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Article: Album Review

Made To Break: Provoke

Read "Provoke" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
September 2, 2013

Each of these three extended pieces is dedicated to great twentieth century innovators who specialize in distinct disciplines. Led by Chicago outside jazz luminary Ken Vandermark, the quartet derives inspiration from avant-garde composer John Cage, architect, author Buckminster Fuller and philosopher, media theorist Marshall McLuhan. And as expected, the compositions are not thin or one-dimensional by ...

Article: Interview

Thollem McDonas: The Beauty of Never Going Back Home

by Dave Wayne
August 7, 2013

What is often forgotten about improvised music is that it can come from anywhere. Though its history is inextricably intertwined with jazz, improvisation is part and parcel of a myriad of musical cultures. Pianist and composer Thollem McDonas is not just aware of this fact, it is part of his daily existence. About 10 years ago, ...

Article: Album Review

Gene Ess: Fractal Attraction

Read "Fractal Attraction" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
August 7, 2013

Using the voice as a melodic and harmonic instrument above and beyond scat singing or vocalese is increasing in popularity, as evidenced in recordings like Beata Pater's Red (B&B Records, 2013) and Lola Danza's The Island (Evolver, 2012). Vocalist Thana Alexa joins guitarist Gene Ess for an expansion of Ess' genre-breaking jazz philosophy, using the human ...

Article: Profile

Martin Archer: Making A Difference, Doing Things Differently

by Duncan Heining
July 10, 2013

Martin Archer is a one-man music industry. Saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, band-leader and label owner--Archer has made a virtue of doing things differently. From early beginnings in music forty years ago, he has built his label Discus into a catalog that is as fine in quality as it is eclectic in taste and content. Based in ...

Article: Take Five With...

Take Five With Barb Januszkiewicz

by AAJ Staff
July 7, 2013

Meet Barb Januszkiewicz: I am a painter who uses music in my work. I love jazz because it adds color to everything. I was first exposed to jazz by dad. I met Dave Liebman, and that everything changed for me because he showed me how we could mix jazz and art together—real fusion. He ...

Article: Interview

Alexander Balanescu: The Aggressive Lyricism

by Adriana Carcu
May 28, 2013

Alexander Balanescu, the London-based violinist of Romanian origin, leads the avant- garde string quartet Balanescu Quartet, formed in 1987. Before that, Balanescu was part of the Michael Nyman Ensemble and Arditti Quartet. Ever since he has worked closely with artists of various musical orientations such as saxophonist John Lurie, singer David Byrne, pianists Keith Tippett and ...

Article: Interview

Yuhan Su: Good Vibes

by Ian Patterson
May 21, 2013

Everybody loves the romance of a comeback: the phoenix-like rise from adversity, long-term exile, obscurity or defeat. Think of US President Abraham Lincoln's travails, boxer George Foreman's regaining the World Heavyweight title at the age of 45, actor Sean Connery's return as Bond, David Bowie's eternal reinvention or, indeed, the peculiar cycles of fashion that have ...

Article: Extended Analysis

Howie Smith / Mike Nock: Opal Dream

by Matt Marshall
February 27, 2013

Although their paths didn't cross until 1988, when they first met and performed together in Sydney, Australia, saxophonist Howie Smith and pianist Mike Nock are both important figures in the development of jazz Down Under. Nock, a native of New Zealand, returned to Australia in 1985 after working 25 years in the U.S. with ...

Article: Extended Analysis

Sten Standell: Music Inside The Language

by Eyal Hareuveni
February 3, 2013

Swedish pianist Sten Sandell is one of the key figures in the Scandinavian free jazz and improvisation scene: a visionary and experienced musician who has developed a profound musical language. He is a member of the Gush trio, with saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and drummer Raymond Strid, celebrating this year its 20th year of activity, and leads ...

News: Recording

Benoit Delbecq & Fred Hersch Double Trio's "Fun House" and Chris Clark's Debut "Cedar Wisely" Coming from Songlines

February 3, 2013

Songlines will release a pair of extremely diverse yet equally exciting albums on March 12. Fun House, the first recorded collaboration between the critically acclaimed pianists Benoit Delbecq and Fred Hersch, finds them performing in a rare double-trio configuration. It's a ground-breaking encounter and between jazz piano and the sonic resources of contemporary classical music, between ...