What We Live

What We Live: Soundcatcher

by Elliott Simon
March 3, 2007

Creative music is called such because, regardless of instrumentation, it tests boundaries, develops new approaches and fosters originality. In addition, by serving as a stimulus, it engenders creative listening. Saxophonist Lawrence Ochs, bassist Lisle Ellis and drummer Don Robinson are collectively known as What We Live, a trio whose works meet these criteria on all counts. Sound Catcher, a structured integration of traditional Kazakhstan folk music with jazz improvisation, is a live recording that captures a highly organic musical experience ...

What We Live: Especially The Traveller Tomorrow

by Glenn Astarita
November 13, 2002

The latest installment of this trio’s investigative ways signifies one of its finest efforts to date. As this effort represents material recorded live on tour in France.

With the opener “As Yet Unknown,” the musicians cast an eerie vibe thanks to drummer Don Robinson’s ominous sounding tom rolls and bassist Lisle Ellis’ booming lines. Here, Larry Ochs uses his sopranino sax as a contrasting mechanism via plaintive cries and subtle intonations, while switching to tenor sax midstream ...

What We Live: Trumpets

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2000

Trumpets, is the latest from “What We Live” and features trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith performing with the trio of saxophonist Larry Ochs, bassist Lisle Ellis and drummer Donald Robinson during a live date recorded in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Whereas trumpeter Dave Douglas – who has been lighting up the jazz world these days with a string of dazzling recordings, joins the band on tracks culled from a live set recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.

The core constituents of “What ...

What We Live: Never Was

by Glenn Astarita
April 1, 1999

“Never Was” was recorded in 1996 and released in 1998 on Black Saint records. “What We Live” primarily operate as a Trio yet frequently collaborate with special guest artists as in the excellent “Quintet For A Day” (see March 99 AAJ review). On “Never Was” Larry Ochs, Lisle Ellis and Don Robinson get back to the nitty gritty in stylistic and impressive fashion.

The excellent liner notes by Art Lange correlate the biographical nature of this recording and how it ...

What We Live: Never Was

by Robert Spencer
April 1, 1999

What We Live, a trio consisting of Larry Ochs (tenor and sopranino saxophones), Lisle Ellis (bass), and Don Robinson (drums), creates a series of reflective soundscapes on Never Was. Ochs, a titan of the Bay Area music scene and one of the mainstays of the innovative and breathtakingly virtuosic Rova saxophone quartet, is a versatile tenor man with a terrific, blues-inflected grainy tone. By virtue of the hierarchy of expectations his seems at first hearing to be the lead voice. ...

What We Live: Quintet For A Day

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 1999

Upon listening to their extremely impressive 1996 effort “Fo(u)r” on Black Saint Records, this San Francisco based Trio continue to chart new turf as being sort of a communal think tank for the creme’ de la creme’ of today’s Modern & Free Jazz artists. “What We Live” is: ROVA’s Larry Ochs (Tenor, Sopranino Sax), Donald Robinson (Drums) and Lisle Ellis (Bass). This ever-evolving Trio often serve as the foundation for starkly unique Improvisation and Compositional explorations. “What We Live” at ...

Julio Awad And Patxi Pascual: Release Of The Live Single From The Historic Concert At Auditorio Conde Duque

Source: Julio Awad
November 1, 2025

Almost two decades later, a magical night comes back to life: the new live single by Julio Awad and Patxi Pascual is released, recorded during their iconic performance at Auditorio Conde Duque in Madrid in 2006. This release captures a unique moment of live music, where improvisation, sensitivity, and the artists’ deep musical connection shine without filters. Julio Awad, renowned pianist, composer, arranger, and musical director, and Patxi Pascual, a leading saxophonist in the Madrid scene, delivered a unique musical ...
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Shakti’s Revelation Of Oneness In Diversity Concludes With The Release Of Mind Explosion – Recorded Live During Their 50th Anniversary Tour In 2023

Source: Souvik Dutta
October 9, 2025

Shakti did not spend their fiftieth anniversary standing still, idly collecting laurels and accepting tributes for their decades of fearless musical alchemy. Instead, they acknowledged their vast influence with decisive action, recording their first new studio album in more than 45 years—the GRAMMY award-winning This Moment—and embarking on an extensive international tour that put them before audiences across India, Europe and the United States, complete with opening sets from longtime Shakti admirers Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Bill Frisell, and John ...
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Frank Wildhorn Unveils 'Frank Wildhorn & Friends: Live In Las Vegas With Jane Monheit And Clint Holmes' A Dynamic Return To His Jazz Roots Recorded Live At The Smith Center Inside Cabaret Jazz

