Jazz Articles about Ches Smith

About Ches Smith

Album Review

Erik Friedlander: Dirty Boxing / Floating City

Read "Dirty Boxing / Floating City" reviewed by Vic Albani

by Vic Albani
February 21, 2025

Ironico come sempre, Erik Friedlander torna sul mercato con un singolare nuovo lavoro intitolato Dirty Boxing dedicato al crudo vocabolario delle arti marziali miste (!!!) con tanto di guantoni da boxe in copertina. Il gioco è quello di esplorare gli imprevisti parallelismi tra la disciplina artistica della musica e il combattimento strategico delle arti marziali. Il violoncellista newyorkese, come al solito molto intelligente ed attento, si circonda della bellezza musicale di Uri Caine al pianoforte, Mark Helias al ...

Album Review

Jason Robinson: Ancestral Numbers II

Read "Ancestral Numbers II" reviewed by Pat Youngspiel

by Pat Youngspiel
December 16, 2024

Jason Robinson's Ancestral Numbers is “a sound meditation on genealogy and family history" and will comprise an “ongoing series of compositions for varying instrumentation." “I" and “II" are merely the starting point for an intimate investigation into the depths of the saxophonist's family tree, set in motion shortly after the passing of Robinson's grandmother. Accompanying the saxophonist/composer on this personal endeavour is a cast of top-drawer players, including Drew Gress on bass, Michael Dessen on trombone, pianist Joshua White and ...

Album Review

Jason Robinson: Ancestral Numbers II

Read "Ancestral Numbers II" reviewed by Terence Collie

by Terence Collie
November 23, 2024

Ancestral Numbers II is saxophonist, flautist and composer Jason Robinson's second album of music reflecting on his ancestry, following the May 2024 release of Ancestral Numbers I. The album launches with “Sweet Tooth," a simple but compelling composition that starts with a vamp. Opening melodic statements--with saxophone and trombone playing together over infectious piano and bass hits propelled by the energetic drums--then move into a hard swinging walking bass section. Pianist Joshua White takes the first solo, followed ...

Radio & Podcasts

Ches Smith & Shara Lunon: Dismantling Musical Conventions

by Lawrence Peryer
August 3, 2024

Today, the Spotlight was meant to shine On drummer, percussionist, and composer Ches Smith and his album Laugh Ash (Pyroclastic Records). As we arranged to get together, Ches suggested we include Shara Lunon, the trans-disciplinary poet, vocalist, composer, and improviser featured on the album. Laugh Ash is one of the most intriguing records I have encountered in quite some time, with its mix of form and improvisation, acoustic and synthetic, quiet and explosiveness. In addition to ...

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Album Review

Jason Robinson: Ancestral Numbers I

Read "Ancestral Numbers I" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
June 11, 2024

Ancestral Numbers I by Jason Robinson is a jazz album that feels like a deep, reflective conversation with history itself. With his saxophone, Robinson pays homage to the jazz tradition and his family heritage, crafting a sound that's both personal and expansive. The journey begins with “Second House," where the all-star ensemble, featuring pianist Josh White peppering the hornists, lays down a groove that's as profound as it is inviting. The track quickly establishes a soulful theme, with ...

Album Review

Ches Smith: Laugh Ash

Read "Laugh Ash" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
March 19, 2024

Ches Smith's Laugh Ash is not your garden-variety jazz concoction. Instead, it is a genre-defying, shape-twisting auditory escapade that does not just push the envelope--it sends it soaring into the stratosphere. It is both bewildering and bedazzling. These compositions stand as a towering testament to Smith's impressive acumen as a drummer, percussionist, and composer, a veritable Houdini of the music world who escapes the shackles of convention to chart a mesmerizing course through uncharted musical terrains.Right from the ...

Album Review

Sunny Five: Candid

Read "Candid" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
March 18, 2024

With the ever-evolving tapestry of experimental jazz, striking the perfect balance between familiar echoes and trailblazing sounds can be a delicate act. Intakt's latest release, Sunny Five, not only navigates this tightrope with finesse but also performs a dazzling dance across it. This album serves as a vibrant reminder of the joy and spontaneity that lie at the heart of jazz. Delivered by a collection of renowned New York-based musicians, each a master in their own right, the band offers ...