Articles by Lawrence Peryer
Miguel Zenón: Vanguardia Subterránea And The Sound Of Sanctuary
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, we're putting The Tonearm's needle on saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenón.A MacArthur Fellow, Guggenheim recipient, and Grammy winner, Miguel has spent over two decades creating music that connects jazz tradition with Puerto Rican rhythms and modern composition.He's here to talk about his latest release, Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard (Miel Music), his quartet's first live album, captured at the Village Vanguard with musicians he's played with for twenty years. Miguel and I first ...
Continue ReadingLinda May Han Oh: In Search Of Strange Heavens
by Lawrence Peryer
Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on bassist and composer Linda May Han Oh. Linda's a Grammy winner who's recorded with Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, and Joe Lovano. She was even the model for the bassist character in Pixar's Soul. But it's her own work that brings us together. Her latest album, Strange Heaven (Biophilia Records, 2025), explores why we choose familiar hells over strange heavens--why we stick with what we know even when change might ...
Continue ReadingThe Inaugural Jazz Forward Award Winners
by Lawrence Peryer
Today on The Tonearm, we're celebrating the inaugural Jazz Forward Award winners from All About Jazz. We hear from four organizations reshaping how jazz connects with audiences worldwide. Ed Trefzger from JazzWeek tracks radio airplay across North America, giving artists and their teams vital exposure data. Jesus Perezagua's Oh! Jazz streams live performances from clubs globally, bringing the world's jazz rooms to your screen of choice. Thomas Marriott's Seattle Jazz Fellowship revives local jazz culture through community-focused programming. ...
Continue ReadingPeter Knight: Hand To Earth's Sonic Homecoming
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on composer, trumpeter, and producer Peter Knight.Peter Knight has spent decades working in the spaces between genres and cultures. His latest project brings together 40,000-year-old Indigenous Australian songs with contemporary electroacoustic music through Hand to Earth's new album, the title of which translates as “the scent of home." The record finds Peter collaborating with Indigenous songkeepers David and Daniel Wilfred alongside Korean vocalist Sunny Kim, creating music that honors ancient traditions while pushing into ...
Continue ReadingDavid Harrington Of Kronos Quartet: The Musician Listens
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on violinist and visionary David Harrington, founder of Kronos Quartet.For fifty years, David has led one of the most adventurous musical ensembles on the planet. Kronos has commissioned over 1,100 works, collaborated with everyone from Philip Glass to Nine Inch Nails, and earned three Grammys along the way. Their recent “Hard Rain" project brought together nearly fifty artists worldwide to reimagine Bob Dylan's nuclear-age anthem, while the Library of Congress has just acquired David's ...
Continue ReadingJeff Parker: The Return Of The New Breed
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on guitarist, composer, and producer Jeff Parker.For nearly three decades, Jeff has balanced solo work with his role in the post-rock band Tortoise. His 2016 album The New Breed (International Anthem Recording Company, 2016) takes hip-hop beats and puts them in the hands of live musicians. Named after his late father's clothing store, the album just got the deluxe reissue treatment from International Anthem Recording Company.He's here to discuss how moving to ...
Continue ReadingHampus Lindwall: Blizzard Of Organ
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on organist, composer, and sound artist Hampus Lindwall. Hampus started as a guitarist who cut his teeth copying Steve Vai solos but who now sits behind a 78-stop church organ. He has been the organist at Saint-Esprit in Paris since 2005. His album, Brace for Impact (Ideologic Organ), throws tradition out the window. Recorded on a massive organ in Dusseldorf with guitarist Stephen O'Malley, this music draws on everything from experimental music pioneer Xenakis ...
Continue ReadingChris O'Leary: Rebel Rebel - Blogger, Author
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on writer Chris O'Leary.Chris has spent over a decade and a half writing what's become the definitive study of David Bowie's songbook. His blog, Pushing Ahead of the Dame, covers every song on every album in Bowie's extensive canon. The first post from 2009 covers David's first single, 1964's “Liza Jane," and the most recent is about Chris's latest work, a newly revised edition of Rebel Rebel (Penguin Random House), a collection of his ...
Continue ReadingDonny McCaslin: From Stadium Jazz To Lost Lullabies
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on saxophonist Donny McCaslin. Donny's new album, Lullaby for the Lost (Edition Records), is out now, and what a record it is. It's Donny's saxophone with guitar-driven rock energy, drawing from influences like Neil Young and Nine Inch Nails, resulting in what Donny calls his most personal music to date. Many know Donny from his pivotal role on David Bowie's final album Blackstar. This latest work demonstrates what may have drawn Bowie ...
Continue ReadingMatt Piucci Of Rain Parade: Return To The Paisley Underground
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines on Matt Piucci, founding member and principal guitarist of Rain Parade. Rain Parade helped define LA's Paisley Underground scene in the early '80s, creating music with psychedelic textures and punk energy. Their 1983 debut Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (Enigma), remains a touchstone album of the era, cited as an influence by everyone from My Bloody Valentine to the Stone Roses. Now Matt and the band are revisiting their catalog with deluxe ...
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