Tom Oren: Dorly’s Song (Concord Jazz)
The Israeli-born pianist Tom Oren didn’t have to look far for inspiration: His mother, Dorly Oren-Chazon, is herself a renowned pianist and composer who has … Read More “Tom Oren: Dorly’s Song (Concord Jazz)”
Jeff Tamarkin
Jeff Tamarkin is the former editor of Goldmine, CMJ, Relix, and Global Rhythm. As a writer he has contributed to the New York Daily News, JazzTimes, Boston Phoenix, Harp, Mojo, Newsday, Billboard, and many other publications. He is the author of the book Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane and has contributed to The Guinness Companion to Popular Music, All Music Guide, and several other encyclopedias. He has also served as a consultant to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, NARAS, National Geographic Online, and Music Club Records.
Jeff Tamarkin on social media
Noah Haidu Pays Homage to Kenny Kirkland
Noah Haidu remembers the first time that he really “got” fellow pianist Kenny Kirkland. Haidu, still in his teens at the time, was with his … Read More “Noah Haidu Pays Homage to Kenny Kirkland”
Peter Bernstein: What Comes Next (Smoke Sessions)
The phenomenon of music created during the time of the coronavirus, already covered in depth by this magazine and countless other outlets, won’t be fully … Read More “Peter Bernstein: What Comes Next (Smoke Sessions)”
Keith Jarrett: Budapest Concert (ECM)
Keith Jarrett—whose recent announcement that he suffered two debilitating strokes in 2018 casts severe doubt on the likelihood of his performing again—is already on record … Read More “Keith Jarrett: Budapest Concert (ECM)”
Barrett Martin: Scattered Diamonds (Sunyata)
When the percussionist/composer Barrett Martin offered his list of influential rhythmic tracks in a 2019 JazzTimes “Artist’s Choice” column, it ran the gamut from Benny … Read More “Barrett Martin: Scattered Diamonds (Sunyata)”
Ralph Peterson & Messenger Legacy: Onward & Upward (Onyx)
Ralph Peterson’s challenge on Onward & Upward was how to honor—as he’s done on several previous releases—his mentor Art Blakey, without simply mimicking the Jazz … Read More “Ralph Peterson & Messenger Legacy: Onward & Upward (Onyx)”
Tigran Hamasyan: The Call Within (Nonesuch)
For his fourth release for Nonesuch, the Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan has stated that he chose to let his inner soul dictate the shape of … Read More “Tigran Hamasyan: The Call Within (Nonesuch)”
Artemis: Artemis (Blue Note)
Blue Note Records has long had a predilection for herding its star players of the day into a studio and seeing what emerges. The resultant … Read More “Artemis: Artemis (Blue Note)”
Bobby Watson: Keepin’ It Real (Smoke Sessions)
Bobby Watson really wants listeners to know that Keepin’ It Real, which unveils a fresh lineup of his Horizon band (appropriately redubbed New Horizon), has … Read More “Bobby Watson: Keepin’ It Real (Smoke Sessions)”
Tineke Postma: Living in the Maternal World
Things changed profoundly for the Netherlands’ Tineke Postma following the 2014 release of her album Sonic Halo, a collaboration with fellow alto and soprano saxophonist/composer … Read More “Tineke Postma: Living in the Maternal World”
Andy Milne & Unison: The reMission (Sunnyside)
Aside from its unusual approach to capitalization, the title isn’t an attempt to be clever; this album is the first recording released by pianist Andy … Read More “Andy Milne & Unison: The reMission (Sunnyside)”
Lennie Tristano: The Duo Sessions (Dot Time)
What comes through above all else in these three extremely different sets of duets—first with saxophonist Lenny Popkin, then pianist Connie Crothers, and finally drummer … Read More “Lennie Tristano: The Duo Sessions (Dot Time)”
Hailey Niswanger: The Healing Has Begun
Sometime last year—just a week after completing Vol. 2: Into the Flow, her second album as the leader of the New York-based sextet MAE.SUN—alto and … Read More “Hailey Niswanger: The Healing Has Begun”
Jeremy Pelt: The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1 (HighNote)
Jeremy Pelt needed to get some years behind him before he could make an album like The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1. Like many young … Read More “Jeremy Pelt: The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1 (HighNote)”
Theo Hill: Reality Check (Posi-Tone)
For his third Posi-Tone album and fourth overall, Theo Hill moves beyond the piano-trio format with the addition of a vibraphonist, Joel Ross. It makes … Read More “Theo Hill: Reality Check (Posi-Tone)”
Michel Camilo: Teller of Tales
