Articles by Mike Jacobs

Interview

Scott Kinsey: Thought Distortions and the Art of the Left Turn

by Mike Jacobs
October 22, 2026

Keyboardist Scott Kinsey's multi-decade musical odyssey reads a bit like a novella in spots: The Berklee student who landed the keyboard chair in fusion stalwarts Tribal Tech before graduating, cementing the band's definitive lineup while exerting a major influence on its musical direction. The ardent admirer of Weather Report founder Joe Zawinul who went from fan to friend and mentee, and eventually became one of the most dedicated interpreters of Zawinul's musical legacy. The ...

Interview

Bill Bruford And Pete Roth: A One-Of-A-Kind Juxtaposition

by Mike Jacobs
October 19, 2026

When a drumming legend in the rock or jazz community retires, it's fairly big news. Such was the case in 2009 when Bill Bruford announced he was hanging up his sticks. Much celebrated for his integral and stylized drum contributions to progressive rock bands such as Yes, King Crimson, U.K., and Genesis, as well as for leading his own jazz/rock and jazz ensembles, Bruford and Earthworks, Bruford seemed to have brought an impressive 41-year career to something of ...

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T. Lavitz: No Time Flat

by Mike Jacobs
June 17, 2026

Though technically the name of the group and the album, School of the Arts (Magnatude, 2007) is a T. Lavitz's project, by any other name. It stands unique in the late keyboardist's catalog for it's enlisting of Chick Corea Elektric Band cohorts Dave Weckl, Frank Gambale and John Patitucci, in combination with Lavitz's Dixie Dregs bandmates, Steve Morse and Jerry Goodman. And, as the burning “No Time Flat" shows, the resulting sonic marriage feels akin to what might be termed ...

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Marc Johnson's Right Brain Patrol: Samurai Hee Haw

by Mike Jacobs
June 12, 2026

Though, what might be called the “seminal version" of this tune--on Bass Desires (ECM, 1986)--is much more widely known, this rendition, featuring Marc Johnson in league with Wolfgang Muthspiel and Arto Tuncboyaciyan is a thrilling alternate version of the bassist's signature tune that deserves wider exposure. From Magic Labyrinth (JMT, 1995) ...

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Gary Husband: Celestial Terrestrial Commuters

by Mike Jacobs
June 7, 2026

From the pianist/drummer extraordinaire's A Meeting of the Spirits (Alternity, 2006), this solo piano rendition of John McLaughlin's classic Mahavishnu Orchestra vehicle is one of Gary Husband's more recognizable interpretations on the album, but also undoubtedly one of the most thrilling. ...

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Band Of Other Brothers: Bar Fight

by Mike Jacobs
June 6, 2026

Though they're known as Band of Other Brothers, there's really no other name than “supergroup" for a band that consists of players of such gravity as Jeff Babko, Jeff Coffin, Nir Felder, Will Lee and Keith Carlock. And, as “Bar Fight," the lead track of their debut album City of Cranes (Ear Up Records, 2016) confirms, they live up to that moniker, and then some. ...

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Ben Wendel With Gilad Hekselman: October

by Mike Jacobs
February 4, 2026

Ben Wendel's 2015 The Seasons was initially a video-only project featuring the saxophonist in a different duet for each month of the year. The project was so successful, it later spawned a tour and a studio album [The Seasons (Motéma Music, 2018)] that featured Aaron Parks, Gilad Hekselman, Matt Brewer and Eric Harland. “October," with guitarist Hekselman, was a highlight of the original 12 duets for its seamless and inventive use of real-time technology--not to mention that it's pretty darn catchy.

Interview

Mark Lettieri: Expanding Boundaries

by Mike Jacobs
February 2, 2026

In the years since Mark Lettieri first sat down with All About Jazz, much has changed--and, in a sense, much has not. At the time of that (2020 interview), Lettieri had a budding solo career, but was still primarily known as being part of Snarky Puppy's (SP) formidable six-string triumvirate (along with fellow guitarists Bob Lanzetti and Chris McQueen). Today, he's still very active in SP--and the Vulfpeck-adjacent Fearless Flyers--but Lettieri's profile as a solo artist has seemingly ...

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Jon Herington: Kernel Of Truth

by Mike Jacobs
February 2, 2026

From Jon Herington's Pulse and Cadence (ESC, 2008)--[which is itself a re-release of Herington's Japan-only solo debut, The Complete Rhyming Dictionary (Glass House, 1993)]--"Kernel of Truth" features the future Steely Dan touring guitarist with stalwarts Peter Erskine, Jim Beard, Victor Bailey and Arto Tuncboyaciyan in what may be one of the most interlocking arrangements ever. ...

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Banned From Utopia: Tink Walks Amok / Thirteen

by Mike Jacobs
November 2, 2025

The late Frank Zappa was known for, among many other things, having some virtuosic touring bands. Even the bandleader's demise wasn't enough to break the bond of many members of his various touring ensembles, who formed “The Band From Utopia" in 1994, just after the maestro's passing. Later re-monickered “Banned From Utopia," the group recorded So Yuh Don't Like Modern Art (Favored Nations, 2002), which featured a smattering of Zappa-esque original tunes alongside a handful of retooled--and notoriously challenging--Zappa classics. ...