Keiko Matsui’s 27th recording as a leader, Journey to the Heart, marks the 30th anniversary of the pianist-composer’s recording debut. Such career milestones often drive … Read More “Keiko Matsui: Journey to the Heart (Shanachie)”
Fifteen Beatles classics interpreted by a long-running Gypsy-swing outfit: It’s a simple idea that yields rich results on John Paul George & Django, the 14th … Read More “Hot Club of San Francisco: John Paul George & Django (Hot Club)”
The 10 original tunes on composer Ken Schaphorst’s sixth big-band release, How to Say Goodbye, largely follow a consistent framework: Spacious opening passages segue through … Read More “Ken Schaphorst Big Band: How to Say Goodbye (JCA)”
Jorge Rossy’s work as a drummer has been so celebrated that casual listeners may be unaware of his chops as a multi-instrumentalist. His repertoire of … Read More “Jorge Rossy: Stay There”
Organist Mike LeDonne’s Groover Quartet makes a soulful noise on That Feelin’. LeDonne, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Joe Farnsworth have … Read More “Mike LeDonne & the Groover Quartet: That Feelin’”
In February of 2016, pianist John Escreet, along with regular triomates John Hébert, on bass, and Tyshawn Sorey, drums and vibraphone, embarked on a brief … Read More “John Escreet: The Unknown”
Produced with the support of the French American Jazz Exchange, Dada People is trumpeter Dave Douglas and pianist Frank Woeste’s paean to surrealist photographer Man … Read More “Dave Douglas and Frank Woeste: Dada People”
Trumpeter-composer Wadada Leo Smith’s latest long-form suite, America’s National Parks, unites political engagement with a soul-deep connection to nature. Marshaling his newly expanded Golden Quintet … Read More “Wadada Leo Smith: America’s National Parks”
Guitarist-composer Jakob Bro’s 2015 ECM release, Gefion, was one of the year’s most effective sonic explorations. While not as commanding as that recording in its … Read More “Jakob Bro: Streams”
Trumpeter Wayne Bergeron’s Full Circle is, above all else, a soloist’s field day. Joined by no fewer than five different big-band ensembles (recorded from 2012 … Read More “Wayne Bergeron: Full Circle”
August shows to feature complete classic lineups of Corea’s Elektric Band and the Flecktones
Institute of Jazz Studies to host “George Avakian: A Life in Music” on Dec. 7
Multi-disciplinary piece celebrates work of James Baldwin
Shows include Donny McCaslin, all-star blues summit
Composer honored for a career that exemplifies “creative excellence”
Starting Nov. 25, Strut Records kicks off a CD and vinyl release of what they are calling the definitive collection of rare 45-RPM singles from … Read More “Strut Records to Release “Sun Ra Singles: The Definitive Collection””
The music of bassist Derrick Hodge has been described as cinematic, and for The Second, his obviously titled sophomore release as a leader, he assumes … Read More “Derrick Hodge: The Second”
Sunday Night at the Vanguard is pianist Fred Hersch’s second live recording at the Greenwich Village club with his current trio featuring bassist John Hébert … Read More “The Fred Hersch Trio: Sunday Night at the Vanguard”
Bob Mintzer’s All L.A. Band is classic-style big-band music with cutting-edge origins. The album’s 10 tracks, original Mintzer compositions from throughout the tenor saxophonist’s decades-spanning … Read More “Bob Mintzer: All L.A. Band”
When interpreting the Beatles, some jazz artists go minimalist, as if shielding themselves from the music’s sheer cultural weight. Not John Daversa. On Kaleidoscope Eyes, … Read More “John Daversa: Kaleidoscope Eyes: Music of the Beatles”
Transforming classic political oration into a big-band masterstroke
Extras include insight-filled featurettes
Since 1994, bassist-composer William Parker has been writing Stan’s Hat Flapping in the Wind, an original musical about a New Mexico couple chosen to save … Read More “William Parker Ft. Lisa Sokolov and Cooper-Moore: Stan’s Hat Flapping in the Wind”
A recording of the final live solo performance of pianist-composer Masabumi Kikuchi (1939-2015), Black Orpheus vividly illustrates just how broad ranging the idea of “jazz” … Read More “Masabumi Kikuchi: Black Orpheus”
“The Case of the Three Sided Dream” goes inside the multi-instrumentalist’s brilliance
Dedicated to trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, who died last year, Kenny Garrett’s Do Your Dance! is an alluring celebration of the many ways music can make … Read More “Kenny Garrett: Do Your Dance!”
Supergroup features Santana, Hancock, Shorter and more
Saxophonist Ernie Watts possesses one of jazz’s most distinctive tenor tones, a sound of both mammoth size and full-hearted romanticism. This sound largely sustains Wheel … Read More “Ernie Watts Quartet: Wheel of Time”
A selfless guitar hero
Brad Mehldau is one of jazz’s most sensitive interpreters of song, with a rare gift for putting his own stamp on a composition without betraying … Read More “Brad Mehldau Trio: Blues and Ballads”
