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Jazzfest Berlin 2025
by Giuseppe Segala
Jazzfest Berlin 2025 Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Quasimodo Jazz Club, A-Train Jazz Club, Chiesa monumentale Kaiser Wilhelm Berlino 30 ottobre--2 novembre 2025 Già nella prima serata di questa sessantaduesima edizione, il Jazzfest Berlin calava senza indugi una delle sue carte vincenti, con Wadada Leo Smith e Vijay Iyer sul grande palcoscenico, la Große Bühne della prestigiosa Haus der Berliner Festspiele. Il silenzio sospeso dell'ascolto, nella sala che contiene circa mille spettatori, dava la misura ...
Continue ReadingWadada Leo Smith, Jakob Bro, Henry Threadgill, Gregg Belisle-Chi & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Here is a playlist highlighting recent releases by some of the most adventurous players of our time, with a special focus on two pillars of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians--as the AACM marks its 60th anniversary--Wadada Leo Smith and Henry Threadgill.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Gregg Belisle-Chi “Sorry" Slow Crawl: Performing the of Tim Berne (Intakt) 0:16 Host talks 3:57 Henry Threadgill “B" Listen ...
Continue ReadingSylvie 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, ...
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