Articles by Cheryl K.
Alexa Tarantino, Greg Burrows, Ben Stapp, Roberto Fonseca and Vincent Segal
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music, saxophonist Alexa Tarantino; guitarist Charlie Ballantine; drummer Greg Burrows; a whole lotta vocals; tubist Ben Stapp; pianist Jay D'Amico; pianist Roberto Fonseca and cellist Vincent Segal; and pianist Luke Marantz and guitarist Simon Jermyn.Playlist Blue Mitchell “There Will Never Be Another You" from Big 6 (Riverside) 5:00 Sarah Wilson “Echoes Refrain" from Incandescence (Brass Tonic) 3:43 Alexa Tarantino “The Roar and the Whisper" from The Roar and the ...
Continue ReadingLeo Genovese, Ellen Arkbro, B.I.T. Duo, Keith Oxman, Elipsis
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music--good stuff! We begin the show with unissued material by cult jazz musician Yusuf Mumin; then, onto pianist/composer Leo Genovese; vocalist and trombonist Steve Berndt; lyra player Sokratis Sinopoulos and pianist Yannis Kirimkiridis; organist/composer/sound artist Ellen Arkbro; the B.I.T. Duo; pianist Haeun Joo; tenor player Keith Oxman; and the trio Elipsis.Playlist Yusef Mumin “Journey to the Ancient “ from Journey to the Ancient (WeWantSounds) 11:49 Cyrus Chestnut “Prelude for ...
Continue ReadingKris Davis with The Lutosławski Quartet, Carolyn Trowbridge, Shifa شفاء
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music, cuts from new releases by pianist/composer Kris Davis with Poland's Lutosławski Quartet; guitarist Dave Stryker; saxophonist Roberto Ottaviano; vibraphonist and multi-instrumentalist Carolyn Trowbridge; the Joe Policastro Trio; and the trio Shifa شفاء. Playlist Matthew Shipp Trio “Ball in Space" from The Conduct of Jazz (Thirsty Ear) 6:47 Kris Davis with The Lutosławski Quartet “Ghost Reefs" from The Solastalgia Suite (Pyroclastic) 2:39 Dr. Kristen R. Bromley “Cherished Moments" from ...
Continue ReadingCheryl K's Best Jazz Albums Of 2025
by Cheryl K.
Being asked to list my “Best Of" releases of 2025 for AAJ was more torturous to my soul than cleaning the grout of my bathtub walls. I'm one of those folks who only needs a few dishes listed on a restaurant menu or I begin to get light-headed. And just like last year, I struggled with which recordings stuck with me and which ones were but brief dalliances--but remembering that all are part of the tight-knit fabric of jazz and ...
Continue ReadingMarques Carroll, Acquaphonica, Glenn Makos & BRū, Paul Colombo Group
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music--and before we hit the ground runnin' in 2026, a few selections from 2025 from vocalist Nnenna Freelon, the quartet Acquaphonica, and vibraphonist Patricia Brennan. Looking forward to this year's musical offerings, beginning with saxophonist Oscar Lavën, guitarist Paul Colombo, and bassist Peter Paulsen's TurksHeadKnot Quintet.Playlist Lou Donaldson “Potbelly" from Pretty Things (Blue Note) 8:11 Adrienne Fenemor “Lover's Embrace" from Mo' Puddin' (Adrienne Fenemor) 5:09 Nnenna Freelon “These Stories ...
Continue ReadingEydís Evensen, Orlando Molina, Rempis-Adasiewicz-Corsano, Out Of/Into
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music, holiday music from organist Don Patterson, vocalist Darius de Haas, and trumpeter Louis Armstrong and The Commanders; also, new music from pianists Eydís Evensen, Sean Mason, and Jahari Stampley; saxophonists Ivo Perelman, John Butcher, and Kevin Sun; and guitarist Kevin Brown fronting a quintet.Playlist Mel Tormé “Just Look Around/Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from Christmas Songs (Telarc) 3:51 Eydís Evensen “Eternal" from Oceanic Mirror (XXIM) 3:05 Sean ...
Continue ReadingPeter Lin AAPI Jazz Collective, Maria Kaushansky, Patrick Smith, Wayne Wilkinson
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music, trombonist Peter Lin and the AAPI Jazz Collective; the Travis Jenkins Piano Trio; pianists Maria Kaushansky and Andrew Carroll; drummer Roy Brooks from 1963 and 1972; saxophonist Patrick Smith; and guitarists Louis Stewart (with pianist Jim Doherty), John Scofield (w/bassist Dave Holland), Charlie Byrd (featuring The Washington Guitar Quintet), and Wayne Wilkinson (leading a trio).Playlist Pharoah Sanders “Astral Traveling (Boozoo Bajou Remix)" from Cocktails (Universal Music) 5:49 Peter ...
Continue ReadingJohn Donegan Trio, Linda Dachtyl, Horace Silver, Rufus Wainwright
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music, more music than one could hope for. We start with saxophonist Yusef Lateef; then onto vocalists Rufus Wainwright and Sacha Boutros; the John Donegan Trio; guitarist Brent Laidler; drummer Al Foster; the trio Organology; the duo Inclusion Principle with their fourth EP of the year; and The DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Playlist Yusef Lateef “The Beginning" from Jazz Mood (Savoy, 1957, reissued by Craft Recordings, 2025) 4:31 Lauren Henderson ...
Continue ReadingMeet pianist and composer Kate Wyatt
by Cheryl K.
In this hour, an interview with award-winning Canadian pianist and composer Kate Wyatt. Her self-produced trio release is “Murmurations" with bassist Adrian Vedady and drummer Louis-Vincent Hamel.Playlist Patricia Brennan “Citlalli" from Of The Near and Far (Pyroclastic) 4:19 Billy Hart “Amethyst" from Multidirectional (Smoke Sessions) 9:29 [excerpt] Kate Wyatt “Succession" from Murmurations (Kate Wyatt) 5:01 [excerpt] Kate Wyatt “Embers" from Murmurations (Kate Wyatt) 6:06 [excerpt] Kate Wyatt “Murmurations" from Murmurations (Kate Wyatt) 6:06 [excerpt] Kate Wyatt “Mack the ...
Continue ReadingJosie Falbo, Leandro Cardenas, Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music, choice cuts from new releases by saxophonist Lena Bloch; vocalist Josie Falbo; guitarists Tom Ollendorff and Jon Fadem; clarinetist and composer Leandro Cardenas; five decades of studio, demo and live recordings from drummer Gary Husbands' personal archives; the Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet; and multi--reed player Rick Keller.Playlist Rabih Abou-Khalile “Revelation" from Roots & Sprouts (enja) 5:42 Jane Ira Bloom-Brian Shankar Adler “Once Like a Spark" from Drums Like ...
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