Jazz Articles about Jessica Ackerley

About Jessica Ackerley

Album Review

Jessica Ackerley: A New Kind Of Water

Read "A New Kind Of Water" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
October 17, 2019

Guitarist Jessica Ackerley operates in roughly the same semi-abstract realm as Joe Morris and Mary Halvorson but her playing covers more ground, bouncing between folk lyricism, spacey abstraction and fierce prog-rock riffing. The other members of her group, alto saxophonist Sarah Manning, bassist Mat Muntz and drummer Stephen Boegehold, are adept at blending with her varied styles and making sinewy, challenging music. On several tracks Ackerley's thick, percussive picking creates a simmering jumble of sound along with Muntz's ...

Album Review

Jessica Ackerley: Coalesce

Read "Coalesce" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
March 27, 2017

The contemplative and captivating Coalesce is guitarist Jessica Ackerley's debut release. On it Ackerley, with her trio, interprets seven of her engaging originals with intelligence and passion. The intimate atmosphere is well suited for both the collective musical expressions and individual melodic embellishments. This results in a cohesive album that thrills and intrigues. The dramatic “Snakes in the Grass" opens with drummer Nick Fraser's unaccompanied galloping beats. Ackerley contributes sparse angular lines giving the tune an expectant edge. ...