisation, and shifts between guitar meditations, reworked soul and rock standards, and tightly arranged ensemble writing. Abstract textures and ambient passages emerge mid-set, followed by groove-based phrasing, UK archival material, and layered acoustic duets. The final track dips into the archive for a rhythm-forward piece built around bass ...
Continue ReadingPink Martini at Auditorium Theatre in Chicago
by Sandra Kozintseva
On December 17, 2025 Pink Martini on its New Year Celebration Tour presented “Pink Martini All-Stars: A Season of Stars" holiday show at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. They performed seasonal songs, mixing classic Pink Martini compositions with new material. ...
Continue ReadingChad Taylor: Smoke Shifter
by Carl Medsker
Smoke Shifter leans toward tradition, which is perhaps a bit surprising given the exploratory, cutting-edge music previously produced by everyone in this quintet. Led by master percussionist Chad Taylor, the album is a diverse program of well-crafted, contemporary songs performed by an egalitarian collective. Taylor co-founded the Chicago Underground bands with Rob Mazurek, celebrated Albert Ayler with Marc Ribot and performs with the Exploding Star Orchestra. Prominent amongst his numerous collaborations is his essential work in James Brandon ...
Continue ReadingInterruptions On A Christmas Eve
by Arthur R George
The small restaurant and occasional music bistro was closed for Christmas Eve. Its owner Ernie DiVitale had darkened the room. There was light enough, from the Christmas tree in the corner and spilling in from a lamp over the prep area in the kitchen, to relax with his wife Veronica at a back table over cappuccini and frutti di bosco tortas, ricotta cheese cake with fresh fruit toppings, a special treat in winter. For Ernie and Veronica it ...
Continue ReadingCharles Tyler Ensemble: Voyage From Jericho
by Mark Corroto
Was it a matter of timing, or simply living in the shadow of giants, that has kept saxophonist Charles Tyler off most listeners' radars? Born in Kentucky in 1941 and raised in Indianapolis, Tyler first gained recognition through his association with Albert Ayler. After relocating to Cleveland in the early '60s, the two became fast friends, and Tyler's fiery saxophone can be heard on Ayler's early ESP-Disk recordings Bells (1965) and Spirits (1965). He soon stepped forward as ...
Continue ReadingClassic Jazz From Donald Byrd, Carmen McRae, and Others with New Music from Michael Dease, Andy James, and Others
by David W. Daniels
Classic jazz from Cal Tjader, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Burrell, and more. Recently released jazz from the Chad Taylor Quintet, Mike Clark, and others. Birthday recognition for Clark Terry, Eddie Palmieri, and more.Playlist Mark Sherman “Explorations" from Family First (City Hall) 00:00 Cal Tjader “Tanya" from Soul Sauce (Verve) 8:13 Horace Silver “Finger Poppin'" from Finger Poppin' with the Horace Silver Quintet (Blue Note) 13:38 Johnny Griffin “Where's Your Overcoat, Boy" from Way Out! (Riverside) 18:22 Carmen McRae “I'm ...
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