Piet Verbist: Zygomatik
Veteran Belgian bassist-composer Piet Verbist expertly blends bop, rock and funk feels on his debut as a leader. With huge upright tone, he lays down … Read More “Piet Verbist: Zygomatik”
Bill Milkowski
Scott Tixier: Brooklyn Bazaar
Scott Tixier, a 26-year-old French-born violinist who studied with Jean-Luc Ponty in Paris and Mark Feldman in his current base of Brooklyn, hits the ball … Read More “Scott Tixier: Brooklyn Bazaar”
Toots Thielemans: Yesterday & Today
This two-CD career retrospective includes rare and, in some cases, previously unheard tracks spanning the 60-plus-year career of the Belgian jazz harmonica virtuoso Jean-Baptiste “Toots” … Read More “Toots Thielemans: Yesterday & Today”
Will Bernard Trio: Outdoor Living
Genre-hopping guitarist Will Bernard throws down with Hammond B3 maven Wil Blades and drummer Simon Lott on this earthy organ trio date. They travel from … Read More “Will Bernard Trio: Outdoor Living”
Doug Webb: Swing Shift
This is the third release to come out of one very fruitful day of recording back in April 2009 with Los Angeles-based tenorman Doug Webb, … Read More “Doug Webb: Swing Shift”
Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play : Live at Arthur Zankel Music Center
While bass-trombonist-pianist-composer Chris Brubeck has spent a lot of time over the past decade working in orchestral settings (his “Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra” … Read More “Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play : Live at Arthur Zankel Music Center”
Patrick Cornelius: Maybe Steps
On this follow-up to 2010’s Fierce, San Antonio native and current New York resident Patrick Cornelius blows his alto with authority while receiving crackling support … Read More “Patrick Cornelius: Maybe Steps”
Dan Cray: Meridies
A Chicago native and newcomer to New York City, pianist Dan Cray joins with bassist Clark Sommers, drummer Mark Ferber and tenor saxophonist Noah Preminger … Read More “Dan Cray: Meridies”
Gene Ess: A Thousand Summers
In a decided departure from his last outing, 2008’s Modes of Limited Transcendence, which exclusively featured his original postbop/fusion compositions, guitarist Gene Ess presents a … Read More “Gene Ess: A Thousand Summers”
Kalabalik, Nels Cline/Julian Lage, Le Poisson Rouge, May 25, 2012
Guitarists highlight Downtown Music Gallery’s 21st anniversary bash
Hans Schuman and Metta Quintet: Jazz Messengers
JazzReach helps to spread the jazz word
Marshall Gilkes: Sound Stories
A formidable improviser, trombonist Marshall Gilkes flexes his composer-arranger muscle on this refined quintet date with saxophonist Donny McCaslin, pianist Adam Birnbaum, bassist Yasushi Nakamura … Read More “Marshall Gilkes: Sound Stories”
Fredrik Kronkvist: New York Elements
Swedish alto saxophonist Fredrik Kronkvist grew up in a household immersed in the sounds of bebop: His father, Rolf, was a jazz musician who played … Read More “Fredrik Kronkvist: New York Elements”
Davy Mooney: Perrier Street
Like John Pizzarelli, with whom he recorded 2009’s Last Train Home, Davy Mooney is a gifted seven-string guitarist who also sings well. Turns out he’s … Read More “Davy Mooney: Perrier Street”
Pete Robbins Transatlantic Quartet: Live in Basel
Alto saxophonist-composer Pete Robbins forged a tight partnership while touring Europe with Irish electric bassist Simon Jermyn, Canadian drummer Kevin Brow and Danish guitarist Mikkel … Read More “Pete Robbins Transatlantic Quartet: Live in Basel”
Gil Evans Centennial Celebration, Highline Ballroom, NYC, May 21, 2012
Family, friends and former bandmates honor late jazz great on centennial
Piero Odorici: WIth the Cedar Walton Trio
Veteran tenor saxophonist Piero Odorici, an in-demand player on the European jazz scene, makes an impressive showing on his Stateside debut. Accompanied by Cedar Walton … Read More “Piero Odorici: WIth the Cedar Walton Trio”
Jessica Lurie Ensemble: Megaphone Heart
A member of the Tiptons Sax Quartet, Seattle-born, Brooklyn-based saxophonist-composer Jessica Lurie assembled an adventurous ensemble of guitarist-banjoist Brandon Seabrook, pianist Erik Deutsch, bassist Todd … Read More “Jessica Lurie Ensemble: Megaphone Heart”
Jim Holman: Explosion!
Chicagoan Jim Holman flaunts prodigious chops and a seasoned approach to piano that belies his 23 years on his impressive debut as a leader. With … Read More “Jim Holman: Explosion!”
Undead Music Festival 2012
Tonic Reunion, MMW marathon highlight third annual alt-jazz bash in NYC
Michael Musillami Trio + 4: Mettle
For 10 years now, guitarist Michael Musillami has had the kind of hand-in-glove fit with drummer George Schuller and bassist Joe Fonda that is truly … Read More “Michael Musillami Trio + 4: Mettle”
Alex Foster’s Condition
A longtime stalwart of the Saturday Night Live house band and former member of Jack DeJohnette’s Directions and Jaco Pastorius’ Word of Mouth big band … Read More “Alex Foster’s Condition”
Ergo: If Not Inertia
This wildly experimental electro-acoustic ensemble, led by trombonist, composer and computer maven Brett Sroka and featuring guitarist Mary Halvorson, drummer Shawn Baltazor and keyboardist Sam … Read More “Ergo: If Not Inertia”
Romain Collin: The Calling
Sidestepping the head-solos-head formula that most jazz piano trios use to death, French-born Romain Collin and his crew of bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Kendrick … Read More “Romain Collin: The Calling”
Gabriel Guerrero: Feyas
A dazzling pyrotechnician and accomplished composer, Colombian pianist Gabriel Guerrero incorporates rhythms from his native country into the fabric of thoughtful originals like the percolating … Read More “Gabriel Guerrero: Feyas”
Marlene Rosenberg Quartet: Bassprint
A fixture on the Chicago scene, versatile bassist-composer-bandleader Marlene Rosenberg is joined on this smart, eminently swinging set by three Windy City transplants: guitarist Scott … Read More “Marlene Rosenberg Quartet: Bassprint”
Chick Corea: The Continents
This ambitious two-CD set showcases the remarkably prolific Chick Corea in three seemingly disparate settings. Disc one is a globally inspired six-movement concerto for jazz … Read More “Chick Corea: The Continents”
Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio: The 11th Gate
British trombonist Dennis Rollins deftly blends electronics, virtuosity and a fondness for groove on this dynamic trio project. Joined by Hammond B3 organist Ross Stanley … Read More “Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio: The 11th Gate”
Nicolas Masson: Departures
Swiss-born tenor saxophonist Nicolas Masson is a thoughtful composer and an improviser with golden tone and an obvious command of his instrument. But his aesthetic … Read More “Nicolas Masson: Departures”
Tony Martucci: Life in Hand
With such empathetic players as pianist Marc Copland, trumpeter John D’earth and bassist Tom Baldwin onboard, the flexible D.C.-based drummer-bandleader Tony Martucci steers from inside … Read More “Tony Martucci: Life in Hand”