Results for "Album Review"

John Vanore & Abstract Truth: Easter Island Suite

by Jack Bowers
January 15, 2026

The first and last movements of Philadelphia-based trumpeter and composer John Vanore's epic Easter Island Suite were recorded thirty-five years apart, in 1989 and 2024, which says a lot about his determination to shepherd the ambitious enterprise to its conclusion. Movements 2 and 3 of the picturesque Suite were recorded in 2012. Even today, ...

Oak: The Third Sleep

by Glenn Astarita
January 15, 2026

The Third Sleep is the fourth album from Oslo's Oak--a Norwegian progressive rock outfit that began as a folk-rock duo in 2013 before expanding into a quartet known for atmospheric and melancholic soundscapes that blend post-rock restraint, melodic prog and occasional heavier edges reminiscent of Katatonia, Porcupine Tree and Anathema.Existing in the gray zone ...

Roomful of Blues: Steppin' Out!

by Scott Gudell
January 15, 2026

Whether it is swing, jazz, jump, blues or something else, you gotta live it to play it. If you were not there 'in the beginning' when a sound was launched, then you must earn your way into the club as a select group of potent bands have done through the years. Take the Stray Cats for ...

Niklas Lukassen

Born: July 25, 1995

Niklas Lukassen displays an equally astonishing lyrical sensibility and skilful command on the upright bass, the bass guitar and his unique bass cello. having lived in New York for several years, he today resides between London and Berlin. Described as "a versatile bass virtuoso" by Jazzwise magazine, Niklas continues to establish himself as a significant presence within the young European jazz scene. Moreover, his sound and artistic vision radiate a striking band leader potential.

Niklas ventured from an inconspicuous village somewhere in the South German Black Forest out into a life of creative opportunity through his personal musical journey. Aged 16, he moved to Berlin to cut his teeth in the capital's music scene and attended the Jazz Institute. A formative part of his career lies in New York. Mentored by Ron Carter, he received his Masters Degree from Manhattan School of Music on a full scholarship.  Currently Pursuing a doctoral degree and teaching at the Royal Academy of Music in London, he researches ways of Broadening his scope of sounds on a range of String bass instruments.

Human Being Human: Being

by Neil Duggan
January 14, 2026

Inspired by the human experiences of living, connecting and creating, leading Danish trio Human Being Human return with Being. The album sees the trio expanding their soundscape as they collaborate with American saxophonist Chris Cheek. He brings his style and energy to the project, aligning perfectly with the trio's contemporary Danish explorations of the ...

Usein Bekirov: Free Way Deluxe

by Ian Patterson
January 14, 2026

Labels, reductive at best, prove especially slippery when applied to Lviv-based pianist-keyboardist Usein Bekirov. Ethno-jazz, ethno-fusion, jazz-funk--all these titles and more have followed his music around since his debut album, Taterrium (4Records, 2016). Born in Uzbekistan but raised in Crimea from the age of eight, Bekirov has drawn variously on his Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar roots, ...

Kieran Brown: Loving You

by C. Michael Bailey
January 14, 2026

Youthful, conservatoire-trained vocalist upstart Kieran Brown brags in the opening song from her debut recording, Loving You: I've got a song that longs to be played Raise up my flag, begin my parade Then watch the world over start comin' up clover That's how it's gonna be, watch me You're ...

Keith Jarrett: The Köln Concert

by Jack Kenny
January 13, 2026

Keith Jarrett thrives on feeling embattled; he often finds that conflict stimulates his creativity. Anyone who has attended his live performances can palpably feel this tension. However, the difficulties surrounding the 1975 Köln Concert have passed into legend, creating a scenario where exhaustion, insomnia, and equipment failure conspired to alter music history. When Keith ...

Yuhan Su: OVER the MOONs

by Jerome Wilson
January 13, 2026

It turns out that Patricia Brennan is not the only vibraphonist exploring ambitious concepts these days. On this album, Yuhan Su brings the idea of dual consciousness into music, with the musicians in her group often playing along two separate paths simultaneously. Su was born in Taiwan and is now based in New ...

Michael Eaton: Stygian Gates

by Max Kutner
January 13, 2026

Symbiotique Nonet is a unique and noble beast, living in a suburb situated somewhere in the unsung wilds between modern chamber music and free jazz. The group is co-led by NYC-based saxophonist-composer, Michael Eaton and Kansas City-based electro-acoustic improviser-guitarist, Seth Andrew Davis. Stygian Gates, penned by Eaton, is a multi-movement suite loosely themed around characters and scenes from ...