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Ten Supreme Fender Rhodes Albums
by Chris May
In 1965, reeling from the impact of Motown and the Brit invasion led by the Beatles, and about to be hit by the triple whammy that was acid rock and the rebel culture that went with it, jazz was on the back foot. Its relevance as entertainment, art form and spiritual sustenance was under threat, at ...
Dave Douglas: Gifts
by John Sharpe
Trumpeter Dave Douglas' talents as an improviser, composer and organizer are well known by now. In some ways the challenge for him is to find novel settings in which his abilities can be appreciated. If that is indeed an issue, then he has aced the test on Gifts, with a quartet that often sounds like a ...
Rob Parton's Ensemble 9+: Relentless
by Jack Bowers
Rob Parton, who once led the Chicago area's marvelous JazzTech big band, has since moved on to other pursuits, namely mentoring the next generation of jazz trumpeters at the stellar University of North Texas Jazz Lab in Denton. Having released eleven widely acclaimed albums with the JazzTech band, Parton has pared the lineup to nine (plus) ...
Rob Parton's Ensemble 9+: Relentless
by Troy Dostert
After many years in the Windy City, most notably as the leader of the JazzTech Big Band, trumpeter Rob Parton wanted a change of scenery, which brought him to the University of North Texas, where he joined the faculty in 2019. And of course, that meant he now had the opportunity to work with lots of ...
WHO Trio: Live At Jazz Festival Willisau 2023
by Chris May
This jewel of an album was released just too late for inclusion in AAJ's Best Jazz Albums of 2024: All-Star Break Edition, where contributors were invited to name their three best albums released during the first half of the year (the article can be read here). But five gets you ten that it will be included ...
Mike Westbrook: Band of Bands
by Duncan Heining
For over six decades, composer, bandleader and musician Mike Westbrook has pursued a personal vision of jazz inspired by his hero Duke Ellington. That vision rests on the life-affirming, metamorphic potential at the music's heart. Band of Bands, built upon musical friendships old and more recent, is as fine a set of performances as any in ...
Five Views From The Piano Bench
by C. Michael Bailey
The piano is a versatile instrument that provides different trajectories for those who play it. The view from the piano bench can vary as dramatically as the artist playing it. Yuja Wang The Vienna Recital Deutsche Grammophon 2024 From the biggest of stages... In 2009, ...
Hyeonseon Baek: Longing
by Troy Dostert
Any vocalist who can call upon top-shelf talent in support of their debut recording is worth hearing. Hyeonseon Baek is no exception. The South Korean singer, who has studied at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and at the New England Conservatory, has already forged the connections that should allow him to distinguish himself in the jazz ...
Alex Hendriksen, Fabian Gisler, Paul Amereller: Lotus Blossom
by Glenn Astarita
The jazz trio of Alex Hendriksen on tenor saxophone, Fabian Gisler on bass, and Paul Amereller on drums has been making waves in the European jazz scene for several years, being known for their dynamic live performances and innovative interpretations of jazz standards. With their 2024 release, Lotus Blossom, this trio from Switzerland has crafted a ...
Billy Strayhorn, Tom Waits, Norah Jones & Back Alley Brass Band
by Joe Dimino
With the power of the New Orleans-fueled Kansas City-based band Back Alley Brass Band, we begin the 860th Episode of Neon Jazz and music from their release Last Chance to Dance. We keep the New Orleans vibe going with a combination of the legendary Tom Waits with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with “Tootie Ma is ...
