Brian Auger
One of the most generous aspects of interviewing British-born Hammond B-3 organist and electric pianist Brian Auger—the toast of Swinging London’s soul-jazz scene and a … Read More “Brian Auger”
A.D. Amorosi
Johnny Hammond: Gears (Jazz Dispensary)
Before the onslaught of 1970s disco-jazz and the flywheel Latin-laced jazz dance music of the Salsoul Orchestra and Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band, the production … Read More “Johnny Hammond: Gears (Jazz Dispensary)”
Chops: What Bassists Listen for in Drummers
As a JazzTimes writer, I can talk about the powers of a dynamic drummer until I’m blue in the face: the weight of each tom-tom’s … Read More “Chops: What Bassists Listen for in Drummers”
Philly’s Ars Nova Workshop Finds a New Home
South Philly’s Solar Myth has been many things to many people. Known until recently as Boot & Saddle, it was once the toast of post-Prohibition … Read More “Philly’s Ars Nova Workshop Finds a New Home”
Denardo Coleman: Like Father, Like Son
Before we enter the current world of drummer, producer, and curator Denardo Coleman, a funny story from the past. In 1996, the year after the … Read More “Denardo Coleman: Like Father, Like Son”
Charles Lloyd: Trio of Trios: Chapel, Ocean, Sacred Thread (Blue Note)
Forever known as a cross-pollinator, moving with a free spirit from one hive (psychedelia, world music) to another (Bartók, Ornette Coleman), saxophone/flutist Charles Lloyd seems … Read More “Charles Lloyd: Trio of Trios: Chapel, Ocean, Sacred Thread (Blue Note)”
Memories of a Sinatra Watershed
The Frank Sinatra of 1969 was a different man from the bobby-sox days of “The Voice,” the 1950s Capitol Records peak, and even the Rat … Read More “Memories of a Sinatra Watershed”
Sun Ra Arkestra: Living Sky (Omni Sound)
With 2020’s Swirling, the Sun Ra Arkestra—forever dedicated to the boundary-expanding Saturn-al jazz and future-life theories of the late Sun Ra—hung up a back-in-business sign for … Read More “Sun Ra Arkestra: Living Sky (Omni Sound)”
Sacha Jenkins: Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (Apple/Imagine)
In 1989, jazz writer-turned-director Gary Giddins crafted Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong, with Melvin Van Peebles as the craggy musical voice of America’s first … Read More “Sacha Jenkins: Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (Apple/Imagine)”
Ronnie Foster Releases First Album as a Leader in 35 Years
If Ronnie Foster had never recorded anything but the spaced-out, frank and funky soul of 1972’s Two Headed Freap (recently re-released) and 1973’s Sweet Revival, … Read More “Ronnie Foster Releases First Album as a Leader in 35 Years”
Natalie Cressman Turns Down the Volume
If we’re going out on a limb and calling the music that trombonist, vocalist, and songwriter Natalie Cressman makes—as soloist, as side-and-session person, in a duet … Read More “Natalie Cressman Turns Down the Volume”
Miles Davis: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7: That’s What Happened 1982-1985 (Columbia/Legacy)
After Miles Davis’ return to recording on 1981’s The Man with the Horn, the trumpeter/composer continued to make fresh albums for Columbia: Star People (1983), Decoy (1984), and You’re … Read More “Miles Davis: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7: That’s What Happened 1982-1985 (Columbia/Legacy)”
Overdue Ovation: Alex Acuña
Self-determinedly genre-jumbling drummer/percussionist Alex Acuña has released his first album as a leader in a decade, Gifts (Le Coq), and the 77-year-old Los Angelino states that its … Read More “Overdue Ovation: Alex Acuña”
Nabil Ayers: My Life in the Sunshine: Searching for My Father and Discovering My Family (Viking)
Nabil Ayers didn’t need to write a memoir about what rarely existed between him and his biological father, composer/vibraphonist Roy Ayers, to connect with making … Read More “Nabil Ayers: My Life in the Sunshine: Searching for My Father and Discovering My Family (Viking)”
Katalyst/Ali Shaheed Muhammad/Adrian Younge: JID013 (Jazz is Dead)
Compared to the other outré jazz elders on Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s Jazz Is Dead label, Katalyst is a still a relatively fresh … Read More “Katalyst/Ali Shaheed Muhammad/Adrian Younge: JID013 (Jazz is Dead)”
Ella Fitzgerald Gets Some Air, Thanks to Gregg Field
On the enchanted evening of August 16, 1958, Ella Fitzgerald took to the stage of the legendary Hollywood Bowl. There, with a lustrous orchestra conducted … Read More “Ella Fitzgerald Gets Some Air, Thanks to Gregg Field”
