Melissa Aldana: Visions (Motéma)
Chilean tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana invokes the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo as the inspiration for Visions, which was originally commissioned as a suite, with its … Read More “Melissa Aldana: Visions (Motéma)”
Britt Robson
Quinsin Nachoff’s Flux: Path of Totality (Whirlwind)
In physics, flux is the movement and flow of radiant energy across a given area. In the mind of saxophonist Quinsin Nachoff, it’s a band … Read More “Quinsin Nachoff’s Flux: Path of Totality (Whirlwind)”
Johnathan Blake: Trion (Giant Step Arts)
Trion is frequently torrential, and aggressively virtuosic. A significant chunk of this magnanimous offering—nearly two hours of music, recorded live at the Jazz Gallery in … Read More “Johnathan Blake: Trion (Giant Step Arts)”
Alex Sipiagin: NoFo Skies (Blue Room)
Through 11 records as a leader on the Criss Cross label between 2001 and 2017, the Russian trumpeter Alex Sipiagin steadily tweaked his no-compromise template … Read More “Alex Sipiagin: NoFo Skies (Blue Room)”
Marc Copland: Gary (Illusion)
Pianist Marc Copland treats the compositions of bassist Gary Peacock with a respectful intimacy on this stark solo album. The two artists, who first met … Read More “Marc Copland: Gary (Illusion)”
Miho Hazama: Dancer in Nowhere (Sunnyside)
It isn’t a coincidence that the three albums Miho Hazama has recorded with her 13-piece “m_unit,” most recently Dancer in Nowhere, convey a sense of … Read More “Miho Hazama: Dancer in Nowhere (Sunnyside)”
Satoko Fujii: Full Calendar
When Satoko Fujii was four, she was so shy that she begged to quit kindergarten. In response, her parents sent her to piano lessons. It … Read More “Satoko Fujii: Full Calendar”
Atlantis Quartet: Hello Human (Shifting Paradigm)
It’s not a stretch to declare Atlantis Quartet the best small jazz ensemble based in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. The four members have been together since … Read More “Atlantis Quartet: Hello Human (Shifting Paradigm)”
David Virelles: Igbó Alákọrin (The Singer’s Grove) Vol. I & II (Pi)
Igbó Alákọrin feels at once like the most conservative and most daring album of David Virelles’ career. The pianist’s Afro-Cuban lineage has been an important influence … Read More “David Virelles: Igbó Alákọrin (The Singer’s Grove) Vol. I & II (Pi)”
Andrew Cyrille: Lebroba (ECM)
It is profoundly satisfying to hear drummer Andrew Cyrille—who helped shepherd the tornado of Cecil Taylor through Unit Structures, among many others, more than 50 … Read More “Andrew Cyrille: Lebroba (ECM)”
Frank Morgan/George Cables: Montreal Memories (HighNote)
The late altoist Frank Morgan performed together frequently with pianist George Cables; evidence of that includes studio recordings of duets in 1986 (Double Image) and … Read More “Frank Morgan/George Cables: Montreal Memories (HighNote)”
Michael Dease: Bonafide (Posi-Tone)
Trombonist/composer Michael Dease is a porkpie-hat kind of guy. On his new album, Bonafide, he strives to make fragrant both the swing and bop roots … Read More “Michael Dease: Bonafide (Posi-Tone)”
Houston Person & Ron Carter: Remember Love (HighNote)
The phrase “age before beauty” does not apply to the duet partnership of tenor saxophonist Houston Person and acoustic bassist Ron Carter. Sure, Remember Love … Read More “Houston Person & Ron Carter: Remember Love (HighNote)”
Alice Coltrane: Spiritual Eternal: The Complete Warner Bros. Studio Recordings (Real Gone)
Alice Coltrane departed from her corporeal form in 2007, 40 years after the passing of her more famous husband and musical partner, John Coltrane. And … Read More “Alice Coltrane: Spiritual Eternal: The Complete Warner Bros. Studio Recordings (Real Gone)”
Now vs. Now: The Buffering Cocoon (Jazzland)
Keyboardist Jason Lindner first gained notice leading a big band at the New York nightclub Smalls. He has a solid résumé backing singers, playing Latin … Read More “Now vs. Now: The Buffering Cocoon (Jazzland)”
Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet: Yo Soy La Tradición (Miel)
