Results for "Mike Jacobs"

Tal Wilkenfeld: Cosmic Joke

by Mike Jacobs
February 28, 2024

Though Australian bass wunderkind Tal Wilkenfeld may have indeed left jazz behind in favor of a more singer/songwriter-type rock approach, the music she put forth on her debut album Transformation (Goldelux Productions, 2007) still leaves an impression and a hope she will one day return to it. Superlative writing and playing from the then 20-year-old and ...

Eran Har Even: Winners Of The Cosmic Lottery

by Mike Jacobs
February 27, 2024

Brad Mehldau: Maybe As His Skies Are Wide

by Mike Jacobs
February 26, 2024

Long known for his absolute adventurousness, there isn't much that Brad Mehldau hasn't stylistically encompassed. Still, when the pianist released an exploration of the progressive favorites of his youth,--Jacob's Ladder (Nonesuch, 2022)--the results were like nothing else in his catalog. Among the album's most compelling tracks is the re-envisioning of a single famous melodic line from ...

Brock, Lanzetti, Ogawa: Drawing Songs

by Mike Jacobs
February 4, 2024

Encountering new additions to the Snarky Puppy musical diaspora is always interesting. Some members' solo efforts are more direct stylistic offshoots of the mother band while others branch out in very different directions, but it is a safe bet that they will showcase the musicianship which got them into the burgeoning collective in the first place. ...

Jim Beard: Holodeck Waltz

by Mike Jacobs
February 3, 2024

Among stunning debut albums, Jim Beard's Song Of The Sun (CTI, 1991) is one that only seems to increase in luster over time. Listen to what is probably the album's centerpiece composition, “Holodeck Waltz" and it becomes clear how a relative newcomer like Beard could attract a veritable Who's Who of electric jazz to participate on ...

Victor Bailey: Kid Logic

by Mike Jacobs
January 26, 2024

The late Victor Bailey probably missed out on much of the acclaim he was due, first by having to succeed the legendary Jaco Pastorius in the Weather Report bass chair and then later being somewhat upstaged by another virtuosic bass-playing “Victor"--(Victor Wooten). But if Bailey was relegated to being the “other Victor," it wasn't for lack ...

Bill Frisell: Jimmy Carter Pts 1 & 2

by Mike Jacobs
January 16, 2024

Bill Frisell's career arc has been extraordinary. From edgy, effect-laden, avant-jazz poster guitarist to sublime jazz interpreter of folk and Americana (and lots in between), it's been quite a ride for those who have paid attention. “Jimmy Carter Pts 1 & 2" from This Land (Nonesuch, 1994) occupies a special period in Frisell's stylistic journey where ...

Brad Shepik: Vapor Oro

by Mike Jacobs
January 11, 2024

Gyan Riley: Mobettabutta Part 3

by Mike Jacobs
January 10, 2024

It might be a tad predictable that the guitar-playing scion of celebrated minimalist composer Terry Riley might be hard to pigeon-hole stylistically but this only adds to the mystique and adventure of Gyan Riley's music. A conservatory-trained classical guitarist, he nonetheless exhibits eclectic (and electric) tendencies that do well to encompass jazz, classical. avant-garde and fusion ...

George Brooks: McCoy

by Mike Jacobs
January 9, 2024

By the time Summit (Earth Brother, 2000) was released, Bay Area-based saxophonist George Brooks had already built a reputation with his brand of East-meets-West Indo-jazz and working alongside music luminaries such as Zakir Hussain. But with the inclusion of bassist Kai Eckhardt, guitarist Fareed Haque, drummer Steve Smith along with Hussain and sitarist Niladri Kumar, Summit ...