Results for "AAJ Staff"

King Crimson - The Condensed 21st Century Guide (2006)

April 27, 2011

By Tom Johnson King Crimson has been a chameleon throughout its four decades of existence, not just shifting to reflect the times but also acting as a sort of quality-assurance agent, issued forth new offerings at just the right times when it seems that music might just slide into morass. What King Crimson had lacked, until ...

Nicholas Payton - Sonic Trance (2003)

April 27, 2011

By Mark Saleski Why do people hit a musical wall at a certain point in their life? They stop listening to anything put out after their high school (or college) years. Worst of all: they just stop listening. Music is no longer a part of their life. Of course, there are a whole lot of reasons. ...

Mathias Eick - Skala (ECM Records, 2011)

April 27, 2011

Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Mathias Eick performs in a number contexts, from the hard to classify fusion group Jaga Jazzist to his jazz recordings as a leader and a sideman for ECM Records. This album adds a pop sheen to an interesting group consisting of a wide variety of musicians and musical textures. Eick primarily plays the trumpet ...

Matt Bauder Fields Excellent Quintet for "Day in Pictures"

April 27, 2011

Reed-tenor jazzologist Matt Bauder has integrity. He writes well. He plays with the assurance of someone who has internalized the music, grasped its essentials and communed with his instruments to emerge with a kind of brilliance and right-sounding quality. And as a bandleader he can pick the right people too. A Day In Pictures (Clean Feed ...

"Children's Song" by Roberta Flack

April 27, 2011

This song has always been one of my very favorites. “Children's Song" is a little-known tune from Roberta Flack's little-known soundtrack to the little-known Richard Pryor/Cicely Tyson film Bustin' Loose (1981). This touching film, suggested by a story from Richard Pryor himself, finds ex-con and parole violator Joe Braxton (Pryor) hired by a school teacher, Vivian ...

Peter Herbolzheimer "Soul Puppets"

April 27, 2011

The great composer, arranger and trombonist Peter Herbolzheimer (1935-2010) probably ranks as one of Germany's best-known bandleaders, having helmed not only his popular Rhythm Combination & Brass (RC&B) but leading many big band orchestras on stage, TV and radio. The RC&B made for a unique sound in the seventies, mixing jazz with fresh rock, funk, Gospel ...

Q&A: Kurt Elling

April 27, 2011

I remember when Kurt Elling came onto the scene back in the 1990's and he really stood out. The sound of his voice, phrasing and repertoire was refreshing and unique. He's been steadily refining his craft and on his latest album The Gate, Kurt continues to raise the bar. This time we find him working through ...

Peter Ponzol to Present Free Saxophone Clinic This Saturday, April 30 at Saxquest

April 26, 2011

Saxophonist and instrument designer Peter Ponzol is coming to St. Louis to present a free sax clinic at 2:00 p.m. this Saturday, April 30 at Saxquest. Though Ponzol (pictured) is an accomplished musician who's participated in more than 100 recordings and performed all over the world, he's perhaps better known for his work as a consultant ...

Pollstar: The Bad Plus to Kick Off 2012 at Jazz at the Bistro

April 26, 2011

It looks like a 21st century tradition in the making will continue for another year, as the online tour information service Pollstar has just posed a listing showing The Bad Plus (pictured) performing Wednesday, January 4, 2012 through Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Jazz at the Bistro. Presuming it happens, this would be the sixth year ...

The Jazz Session #260: Adam Cruz

April 26, 2011