You don’t get an answer when you ask Michel Camilo a question, you get a story—like the one about how he gravitated toward the piano … Read More “Michel Camilo: Teller of Tales”
Stephane Wrembel: The Django Experiment V (Water Is Life)
Several years ago, in an interview with this reviewer, Stephane Wrembel said, “My music is for everyone. It’s beyond genre. It’s not for the rock … Read More “Stephane Wrembel: The Django Experiment V (Water Is Life)”
Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band (New West)
And why not? Although no one would ever have classified the Southern rockers, who flourished for nearly a half-century through numerous personnel changes, as a … Read More “Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band (New West)”
Various Artists: If You’re Going to the City: A Tribute to Mose Allison (Fat Possum)
Mose Allison has long found favor among pop and rock artists. John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers adapted his arrangement of “Parchman Farm” on their 1966 … Read More “Various Artists: If You’re Going to the City: A Tribute to Mose Allison (Fat Possum)”
Randy Napoleon: Common Tones (Detroit Music Factory)
Randy Napoleon’s reputation as a steadfast traditionalist with a predilection for well-defined, lyrical guitar lines has largely come via his work as a sideman over … Read More “Randy Napoleon: Common Tones (Detroit Music Factory)”
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Laszlo Gardony: La Marseillaise (Sunnyside)
The title of Laszlo Gardony’s second consecutive solo piano album and fourth overall for Sunnyside bears the same name as that of the French national … Read More “Laszlo Gardony: La Marseillaise (Sunnyside)”
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Inside the Recording of Billy Cobham’s Crosswinds: Time Lapse Photos
When Billy Cobham was scouting locations to record his new album, Crosswinds: Time Lapse Photos, it didn’t take him long to decide that Sweetwater Studios, … Read More “Inside the Recording of Billy Cobham’s Crosswinds: Time Lapse Photos“
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Billy Cobham: Blowin’ in the Crosswinds
“The complexity of playing simple” is what Billy Cobham calls that thing that happens when he sits down behind the drums. “How can I play … Read More “Billy Cobham: Blowin’ in the Crosswinds”
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Randy Ingram: The Means of Response (Carrier)
A boldfaced quote from the late Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa—“The role of the artist is to not look away”—adorns the inside cover of the … Read More “Randy Ingram: The Means of Response (Carrier)”
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Jon Irabagon on Mahjong and Mezzo-Soprano Sax
The Chinese game of mahjong may have been invented by Confucius more than 2,000 years ago or, possibly, sometime in the past few hundred years. … Read More “Jon Irabagon on Mahjong and Mezzo-Soprano Sax”
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Enrico Rava/Joe Lovano: Roma (ECM)
Although they’d played a handful of gigs together decades ago, Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava and American saxophonist Joe Lovano hadn’t undergone a proper co-leader tour … Read More “Enrico Rava/Joe Lovano: Roma (ECM)”
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Matthew Whitaker: Now Hear This (Resilience Music Alliance)
It’s always tempting to add a qualifier when listening to a prodigy: we say he is good “for his age.” True, Matthew Whitaker is only … Read More “Matthew Whitaker: Now Hear This (Resilience Music Alliance)”
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Jeremy Udden: Three In Paris (Sunnyside)
This trio set by saxophonist Jeremy Udden might seem, on paper, to have been thrown together with little forethought. In his liner notes, Udden states … Read More “Jeremy Udden: Three In Paris (Sunnyside)”
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Edmar Castaneda/Grégoire Maret: Harp vs. Harp (ACT)
The concept is simple and smart: Edmar Castaneda, master of the stringed llanera harp, and Grégoire Maret, equally adept on harmonica (a.k.a. mouth harp), meet … Read More “Edmar Castaneda/Grégoire Maret: Harp vs. Harp (ACT)”
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Avishai Cohen: Arvoles (Razdaz)
Arvoles—it means “trees” in the ancient Ladino language—is something of a reining in after the expansive 1970, Cohen’s previous release. That one, released in 2017, … Read More “Avishai Cohen: Arvoles (Razdaz)”
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