Jazz Articles
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Ana Carla Maza, Ghost Funk Orchestra, Rosa Brunello, Jahari Massamba Unit & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
A set with countless flavors and colors from all around the world featuring songs about travelling to the Moon, or traveling sustainably; Afrobeat songs; songs of low simmering groove; songs by cellists; and more.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Ghost Funk Orchestra “To the Moon!" A Trip to the Moon (Karma Chief) 0:16 Host talks 3:53 Rosa Brunello “Razzle-Dazzle" Sensless Acts of Love (Domanda) 5:42 Host talks 9:25 ...
Continue ReadingLynne Arriale: Being Human
by Doug Collette
It is worth (re)stating what a balm to the soul is good jazz music. Still, on her seventeenth album as a leader, pianist/composer Lynne Arriale expounds upon that verity with bassist Alon Near and drummer Lukasz Zyta, all the while refraining from overstatement. In so doing, Arriale and company extend the conscious decision to emphasize empathy as captured on her previous album, The Lights Are Always On (Challenge Records, 2022). A rush of rippling piano at the outset ...
Continue ReadingShelly Manne and His Men at the Black Hawk 1
by Richard J Salvucci
For many years, but certainly for most of the '50s and '60s, the top jazz drummer--by public opinion--was Shelly Manne. Although he was typically associated with West Coast Jazz, (a term he disliked), Manne had come West from New York City in the '50s and settled in Los Angeles in the halcyon days of the post-war boom. He was a guy of many parts; he raised horses, had married an ex-Rockette, and become part-owner of what was to become the ...
Continue ReadingAnat Cohen Tentet at Jazz Alley
by Paul Rauch
Anat Cohen Tentet Jazz Alley Seattle, Washington February 27, 2024 The wonderfully diverse and swinging ten-piece ensemble led by clarinetist Anat Cohen doesn't have the opportunity to tour very often. Since the release of Happy Song (Anzic, 2017), the band's first release on the label that Cohen founded with partner Oded Lev Ari, the evolution of the band's recording and touring life has been interrupted by among other things, a worldwide pandemic. The ...
Continue ReadingChris Rottmayer: Being
by Jack Bowers
On Being, his fourth album as leader, Wisconsin-based pianist Chris Rottmayer has chosen to appraise the music of pianist Mulgrew Miller, as written for and performed by the Woody Shaw Quintet. Russ Johnson sits in for Shaw on trumpet and flugelhorn, while the celebrated bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Matt Endres round out the quartet's capable rhythm section. Half of the album's ten numbers arose from Rottmayer's study of Miller's work with Shaw; the other five are ...
Continue ReadingThe Choir Invisible with Charlotte Greve, Vinnie Sperrazza and Chris Tordini: Town of Two Faces
by Glenn Astarita
Infused with an inventive and organic zest, Town of Two Faces swings into the spotlight under the deft ensemble of Charlotte Greve on alto saxophone or voice, Vinnie Sperrazza on drums, Chris Tordini on acoustic bass. It is graced by a cameo from Fay Victor, a voice which paints jazz in bold uncharted colors, with her knack for reimagining the vocal weave in the jazz tapestry with her deep dive into a memorably melodic blues-and gospel-shaded piece, entitled “In Heaven." ...
Continue ReadingJames Brandon Lewis, Federico Ughi, Matthew Shipp & Fall Raye
by Maurice Hogue
There are a lot of superlatives for the playing of saxophonist James Brandon Lewis floating about these days, and they're all well-deserved. JBL continues to make great music. His new Transfiguration with his quartet of Aruan Ortiz, Brad Jones & Chad Taylor--out on the Intakt label from Switzerland---keeps the momentum rolling. Mark this one down for another best-of. Drummer Federico Ughi is a principal owner at 577 Records, and his new Infinite Cosmos Is Calling You, You, You Volume 1 ...
Continue ReadingPaul R. Harding / Michael Bisio / Juma Sultan: They Tried to Kill Me Yesterday
by Mark Corroto
When we speak of poetry and music, should we ask the chicken and the egg question? As in, which came first? Certainly there was music before spoken word, for imitations of bird calls and other nature sounds will have predated language. So, it's settled, right? Maybe, but not so fast. They Tried to Kill Me Yesterday raises an even more complex inquiry that goes beyond the avian and the ovum. Enter poet Paul R. Harding. His early years ...
Continue ReadingNew Releases And Birthday Shoutouts To Nina Simone, Ida Cox, Nancy Wilson & More
by Mary Foster Conklin
This broadcast includes new releases from Jill McCarron, Lynne Arriale, Mamiko Watanabe, Debby Wang, Sara Michaels, Natalie Douglas, a digital release for Nina Simone's Back and a second single from Rachel Z plus birthday shoutouts to Nina Simone, Patti Wicks, Ida Cox, and Nancy Wilson, among others. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by seeing them live and online. Purchase their music so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke and inspire.Playlist Jill McCarron ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter: Eagle's Point
by Chris May
The question that comes to mind after listening to Eagle's Point is this: why have the four musicians, who have known each other since the 1990s, never recorded together before? For the combination of Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci and Brian Blade is a real meeting of minds; the stars are in perfect alignment. Potter's previous release, Got The Keys To The Kingdom (Edition, 2023), was a live set, recorded at New York's Village Vanguard, and ...
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