Brent Burton

Stephan Micus, a 57-year-old German vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, has recorded for ECM, his country’s most prominent jazz label, since the late ’70s. Bold as Light, … Read More “Stephan Micus: Bold as Light”

As if to remind listeners of their downtown past, Human Feel begins its first new album in over a decade with an onslaught of Lower … Read More “Human Feel : Galore”

One look at David Witham’s recording credits and you can tell the guy’s from L.A. The pianist and keyboard player has recorded with everyone from … Read More “David Witham: Spinning the Circle”

In jazz, it seems, it pays to be in your face or achingly sweet. Veteran guitarist John Abercrombie is neither. Though more nimble than most, … Read More “John Abercrombie Quartet: The Third Quartet”

In the press materials for Streaming, his new album with pianist Muhal Richard Abrams and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, trombonist and laptopper George Lewis says the … Read More “Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis, Roscoe Mitchell : Streaming”

For most who have heard of him, Dave Burrell is inextricably linked to a time when chaos was king. The 66-year-old pianist plays on some … Read More “Dave Burrell : Momentum”

Despite being 17 albums into a career as leader, bassist Mario Pavone is perhaps best known for his stint with the Thomas Chapin trio, a … Read More “Mario Pavone Sextet: Deez to Blues”

You probably know Ray Russell’s playing even if you’ve never heard the guy’s name. The British guitarist, a pro since 1963, has added licks to … Read More “Ray Russell: Goodbye Svengali”

Vossabrygg, the latest from Norwegian guitarist Terje Rypdal, recorded live at the Vossa Jazz festival, is something of a tribute to one of jazz-rock’s most … Read More “Terje Rypdal: Vossabrygg”

Pavement is not the most obvious choice for an instrumental-jazz tribute. The ’90s-era indie rock outfit is known for many things–its lit-grad lyrics, its slack … Read More “James Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Ali Jackson, Reginald Veal: Gold Sounds”

Like Dave Holland and Dave Douglas, two alt-jazz heavies who recently started their own labels, New York-based trumpeter Cuong Vu opts for the D.I.Y. route … Read More “Cuong Vu: It’s Mostly Residual”

The four Germans in self-described “horror jazz” outfit Bohren & Der Club of Gore aren’t so much jazz musicians influenced by rock as they are … Read More “Bohren & Der Club of Gore: Geisterfaust”