Le Coq Records Turns Heads and Wins Veteran Collaborators
Ask founder/producer Piero Pata and VP/engineer Josh Connolly about the guiding concept behind Le Coq Records—their Las Vegas-based music label, established in January 2021—and the … Read More “Le Coq Records Turns Heads and Wins Veteran Collaborators”
Sonic Liberation Front: Justice: The Vocal Works of Oliver Lake (High Two)
Sonic Liberation Front teaming with saxophonist/composer Oliver Lake is kind of like David Bowie phoning Donny McCaslin and his fellow jazz downtowners to record Blackstar: … Read More “Sonic Liberation Front: Justice: The Vocal Works of Oliver Lake (High Two)”
Brother Jack McDuff: Moon Rappin’ (Blue Note)
The spiritual, organ-grinding predecessor to orchestrator/keyboardist Dexter Wansel’s spaced-out Life on Mars, this 1969 Blue Note release (and 2022 re-release) finds Brother Jack McDuff going … Read More “Brother Jack McDuff: Moon Rappin’ (Blue Note)”
Philip Watson: Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreamer: The Guitarist Who Changed the Sound of American Music (Faber)
Funny an Irish-based journalist who’s written about James Joyce’s Ulysses, wounded British soldiers, and Nick Cave is the man making the auspicious title claim of … Read More “Philip Watson: Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreamer: The Guitarist Who Changed the Sound of American Music (Faber)”
Eli Degibri Honors His Parents on New Album, Henri and Rachel
Everything about Israeli-born tenor and soprano saxophonist Eli Degibri is a celebration. You can hear that in his sideman gigs with Herbie Hancock and Al … Read More “Eli Degibri Honors His Parents on New Album, Henri and Rachel“
Astor Piazzolla: The American Clavé Recordings (Nonesuch)
If you’re old enough to remember the 1986 release of Argentine bandoneonist/composer Astor Piazzolla’s noirish Tango: Zero Hour, you’ll recall that its entry onto the world … Read More “Astor Piazzolla: The American Clavé Recordings (Nonesuch)”
Mark Turner: A Modern Saxophone Master
When you hear tenor saxophonist Mark Turner’s name in conversation, it seems to be frequently linked to the notions of mindfulness, precision, and fastidiousness. “That … Read More “Mark Turner: A Modern Saxophone Master”
Overdue Ovation: Azar Lawrence Speaks of Working for Miles, McCoy, Elvin—and God
There’s something perfect about speaking with saxophonist/composer Azar Lawrence right after he’s clicked off from virtual Sunday church services. Still dwelling in the Los Angeles … Read More “Overdue Ovation: Azar Lawrence Speaks of Working for Miles, McCoy, Elvin—and God”
Albert Ayler: Revelations: The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings (Elemental)
The last years of beyond-free saxophonist and composer Albert Ayler were sonically restless and more troubled than previous seasons. While his music jittered through a … Read More “Albert Ayler: Revelations: The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings (Elemental)”
The Sound of Contemporary Records
The legend of Lester Koenig—record collector, bon vivant, screenwriter, film producer, friend to Hollywood’s famous—looms larger than a hundred books, let alone a few words … Read More “The Sound of Contemporary Records”
Joel Ross: The Parable of the Poet (Blue Note)
While it’s no surprise that Chicago-to-Brooklyn transplant Joel Ross is a smooth-operating protégé of fellow vibraphonist Stefon Harris, it is shocking how far Ross has … Read More “Joel Ross: The Parable of the Poet (Blue Note)”
Ethan Iverson Returns to Basics and Looks Toward the Future on Blue Note Debut
Wisconsin-born and proud: For all of the avant-everything complexity Ethan Iverson has applied to his solo projects or the sounds he created in his role … Read More “Ethan Iverson Returns to Basics and Looks Toward the Future on Blue Note Debut”
Javon Jackson: The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni (Solid Jackson)
Javon Jackson has a lengthy history as a leathery-toned and warm tenor-sax man, yet it’s his role as an educator that steered him toward the … Read More “Javon Jackson: The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni (Solid Jackson)”
Brasuka Moves Beyond Sérgio Mendes
Paying tribute to Sérgio Mendes with a spirited sound that blends jazz improvisation, Uruguayan candombe, and breezy Airto/Flora-esque pop is never a bad thing. Just … Read More “Brasuka Moves Beyond Sérgio Mendes”