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.
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There’s often a note of humor in the titles and artwork of arranger/saxophonist/composer Ed Palermo’s recordings (The Great Un-American Songbook featured several British Invasion-era tunes), … Read More “Ed Palermo Big Band: A Lousy Day in Harlem (Sky Cat)”
There’s purity in the clarity of a vibraphone and double bass, sans other instruments, working things out, a pair of distinctive, radically different melodic and … Read More “Michael Davidson & Dan Fortin: Clock Radio (Elastic)”
It’s useful, but not imperative, to read Scott Yanow’s liner notes in order to understand the concept behind The Seven Rays. They explain the titling … Read More “Jerry Bergonzi: The Seven Rays (Savant)”
With the momentum she’s built in the past several years, Sheléa Frazier (who goes by her first name professionally) could have taken the easy way … Read More “Sheléa: Pretty World: A Tribute to Alan and Marilyn Bergman (Breath of Life)”
Saxophonist Logan Strosahl has been nothing if not prolific since releasing his debut, Up Go We, on Sunnyside in 2015. That was a septet recording, … Read More “Logan Strosahl Spec Ops: Sure (Sunnyside)”
Their unsullied positivity and demonstrable zeal are inherent in the name of their band, Becoming Quintet. “We’re all young, we’re all trying to become something. … Read More “Becoming Quintet: Five One-Track Minds”
“This concert and music was inspired by, and is dedicated to, Jimmy Giuffre,” says a notation in the liner notes for Free Fall, featuring the … Read More “Lucian Ban & Alex Simu: Free Fall (Sunnyside)”
If you’re a vinylholic or CD-o-phile, you know the drill by now: This Saturday, April 13, more than a thousand independently owned record stores in … Read More “13 for April 13: JazzTimes Lists Its Picks for Record Store Day”
The way that the CD cover spells out “Randy Brecker Rocks” in bold white capital letters on a black background suggests that the renowned trumpeter … Read More “Randy Brecker & NDR Bigband—The Hamburg Radio Jazz Orchestra: Rocks (Piloo)”
Waves of Calm could not be more different from Jim Snidero’s previous two releases, and that’s deliberate. In 2016, he delivered MD66, a tribute to … Read More “Jim Snidero: Waves of Calm (Savant)”
Bucolic Orcas Island, part of the San Juan Islands chain off the northwest coast of Washington state, is hardly a jazz mecca. But for the … Read More “Remembering Willie Thomas (1931-2019)”
Had he accomplished just one of the following—creating and promoting the game-changing Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series; launching the Clef, Norgran and Verve labels; … Read More “Various Artists: Norman Granz: The Founder (Verve)”
When she was all of 12 years old, Mariel Austin witnessed the Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble performing Charles Mingus’ “Fables of Faubus” and knew … Read More “Mariel Austin: Big Band Booster”
The world’s religions have long provided jazz musicians with melodies to explore, and while Judaism has never been as pervasive an influence as Christian gospel … Read More “Jacques Schwarz-Bart: Hazzan (Enja/Yellowbird)”
Oasis is a trio recording that follows a quintet set that followed a solo effort. Throughout her two-decade recording career, pianist/composer Lisa Hilton has zig-zagged … Read More “Lisa Hilton: Oasis (Ruby Slippers)”
The 70-year-old Argentinean pianist and composer Carlos Franzetti delights in mixing things up. Over four-plus decades he’s recorded symphonic (most recently, 2017’s Luminosa and 2018’s … Read More “Carlos Franzetti: Ricordare (Sunnyside)”
Michel Legrand, the French composer, pianist, conductor, and arranger best known for scoring an estimated 200-plus films, died Saturday (Jan. 26) in Paris. The cause … Read More “Composer and Pianist Michel Legrand Dead at 86”
Joel Harrison has been down the Americana road twice before. In 2003 the guitarist released Free Country, which put a personal spin on tunes by … Read More “Joel Harrison: Angel Band: Free Country Volume 3 (HighNote)”
First-time visitors to New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center are often surprised, when watching the house band perform, that Wynton Marsalis, its undisputed superstar, is … Read More “Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: Una Noche con Rubén Blades (Blue Engine)”
Lucent Waters is a spray of vivid contrasts: contemplative pin-drop quietude giving way to explosive outbursts; dramatic displays of camaraderie offset by moments of solitary exploration; … Read More “Florian Weber: Lucent Waters (ECM)”
The song titles alone on soprano saxophonist and vocalist Danny Bacher’s sophomore release provide a pre-listening hint of what to expect: They contain words like … Read More “Danny Bacher: Still Happy (Whaling City Sound)”
Camille Thurman has to share the credit for her wonderful sophomore effort for the Chesky label not only with her accompanists but with her producer, … Read More “Camille Thurman: Waiting for the Sunrise (Chesky)”
James Jordan, a Texas-born musician who was the longtime director of music programs for the New York State Council on the Arts, died Dec. 4 … Read More “James Jordan, Cousin and Manager of Ornette Coleman, Dies at 87”
Most writing about pianist Justin Kauflin recaps his bio: the loss of his eyesight at 11, his early mentorship by the late Clark Terry (chronicled … Read More “Justin Kauflin: Coming Home (Qwest)”
The Nat in question is not Adderley (nor, for that matter, “King” Cole), but rather the trumpeter’s wife Natalia, and these nine songs, written by … Read More “Charlie Sepúlveda and the Turnaround: Songs for Nat (HighNote)”
Miami Vice was both the best and worst thing ever to happen to Jan Hammer. For 15 years, starting in the early ’70s, the Czech … Read More “Jan Hammer: Seasons Pt. 1 (Red Gate)”
The big Orrin Evans news of the past year has, undoubtedly, been the pianist’s induction into the Bad Plus following the decision of that trio’s … Read More “Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band: Presence (Smoke Sessions)”
Steve Turre is often commended for his ability to blow breakneck runs on the trombone with the intricacy and agility of a trumpeter or alto … Read More “Steve Turre: The Very Thought of You (Smoke Sessions)”
Most of those familiar with guitarist Alex Skolnick know of him through Testament, the thrash-metal band with which he’s played for two extended spells, 1983-93 … Read More “Alex Skolnick Trio: Conundrum (Palmetto/MRI)”
Jerry Vivino is one of those ubiquitous musicians—a longtime mainstay of Conan O’Brien’s late-night TV band and a sideman to dozens of stars ranging from … Read More “Jerry Vivino: Coast to Coast (Blujazz)”
