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Sylvie Courvoisier: Angel Falls
by Mike Jurkovic
The history of humankind resounds with the sound of piano/trumpet duets. But not like this one. Not like Angel Falls. Because the true beauty of Angel Falls is that grandmaster Wadada Leo Smith, aided and abetted by the fervent curiosity of Brooklyn- based/Switzerland native pianist Sylvie Courvoisier, enlists the listener as an active creator in truly beatific, beautiful music. That is a magic thing that does not happen often. All too often, the audience is reduced to listening ...
Continue ReadingSylvie Courvoisier and Wadada Leo Smith: Angel Falls
by Jack Kenny
Wadada Leo Smith describes his music not as “jazz" but as “creative music." He rejects the term “improvisation" in favor of “creation." These specific word choices reflect his unique approach, which is deeply rooted in his early experiences with blues and R&B. Smith uses the full range of his instrument and plays at his own pace, with a profound understanding of the power of silence and space. For him, space is as important as the notes themselves, allowing ...
Continue ReadingVijay Iyer, Wadada Leo Smith: Defiant Life
by Alberto Bazzurro
Un pezzo a testa dei due performers e firmatari del disco e gli altri quattro a paternità condivisa compongono questo puzzle a due voci in cui si respira un'aria quanto mai composta, quasi raggelata (almeno a tratti), volatile, persino un po' dispersiva, quanto meno nelle parti (per nulla rare) in cui Iyer abbandona lo strumento acustico per dedicarsi a sonorità più eteree, liquide, spesso abbastanza minimali. Di rimpetto agisce ovviamente la tromba, sempre impagabile, specie allorché imbavagliata dalla ...
Continue ReadingBig Ears Festival 2025
by Mark Sullivan
Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN March 27-30, 2025 This year's festival again featured several spotlighted events (but none of them required special ticketing, as was tried last year). “Across the Horizon" was a series of concerts combining Americana and ambient music, curated by Bob Holmes and the band SUSS. “Age of Reflections" hosted ambient music with a light show at Church Street United Methodist. “Blacktronika" celebrates the pioneering electronic artists of color. There were ...
Continue ReadingWadada Leo Smith / Vijay Iyer, Perelman / McPhee / Vandermark & Michael Gregory Jackson
by Maurice Hogue
This episode of One Man's Jazz is loaded with introductions to new albums by a remarkable group of musicians. Heading the list is the duet of Wadada Leo Smith and Vijay Iyer. Their new Defiant Life, not their first time playing together, speaks to the current state of the world and finding possible paths to liberation. Don't pass this one up. Saxophonist Ivo Perelman continues releasing new albums at a torrid pace and his two partners on the new Oxygen, ...
Continue ReadingVijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith: Defiant Life
by Doug Collette
As passionate as each man is intelligent, both pianist/composer Vijay Iyer and trumpeter/composer Wadada Leo Smith also manifest healthy egos. Accordingly, collaborations like Defiant Life require each man to contour his skills to complement the other sufficiently. Their shared humility is intrinsic to solidifying the inspiring bond that arises from the two not only playing, but composing together. In the end, the generosity of spirit maximizes the potency of the art these men create on this second of ...
Continue ReadingGiuseppe Segala's Best Jazz Albums Of 2024
by Giuseppe Segala
There is not much to add to this list, other than noting note that the order is alphabetical and, of course, does not reflect any ranking of merit. Without a doubt, 2024 has given us a wealth of wonderful music to listen to and revisit. Unfortunately, many noteworthy albums had to remain beyond the limit of ten CDs; in many cases, their inclusion or exclusion came down to highly subjective criteria, which could very well change in an hour or ...
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