Jazz Articles about Meg Okura

About Meg Okura

Album Review

Jaana Narsipur: The Re-Collection

Read "The Re-Collection" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
June 11, 2026

There are few things more revealing than the songs we hold close from our formative years. Jaana Narsipur on The Re- Collection opens her musical scrapbook of Brit-pop and adult contemporary staples, reimagining them as living, breathing jazz narratives. The result is an album that feels deeply personal without tipping into self-indulgence. Pianist and music director Nicki Adams has taken Narsipur's intricate arrangements and expanded them into expressive jazz frameworks, leaving ample room for improvisation. Other first-rate ensemble members include ...

Radio & Podcasts

Meg Okura, Ben Wendel, Brian Marsella, Sae Hashimoto, Dominique Fils-Aimé, PDuRN

by Ludovico Granvassu
April 4, 2026

An episode showcasing musicians who meet the listener in a place of honesty, where they can explore creativity in complete freedom.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Dominique Fils-Aimé “Life Remains" My World Is the Sun (Ensoul) 0:16 Host talks 5:08 Meg Okura & The Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble “Afrasia Intro" / African Skies" Isaiah (Adhyâropa) 6:34 Host talks 17:13 Brian Marsella, Sae Hashimoto “The Centrifugal Force That ...

Live Review

Meg Okura and Pan-Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble at The Jazz Gallery

by Max Kutner
March 5, 2026

Meg Okura and Pan-Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble The Jazz Gallery New York, NY February 19, 2026 Freewheeling, versatile, and razor sharp, Meg Okura brought her Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble to The Jazz Gallery on Thursday, February 19th in support of both the group's newly released fifth album Isaiah and the 20th anniversary of the group's formation. The entire set--one of two this night--focused exclusively on Okura's originals from Isaiah and culminated with an appearance from special guest ...

Album Review

Peter Lenz: Breathe

Read "Breathe" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
September 10, 2025

Dopo aver espresso ottime doti di strumentista e leader col quintetto Silent Flow e col quartetto Lithium, il batterista austriaco debutta con successo nel campo dell'orchestrazione, scegliendo di operare con tre differenti organici: una big band di 17 elementi (nei brani “Enclouded" ed “Eleanor"), una big band ampliata a un quartetto d'archi (in “Between Lines" e “Von Inneren Grenzen") ed un ensemble da camera comprendente quartetto d'archi, tre fiati, contrabbasso e batteria (in “Breathe") Volendo dirigere personalmente gli ...

Album Review

Ben Kono Group: Voyages

Read "Voyages" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
February 23, 2025

This album is saxophonist Ben Kono's tribute to his family's history, dating back to his grandfather's migration from Japan to the United States in 1911, performed by a combination of small jazz group and string quartet, The first half of the work concerns with his family's transition into life in the United States, and the second half celebrates four generations of Kono's lineage, going from his grandparents all the way through to his own children. The strings are ...

Album Review

Ada Rovatti: The Hidden World Of Piloo

Read "The Hidden World Of Piloo" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
September 14, 2024

Ada Rovatti's curiously titled album, The Hidden World of Piloo, has a tale attached (and a tail). Piloo is an affectionate name Rovatti's father has called her since childhood, after a “naughty" cat in a favorite children's book. She adopted it for her label as well (Piloo Records). Rovatti grew up in Mortara, Italy, outside of Milan, in an unusual household. Her mother was a semi-pro softball player and her dad a geologist, professional hunter and purveyor of cars. The ...

Album Review

Meg Okura & Kevin Hays: Lingering

Read "Lingering" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
May 14, 2024

Jazz albums that feature violin-piano duets are uncommon. With two instruments, the musicians need to synchronise at a deep level and if successful, they can elevate their performance and the listening experience from good to great. To achieve this they need to be receptive to every move the other makes. Each musician needs to be adept at quickly adopting a harmony or creating a counter melody. Those traits are fully exposed here, as no overdubs, filters or effects were used ...