Bill Milkowski

Bill’s Contributions

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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10/06/09  •  Concerts

Ornette Coleman Quartet at Lincoln Center

JALC’s season opens with an avant-garde beacon

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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...

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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...

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August/September 2009  •  Features

Mark Turner: Road to Recovery

After a potentially career-ending accident, saxophonist Mark Turner returns with Fly

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07/27/09  •  Concerts

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Stevie Wonder, Lee Konitz, Miles From India and more at this acclaimed Quebec fest

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05/04/09  •  Concerts

Zakir Hussain’s ‘Perspectives’ at Carnegie Hall

Charles Lloyd, Bela Fleck and others dazzle in a 4-night series

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May 2009  •  Features

John Zorn: The Working Man

A rare, exclusive interview with a prolific innovator

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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...

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May 2009  •  Albums

The Winterfold Collection, 1978-1986
Bill Bruford

Classic ‘70s/‘80s material from a prog drum master

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About Bill Milkowski

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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.