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Article: Album Review

George Colligan: Live At The Jazz Standard

Read "Live At The Jazz Standard" reviewed by Carl Medsker

by Carl Medsker
May 31, 2025

During its relatively brief life, the Jazz Standard hosted many wonderful evenings of creative music. Artists performing in the basement beneath the barbecue restaurant ranged from Houston Person to Roy Haynes to Wadada Leo Smith. The Mingus Big Band held forth on most Monday evenings. Sadly, the club succumbed in 2021 to the economic pain caused ...

Article: Play This!

Linda May Han Oh: The Imperative

by Carl Medsker
May 25, 2025

Congratulations to Linda May Han Oh for adding the 2025 Jazz Journalists Association Bass Player of the Year award to her collection of accolades. Since emigrating to the United States from Australia in 2006 (she was born in Malaysia), Oh has built an impressive career, making significant contributions to works by Dave Douglas, Terri Lyne Carrington, ...

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Sasha Berliner: Khan Younis

by Carl Medsker
May 19, 2025

Fantôme (Outside In Music, 2025) is vibraphonist Sasha Berliner's third release as a leader, and it is excellent from start to finish, due to its diversity of moods, energy, instrumentation, arrangements and well-written compositions. This is an ensemble effort, with everyone contributing to bringing Berliner's ideas to life. The core band consists of Taylor Eigsti (piano), ...

Article: Play This!

Finn Wiest Quintet: Aurora

by Carl Medsker
April 25, 2025

"Music chooses her musicians." --Patricia Barber In a small town in southern Germany, Finn Wiest heard her call and picked up the drumsticks at a young age. He worked his way to the Conservatory of Cologne, winning competitions and awards. New York City beckoned, where, in 2024, he earned a Master's degree from the ...

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Billy Bang: Peaceful Dreams

by Carl Medsker
April 15, 2025

Developing a unique, recognizable voice is a vital accomplishment for a jazz musician. Within a few notes, there is no mistaking the distinctive violin of Billy Bang. In nearly every aspect of the instrument, he was singular: timbre, articulation, bowing technique, percussive use of the bow, pizzacto playing, glissandos, phrasing and yes, the occasional dissonance. He ...

Article: Play This!

Onilu: Estuary Stew

by Carl Medsker
April 4, 2025

The trio Onilu (which means drummers in the Yoruba language) utilizes a dizzying array of percussion instruments. Shekere, mbira, congas, batá drums, cajóns, alfaia, clave, clay drums, tympani, various idiophones, guagua, tongue drum, vibraphone, marimba and both electro-acoustic and standard drum kits are employed. Although used sparingly, a piano is also embraced as a valid member. ...

Article: Live Review

Vijay Iyer Trio At Philadelphia Clef Club Of Jazz And Performing Arts

by Carl Medsker
March 26, 2025

Vijay Iyer Trio Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts Philadelphia, PA March 15, 2025 The new instantiation of the Vijay Iyer Trio is another powerhouse. Fresh off two nights at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C., the band took to the stage in the performance space of Philadephia's Clef Club ...

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James Brandon Lewis: Remember Brooklyn & Moki

by Carl Medsker
March 20, 2025

"Chasing Energy, and that energy can be any type" is how James Brandon Lewis describes his multifaceted musical journey (Jazzwise, November 2024). That journey has taken him through gospel, punk, chamber, blues, reggae, hip-hop, soul, post-bop and free jazz. Along the way, he made a detour to Morocco to study Gnawa music. Lewis integrates all of ...

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Ensemble Novo: E Preciso Perdoar

by Carl Medsker
March 2, 2025

Sultry, sensuous, intimate. That longing for someone or some place. Ah, Brazilian music. Ensemble Novo has been serenading fortunate Philadelphians with choro, samba, and bossa nova since 2013. “E Preciso Perdoar" ("You Must Forgive") from Carinhoso (Frosty Cordial Records, 2021) showcases their gentle, swinging way with the bossa nova. Written by Carlos Coqueijo and ...

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Tarbaby: Dee Dee

by Carl Medsker
February 19, 2025

Tarbaby (Orrin Evans, Eric Revis and Nasheet Waits) makes the case in the first measures of “Dee Dee" that You Think This America is a fresh take on the traditional jazz piano trio. The album consists of an eclectic set of pieces performed live by three leaders with deep experience together. First performed by Ornette Coleman ...