Home » Search Center » Results: Kyle Simpler
Results for "Kyle Simpler"
A Time Capsule in Sound: Jim Pugh’s New American Symphonies
by Kyle Simpler
On the surface, Jim Pugh's New American Symphonies might seem like just another interesting new album release, but there is much more involved here. Behind the album cover lies a story of experimentation, loss, and rediscovery that adds a fascinating dimension to this well-crafted recording. To get the full picture, however, we have to ...
How John Coltrane Changed Rock Music: Santana
by Kyle Simpler
When the Santana band first started in the San Francisco area in the late 60s, hardly anyone outside of the Bay Area was familiar with the group. This changed after their performance at the Woodstock festival in 1969. Seemingly overnight, everyone knew about Santana, and the band, under the leadership of its namesake, Carlos Santana has since ...
Cindy Blackman Santana: Coherence
by Kyle Simpler
Some musicians communicate their passion almost before they ever play a note, and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana is one of them. Whether performing jazz, rock, soul, or world music, she approaches each style with the conviction that music ultimately transcends categories. Coherence is possibly her clearest statement of that philosophy. Blackman Santana's broad musical ...
Frank Swart: This Is The One! (Raison D'êTre)
by Kyle Simpler
There is a common misconception that musical artists who release albums usually tour to promote them. While this may be true for the most part, there are exceptions. San Francisco-based bassist and composer Frank Swart is quick to point out that artists such as The Beatles were more focused on spending time in the studio creating albums than ...
Zacc Harris: American Reckoning
by Kyle Simpler
Americana originally developed from folk and country music, but in recent decades it has grown to incorporate other musical genres. For example, jazz artists such as Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny frequently incorporate elements of Americana into their work. With American Reckoning, guitarist Zacc Harris follows their lead, drawing from sources ranging from traditional folk songs ...
How John Coltrane Changed Rock Music: The Grateful Dead
by Kyle Simpler
The Grateful Dead, probably more than any other rock band that emerged from the 1960s, tapped into the full scope of American musical tradition. From their earliest days, they were an eclectic rock band, blending elements of blues, r&b, country, bluegrass, and jazz. But rather than trying to replicate particular genres exactly, the band's goal was ...
Bobby Wiens: Focus
by Kyle Simpler
Even though a recording is a finished product, it still captures the feeling and intensity of the session. When players have a good working rapport, everything translates through the music. Clearly, the musicians assembled by drummer Bobby Wiens for his second album, Focus, share a strong rapport, and that chemistry is evident throughout the recording.
More Than Inventory: How Euclid Records Built a Community Through Music
by Kyle Simpler
Vinyl seems to show up everywhere these days. Department stores, clothing outlets, and even bookstores now carry small selections of records. Yet serious music fans still seek out independent record stores, and the reasons are fairly obvious. It takes much more than inventory to make a great record store. Although many factors are involved, ...
How John Coltrane Changed Rock Music: Eight Miles High
by Kyle Simpler
In a 1969 interview, Miles Davis said, “I could put together the greatest rock 'n' roll band you ever heard." In many ways, Davis did just that, though it remains a point of contention among many of his fans, who might argue otherwise. Davis himself later made the point that his music from the late sixties and ...
Death of the Soccer God
by Kyle Simpler
Death of the Soccer God Dimitry Elias Léger 222 Pages ISBN: # 978-0-374-61988-6 Farrar, Strauss Giroux 2026 The old cliché about a person's life flashing before their eyes immediately before death is the essence of Dimitry Elias Léger's novel Death of the Soccer God. Gilbert Chevalier was the king of the ...
Album Showcase
Trending
In Tribute To...
Points of View: Celebrating Dave Holland
Jazz Raconteurs
Julius Hemphill: Marty Ehrlich and Tim Berne Remember a...
In Tribute To...
John Coltrane At 100: A Global Perspective
History of Jazz
John Coltrane in Detroit: A Brief History
Live Review
Detroit Jazz Festival 2026: A Gathering in a Great Jazz City
Profile
Sequoia Snyder: Growing in the Light of the Masters
Interview
Jasur Khalilov: From Falak to Fusion
VOTE!