The evolution of Miguel Zenón has been unpredictable and intriguing. Along with being the lone remaining charter member in the SFJazz Collective octet and the … Read More “Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet: Yo Soy La Tradición (Miel)”
Ben Wendel: The Seasons (Motéma)
In 1876, Tchaikovsky wrote a piano piece for each month of the year and called the collection The Seasons. In homage, saxophonist/composer Ben Wendel unfurled … Read More “Ben Wendel: The Seasons (Motéma)”
Ted Nash Quintet: Live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (Plastic Sax)
Ted Nash is justly renowned for his sweeping, set-piece orchestrations. He came out of L.A., the son and nephew of musicians who played in big … Read More “Ted Nash Quintet: Live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (Plastic Sax)”
Black Art Jazz Collective: Armor of Pride (HighNote)
What’s in a name? The Black Art Jazz Collective welcomes the question. The bristling hard-bop swagger of this all-black sextet of bandleaders and first-call sidemen … Read More “Black Art Jazz Collective: Armor of Pride (HighNote)”
Harold López-Nussa: Un Día Cualquiera (Mack Avenue)
Pianist Harold López-Nussa continues to hone his unique version of folk-jazz, intimately drawn from the conservatories and barrios of his native Cuba, where he still … Read More “Harold López-Nussa: Un Día Cualquiera (Mack Avenue)”
Sonar with David Torn: Vortex (RareNoise)
Sometimes opposites really do attract. Sonar is an eight-year-old Swiss “post-minimalist” quartet that combines austere, oddly interlocking rhythms with a distinctive tritone bass and guitar … Read More “Sonar with David Torn: Vortex (RareNoise)”
Lauren Sevian: Bliss (Posi-Tone)
The appeal of Bliss is simple: Lauren Sevian plays the deep, full-bodied baritone sax with the spry agility of an alto saxophonist. And while there … Read More “Lauren Sevian: Bliss (Posi-Tone)”
Martin Wind: Light Blue (Laika)
Bassist Martin Wind’s 11th album as a leader is more than the sum of its disparate parts, not because of any clever concepts, but because … Read More “Martin Wind: Light Blue (Laika)”
Benjamin Boone/Philip Levine: The Poetry of Jazz (Origin)
It has been a banner time for high-profile jazz-poetry collaborations. Last year saw the release of Matt Wilson’s long-planned tribute to Carl Sandburg, Nicole Mitchell’s … Read More “Benjamin Boone/Philip Levine: The Poetry of Jazz (Origin)”
Bobby Previte: Rhapsody (RareNoise)
You can always count on Bobby Previte to give you something innovative, something that sews new seams between musical genres. Rhapsody was commissioned by the … Read More “Bobby Previte: Rhapsody (RareNoise)”
Azar Lawrence: Elementals (HighNote)
Azar Lawrence is rightfully regarded as a John Coltrane disciple. After all, he’s a versatile postbop traditionalist who can play with a rugged or rich … Read More “Azar Lawrence: Elementals (HighNote)”
Tim Armacost: Time Being (Whirlwind)
Saxophonist Tim Armacost is a classic musician’s musician—a player who is unjustly obscure relative to the quality of his work and the caliber of his … Read More “Tim Armacost: Time Being (Whirlwind)”
Philipp Gerschlauer/David Fiuczynski: Mikrojazz! Neue Expressionistische Musik (RareNoise)
Guitarist Dave “Fuze” Fiuczynski has been knocking down the walls between jazz and microtonal music for over a decade now. But on Mikrojazz, the former … Read More “Philipp Gerschlauer/David Fiuczynski: Mikrojazz! Neue Expressionistische Musik (RareNoise)”
Behn Gillece: Walk of Fire (Posi-Tone)
Vibraphonist Behn Gillece thrives on the camaraderie of modern hard-bop. He came to prominence co-leading various ensembles with tenor saxophonist Ken Fowler, frequently changing rhythm … Read More “Behn Gillece: Walk of Fire (Posi-Tone)”
Jane Ira Bloom: Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson (Outline)
At the risk of courting gender stereotypes, there is a congruence between the way a ballerina moves and the music Jane Ira Bloom derives from … Read More “Jane Ira Bloom: Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson (Outline)”