Jazz Articles about Jason Moran

Jason Moran: Modernistic

by Mark F. Turner
September 17, 2002

Let's just cut to the chase. Jazz pianist Jason Moran has the goods. And more importantly, he has his own set of goods. His voice is unique among an onslaught of talented pianists. Exhilarating, challenging, and animated, are just a view of the ways to describe Moran's delivery. A student of the late Jaki Byard, his influences are as diverse as his abilities. His past releases and collaborations with Greg Osby have revealed comps and solos that were clearly beyond ...

Jason Moran: Black Stars

by C. Andrew Hovan
November 1, 2001

Among the current crop of jazzmen at the new Blue Note, Jason Moran just might be the most ambitious. At a time when it seems that much of the current crop of new releases will have limited shelf lives at best, Moran’s music strikes a more profound chord. At present, a shining star in Greg Osby’s current ensemble, Moran has released his own highly rewarding series of dates for Blue Note, with Black Stars arguably being his most audacious set ...

A Fireside Chat With Jason Moran

by AAJ Staff
October 10, 2001

Frankly, I am not qualified to offer up an opinion of improvised music. And I am confident that no one outside the artists themselves are truly qualified. So my approach to Firesides has always been to never be presumptuous enough to interpret the artist's words or offer up context to them. Instead, I have always done the only thing I know how and that is get the fuck out of the way. Having said that, allow me to return the ...

Jason Moran: Black Stars

by David Adler
September 1, 2001

Jason Moran’s third Blue Note release features the Facing Left trio in the company of Sam Rivers, incredibly robust at 77 years of age. It’s an all-acoustic outing this time around — no Fender Rhodes, no Hammond B-3. The presence of Rivers really brings out the fire in Moran and his colleagues, bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits. There’s a live intensity to this session that wasn't as present on the previous one.The repertoire on Black Stars ...

Jason Moran: Black Stars

by AAJ Staff
August 1, 2001

The point of departure is clear. But from there, where does one go? On Black Stars, his third release as a leader for Blue Note, pianist Jason Moran shares one vision of contemporary jazz. Joined by septuagenarian jazz innovator, Sam Rivers, Moran fuses antecedent genres with his own sensibility to produce an album with a darkly modern sound.

Acknowledging the elder musician’s avant-garde heritage, the set opens with the free jazz inspired “Foot Under Foot”. After the theme stated in ...

Jason Moran: Black Stars

by Jim Santella
August 1, 2001

Jason Moran has hit the mark every time out. The adventurous pianist creates suite-like musical portraits that, in the end, will affect the growth of modern mainstream jazz. For his third album as leader, Moran has enlisted saxophonist Sam Rivers. As like-minded improvisers, the four artists drive with considerable force. What makes it work so well is that they share a common approach. Each of the quartet's members supplies a portion of the improvised music that fits that of the ...

Jason Moran: Facing Left

by Jim Santella
August 1, 2000

A creative artist, who espouses originality, Jason Moran has sidestepped the critics with his modern mainstream approach that blends in elements from all over the spectrum. The pianist and composer has been reviewed with eyes and ears that paint his melodies as unmemorable and academic. It’s possible that some of the criticism has been tempered by a natural dislike for advertising hype and a backlash against the “new young lion" tag. Some of the criticism is of the “technician versus ...