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Al Foster: Monk’s Bossa
by Carl Medsker
On May 28, 2025, Aloysius Tyrone Foster passed away at the age of 82. He brought strong, imaginative, percussive grooves and swing to bebop, post-bop, modal, funk and fusion for over 60 years--even a little calypso and bossa. A very partial list of the musicians Al Foster performed with includes Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, ...
Linda May Han Oh: The Imperative
by Carl Medsker
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, ...
Sasha Berliner: Khan Younis
by Carl Medsker
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), ...
Usein Bekirov: Qizilciqlar
by Ian Patterson
Head of the jazz department at Lviv National Academy of Music (LNMA), Usein Bekirov is a Ukrainian jazz-fusion/ethno-jazz keyboardist who draws on his Crimean Tatar musical roots as well as influences from Azerbaijan and the Balkans. As titles go, “Qizilciqlar" might not roll off the tongue, but the music does the talking. Lilting folkloric melody and ...
Thelonious Monk: Monk's Mood
by Geno Thackara
Thelonious Himself (Riverside, 1957) was a perfectly suitable title for a solo album showcasing the quirky essence of Thelonious Monk. It may forever be a mystery as to why he and/or producer Orrin Keepnews saw fit to add other players for the very last track, but whether it was out of place or not, we can ...
Finn Wiest Quintet: Aurora
by Carl Medsker
"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 ...
Billy Bang: Peaceful Dreams
by Carl Medsker
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 ...
