In theory, San Jose Suite is pointedly geographical. Armed with a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation (via Chamber Music America), trumpeter-composer Etienne Charles sought … Read More “Etienne Charles: San Jose Suite”
The intimate folkloric sophistication that was the métier of drummer-composer Paul Motian is a tricky beast, too easily prone to becoming precious or banal in … Read More “Whirlpool: Dancing on the Inside”
How in the world is this Jane Ira Bloom’s first trio record? Nearly 40 years and now 16 albums into her career, the soprano saxophonist … Read More “Jane Ira Bloom: Early Americans”
David “Fuze” Fiuczynski dedicates his latest opus, Flam! Blam! Pan-Asian MicroJam!, to Olivier Messiaen and the late hip-hop innovator J Dilla. The opening song is … Read More “David Fiuczynski: Flam! Blam! Pan-Asian MicroJam!”
Although he’s barely into his 60s, guitarist Ed Cherry has long been an old soul, keenly calibrated to the virtues of restraint. He played with … Read More “Ed Cherry: Soul Tree”
With four weighty, gnarly horn stylists (and her husband Tom Rainey on drums), Ingrid Laubrock gives new meaning to the phrase “heavy breathing” on Ubatuba. … Read More “Ingrid Laubrock: Ubatuba”
These 1960s European sessions capture organist Larry Young in a fruitful mid-period of his tragically short career: beyond the overt Jimmy Smith influences of his … Read More “Larry Young: In Paris: The ORTF Recordings”
ou need a magnifying glass to get through the copious liner notes of Azul Infinito, but it’s an illuminating slog. First, the composer-trombonist Ryan Keberle … Read More “Ryan Keberle & Catharsis: Azul Infinito”
Stephen Bruner, a.k.a. Thundercat, is a genuine artist. We know this because at a pivotal, spotlight moment in his career-right on the heels of his … Read More “Thundercat: The Beyond/Where the Giants Roam”
Melissa Aldana is going to be an influential tenor saxophonist in jazz for decades to come. At 24 she won the 2013 Thelonious Monk International … Read More “Melissa Aldana: Back Home”
Robin Eubanks has cut an impressively wide swath as a trombonist and composer, and his largest impact in both realms has been as a galvanizing … Read More “Robin Eubanks Mass Line Big Band: More Than Meets the Ear”
Ticonderoga has an irresistible backstory. Jamie Saft and Joe Morris discovered a mutual love for John Coltrane’s much-maligned 1966 album Live at the Village Vanguard … Read More “Joe McPhee/Jamie Saft/Joe Morris/Charles Downs: Ticonderoga”
Zephyr successfully achieves its modest ambition. Pride, released in 2014, was a two-hour extravaganza that abetted guitarist Michael Musillami’s trio with rugged, notable guests (Kris … Read More “Michael Musillami: Zephyr”
Erik Friedlander first honored Oscar Pettiford in 2008 with Broken Arm Trio, a collection of originals inspired by Pettiford’s rediscovery of the cello after his … Read More “Erik Friedlander: Oscalypso”
Homes is the most contemplative and tender of Gilad Hekselman’s five records to date, and the one that comes closest to the hushed, elegant dynamics … Read More “Gilad Hekselman: Homes”
It makes sense that composer-arranger Miho Hazama would cite Maria Schneider and her Manhattan School of Music teacher Jim McNeely as the two most influential … Read More “Miho Hazama: Time River”
In the wake of musician-composer Bob Belden’s sudden passing by heart attack at 58 last May, we are at least left with the satisfaction that … Read More “Animation: Machine Language”
Both Adam Rogers and David Binney are known for composing and playing ambitious originals that spring from postbop into a wealth of other genres and … Read More “Adam Rogers/David Binney: R&B”
The Epic Botanical Beat Suite aims to blow your mind. Its songs are named after the resin of cannabis (“Charas”), and hallucinogens that you eat … Read More “Hu Vibrational: The Epic Botanical Beat Suite”
Steve Smith and Vital Information are renowned, successful commodities. Smith has been named one of the top 25 drummers of all time by Modern Drummer … Read More “Steve Smith & Vital Information NYC Edition: Viewpoint”
Wayne Wallace is a fine trombonist but a better bandleader, and an exceptional conceptualist. His ingenious knack for re-contextualizing bop standards using Latin idioms, or … Read More “Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet: Intercambio”
If you love a top-notch tenor saxophonist playing at full throttle, Open Road will make you giddy. A stalwart veteran in his mid-50s, Walt Weiskopf … Read More “Walt Weiskopf: Open Road”
For decades, guitarist Joshua Breakstone has been a reliable purveyor of light, elegant bebop. On his last two albums for the Capri label, including this … Read More “Joshua Breakstone: 2nd Avenue: The Return of the Cello-Quartet”
The Pirouet label out of Germany has established itself as a haven for pianists of staunch scholarship possessing an exquisite touch. Few fit that description … Read More “Kenny Werner: The Melody”
There is a resonance of Miles Davis on “Molten Sunset,” the lead song from High Risk by trumpeter Dave Douglas. The tone is brawny but … Read More “Dave Douglas: High Risk”
The octet Infrasound is named for a low-frequency tone that is felt as much as heard. A phalanx of bass clarinetists-Oscar Noriega, Ben Goldberg, Andrew … Read More “Kris Davis Underground: Save Your Breath”
Saxophonist/flutist Henry Threadgill has deployed Zooid as his ensemble vehicle for 14 years now, longer than his marvelous, indelible tenures with Air and Very Very … Read More “Henry Threadgill Zooid: In for a Penny, In for a Pound”
Here’s a radical notion: The music of Steve Coleman is frequently fun to hear. As Coleman gathers prestigious grants like so many pelts-a Guggenheim Fellowship, … Read More “Steve Coleman: Synovial Joints”
Cynics can once again have a field day with Lisa Hilton, a composer-pianist who does not regard “easy listening” as dirty words. Hilton writes originals … Read More “Lisa Hilton: Horizons”
Pianist David Ake’s Bridges was one of the best jazz outings of 2013, featuring a gentle kaleidoscope of taut yet off-kilter compositions for a sextet … Read More “David Ake: Lake Effect”
