Jazz Articles about Langston Kitchen

About Langston Kitchen

Album Review

Picture this: Having assembled a supporting cast, finalized the playlist and booked a studio, you are ready to make the debut recording as leader of your own ensemble, only to learn that, hours earlier, said studio in East Lansing, Michigan, had been devastated by a tornado. That is exactly what happened to trombonist Eli Howell in May 2025. Fortunately, thanks to some quick thinking and deft maneuvering by album producer Michael Dease and others, a room was found at Howell's ...

Album Review

Randy Napoleon: Waking Dream

Read "Waking Dream" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
October 5, 2025

What greater satisfaction could a teacher have than to see his or her students achieve success--and in their chosen field, no less. On Waking Dream, renowned jazz guitarist and educator Randy Napoleon shares center stage with four fellow guitarists, all of whom are former students in his classes at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing. The guitarists are part of a core group that includes three more MSU faculty members: pianist Rick Roe, bassist Rodney Whitaker ...

Album Review

Randy Napoleon: Waking Dream

Read "Waking Dream" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
September 8, 2025

In Waking Dream, guitarist Randy Napoleon has assembled a musical family whose shared history fosters a strong sense of cohesion, one that goes beyond the leader's skillful guitar work. Longtime collaborators bassist [[ {{m: Rodney Whitaker, pianist Rick Roe and drummer Quincy Davis form the rhythmic and harmonic foundation, while four additional guitarists , Luke Sittard, Chris Minami, Jocelyn Gould and Ben Turner, create a rich sonic tapestry reminiscent of a modern guitar choir. Throughout the tracks, there are also ...

Album Review

Jauron Perry: Jauron Perry Quintet Live at the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival

Read "Jauron Perry Quintet Live at the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival" reviewed by Paul Rauch

by Paul Rauch
March 17, 2025

The Detroit Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival in the world, staged smack dab in the middle of one of the great jazz cities in the world. The city and surrounding area is a hotbed for jazz talent as well, historically and presently. Trumpeter Jauron Perry is one of the latest such talents to emerge, making his debut recording at the festival as the winner of the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival National Combo Competition. Perry's quintet won a ...