Articles

John Moulder Quintet: The Eleventh Hour: Live at the Green Mill

By Dave Sumner

Whereas many of Chicago's jazz and blues guitar icons seem to channel the dark alleys and the bar sign neon of the city through their instruments, John Moulder's sound is more akin to a synthesis of the lakefront--a beauty and serenity that is just as likely to show a face of fury and cold precision. For some time now, Moulder has quietly been developing his sound into something quite unique. The Eleventh Hour provides the opportunity to hear it in ...

John Moulder: Bifrost

By David Rickert

It's probably inevitable that any review of any of John Moulder's recordings will mention that he is a Catholic priest. Not only is this an interesting dichotomy for most of us to reconcile--a century ago, people in Moulder's profession were calling jazz the devil's music--but it's also an indication that, just maybe, in exchange for his service the Almighty Father rewarded him with a record as fantastic as Bifröst, one of the best jazz records of 2009.

Moulder is not ...

John Moulder: Bifrost

By John Kelman

A longtime member of ex-Pat Metheny Group drummer Paul Wertico's trio, enough has already been written about John Moulder's double life as jazz guitarist and ordained priest. Bifröst is Moulder's follow-up to the ambitious and eclectic Trinity (Origin, 2006), where the guitarist's spirituality became a touchstone for music ranging from the ethereal to the grounded, and from elegant folklore to potent, angst-driven fusion. What makes Bifröst even more satisfying is its narrowing of focus down from a larger cast of ...

John Moulder: Trinity

By John Kelman

one can overstate the importance of parallel careers, it's hard to avoid touching on the subject with John Moulder. The ordained priest has also managed an active musical career in Chicago as a guitarist--most notably as a member of ex-Pat Metheny Group drummer Paul Wertico's trio for the past twelve years. It's easy to forget his spiritual leanings on albums like Spirit Talk (Naim, 2003), a standards-based duo record with vibraphonist Ken Hall. But when you call an album Trinity, ...