Bill Milkowski
Bill’s Contributions
December 2009 • Undertones
Ranu
Aaron Choulai Trio
On his third recording, pianist Aaron Choulai—a legally blind, albino, New Guinea-born twentysomething of startlingly eclectic descent—taps into a reservoir of deep feeling on an ultra-sensitive rendering of “You Go to My Head” and his own introspective...
December 2009 • Undertones
A New Day
Mimi Jones Trio
Bassist Miriam Sullivan has reinvented herself as Mimi Jones, her singer-songwriter alter ego cast in something of a Cassandra Wilson-meets-Patrice Rushen vein, with a little bit of Esperanza Spalding on the side. For this rather startling transformation...
December 2009 • Undertones
Round Trip
Alex Terrier New York Quartet
On the burning title track, Parisian-born saxophonist Alex Terrier comes out of the gate wailing on alto, with pianist Roy Assaf, bassist Francois Moutin and drummer Steve Davis providing interactive sparks along the way. They settle into more reflective...
November 2009 • Undertones
Old Idea
Josh Berman
Chicago cornetist Josh Berman, a mainstay on the Windy City’s improvised music scene for the past 10 years, has put together a provocative, intelligent debut as a leader. His Old Idea , seemingly, is to capture some of balance of structure and freedom heard...
November 2009 • Undertones
Folklore
Etienne Charles
Trinidad native and Juilliard-trained trumpeter Etienne Charles artfully and organically blends Afro-Caribbean folkloric music and jazz improvisation on his second recording as a leader. With a lineup of international all-stars including Guadeloupean tenor...
November 2009 • Undertones
Entry
Linda Oh Trio
An accomplished bassist-composer and fearless improviser on the New York scene, newcomer Linda Oh has two open-minded and highly skilled musical partners on her leader debut: adventurous trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and drummer Obed Calvaire, a marvel on...
10/06/09 • Concerts
Ornette Coleman Quartet at Lincoln Center
JALC’s season opens with an avant-garde beacon
October 2009 • Undertones
Live at Smoke
David Berkman Quartet
This excellent disc documents David Berkman’s quartet with saxophonist Jimmy Greene, bassist Ed Howard and drummer Ted Poor at the intimate Upper West Side haven for New York’s straightahead set. While the reliably swinging pianist and accomplished composer...
October 2009 • Undertones
Triptych
Justin Vasquez
The accomplished young composer and alto sax burner Justin Vasquez has assembled a dream crew—guitarist Adam Rogers, pianist Aaron Parks, drummer Clarence Penn, bassist Orlando le Fleming—for his remarkably mature debut. They all add their considerable talents...
October 2009 • Overdue Ovation
Jack Wilkins: Rigatoni & Ringing Harmonics
Tuesday is live jazz night at Bella Luna, an exceptional Italian restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. For the past couple of years, guitarist Jack Wilkins has held court at this intimate hang, swinging nonchalantly in one corner of the room as unsuspecting...
August/September 2009 • Features
Mark Turner: Road to Recovery
After a potentially career-ending accident, saxophonist Mark Turner returns with Fly
07/27/09 • Concerts
Montreal International Jazz Festival
Stevie Wonder, Lee Konitz, Miles From India and more at this acclaimed Quebec fest
05/04/09 • Concerts
Zakir Hussain’s ‘Perspectives’ at Carnegie Hall
Charles Lloyd, Bela Fleck and others dazzle in a 4-night series
May 2009 • Features
John Zorn: The Working Man
A rare, exclusive interview with a prolific innovator
May 2009 • Albums
Live at Belleville
Arild Andersen
This new trio, led by the veteran Norwegian bassist-composer and featuring Italian drummer Paolo Vinaccia and Scottish tenor saxophonist Tommy Smith, is captured in freewheeling form at Oslo’s Belleville Club. A member of Jan Garbarek’s innovative group...
May 2009 • Albums
The Winterfold Collection, 1978-1986
Bill Bruford
Classic ‘70s/‘80s material from a prog drum master
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ReportAbout Bill Milkowski
The author of a renowned biography of Jaco Pastorius and other books, Bill has been a regular JT contributor since 1991. He has done many cover stories and profiles for the magazine. In addition, he currently writes the UnderTones column in every issue, spotlighting up and coming artists and recordings.