Source: Jill Siegel
August 26, 2025

Frank & Friends: Live in Las Vegas with Jane Monheit and Clint Holmes, a captivating live album recorded at the Smith Center inside Cabaret Jazz is now available on all streaming platforms featuring 17 tracks lovingly selected by the renowned multi-Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-nominated composer and producer Frank Wildhorn for Jane Monheit and Clint Holmes. This album, produced by Frank Wildhorn and Myron Martin, features songs from Wildhorn musicals “Jekyll & Hyde”, “The Scarlet Pimpernel”, “ Wonderland,”” Camille Claudel” ...
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Burnin' Hot New Release - The Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra - Live At Dizzy's

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
August 12, 2025

For nearly 15 years the Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra (SOLJO) has been one of the most precious hidden treasures of the Bronx, NYC’s majority Hispanic borough. SOLJO was founded by trumpeter-educator Oquendo, who has performed alongside Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Cuco Peña, Wynton Marsalis, & many others. It started as a rehearsal band comprised of a diverse assortment of some of NYC’s most talented musicians that soon found itself with a weekly residency in the Throgs Neck ...
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Backgrounder: Marge Dodson - Lovely Way to Live

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 23, 2025

Vocalist Marge Dodson recorded just three albums. Her first two for Columbia were straightforward songbook efforts: In the Still of the Night (1959) and New Voice in Town (1960). But the third, for Decca, was way more interesting and so 1960s! A Lovely Way to Live (February 1968) was swinging, brash and groovy, from the psychedelic cover art to the arrangements by Dave Blume, who also conducted and composed a few of the songs. The album was produced by Dick ...
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New 'Live' Release By Guitarist Greg Chako - The Miami Project

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
April 23, 2025

This concert was the brainchild of my friend and fan, Edward Blanco. He suggested the appealing possibility of my doing a concert at WDNA’s Jazz Gallery years ago, but due to life circumstances, not the least of which was COVID 19, we weren’t sure until much later if the idea would ever actually materialize. During a 2021 visit to Miami, Ed introduced me to bassist Jamie Ousley and that’s when the three of us began planning this concert in earnest. ...
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Rick Bogart Celebrates National Jazz Month With New Album, Streaming Documentary & Live NYC Performances!

Source: Michael Clarkston
April 16, 2025

It’s April—and that means two things: April Showers and National Jazz Month. Jazz lovers, take note: Rick Bogart is giving you every reason to celebrate this month of Jazz. The acclaimed clarinetist, vocalist, and storyteller is lighting up New York City with live performances, new recordings, and a documentary release that underscores his legendary career. Jazz aficionados are invited to experience the magic of Rick Bogart—live and on screen. The acclaimed clarinetist and vocalist is performing with his trio every ...
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Arab-jazz Quartet Kinan Azmeh's Cityband Releases 'Live In Berlin,' February 28th

Source: AMT Public Relations
March 1, 2025

Arab-Jazz Quartet KINAN AZMEH CITYBAND Announces Release of Live in Berlin Album Dedicated to the People of Syria Premiering Culturally Rich Original Works by Syrian-American Composer/Clarinetist Kinan Azmeh Album Release Show March 1 at Joe’s Pub in New York City Hailed as “intensely soulful (The New York Times)” and “spellbinding (The New Yorker),” Syrian-born, Brooklyn-based composer/clarinetist Kinan Azmeh has announced the February 28th release of his 14th album Live in Berlin (Dreyer Gaido), for which he reconvened his New York-based ...
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Aggeliki Psoni - Women's Day Live at El Barrio Artspace on March 5, 2025

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
February 28, 2025

Join us for an unforgettable evening in celebration of International Women's Day at the March edition of the Jazz Concert Series, hosted by El Barrio Artspace and Camino al Arte. This special event will shine a spotlight on the talent of Aggeliki, a world music vocalist and songwriter whose unique international repertoire blends elements of Greek folk music with jazz, soul, Latin, and funk. Guests are invited to arrive early between 6:30 to 7:00pm to enjoy stunning artwork while sipping ...
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7 Virtual Jazz Club’s Contest 11th Edition – Live Round

Source: Valerio Pappi
February 19, 2025

The jury has decided and we are proud to present the semifinalists (in alphabetical order) of the 7 Virtual Jazz Club’s Contest 11th Edition: Over 30 Category Aleksandra Kutrzepa – Atacama (Poland) Andrew Van Tassel Quartet—On The Up (USA) Dominik Kisiel – Exploration (Poland) Gabriele Di Franco—Dopo Tutto (Belgium) Jan Maksimowics & Dmitrij Golovanov – Beyond (Lithuania) Max Bessesen Octet—Feet Don't Change (USA) Nicholas Thomas & Viktorija Gečytė—Up You Go (France) Pritesh Walia—Darn ...
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