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With a few exceptions, trumpeter/flugelhornist Nadje Noordhuis’ debut recording is all soft-colored, European-inspired melodies and gentle rhythms. It’s an extremely muted album, in other words, … Read More “Nadje Noordhuis: Nadje Noordhuis”
The arrangements that organist Greg Lewis uses on Organ Monk: Uwo in the Black, his second quartet album of guess-whose music, show little to no … Read More “Greg Lewis: Organ Monk: Uwo in the Black”
Defining success in today’s online music biz
The trumpeter discusses his quintet music, his prolific output and more
A prolific trumpeter fluent in jazz, classical and more
A look at the best music apps for jazz fans and musicians
The Kennedy Center’s long-running event continues on the path laid down by its founder, Dr. Billy Taylor
7-string guitarist gets a push from John Pizzarelli
Featuring a quintet drawn from the University of Toledo’s Jazz Studies faculty (of which the headliner, saxophonist Gunnar Mossblad, is head), CrossCurrents won’t blunt criticisms … Read More “Gunnar Mossblad: Crosscurrents”
Dr. Charles Limb researches the neurological miracles behind jazz improvisation
Across the Imaginary Divide‘s stylistic blend works best when tilting in banjoist Béla Fleck’s direction. It’s not that pianist Marcus Roberts falls short in either … Read More “Across the Imaginary Divide: Béla Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio”
Guitarist Joel Harrison doesn’t repeat himself. His last three albums included a long-form fusion soundscape, acoustic Americana and a with-strings tribute to Paul Motian. His … Read More “Joel Harrison & Lorenzo Feliciati : Holy Abyss”
Harmonica player Grégoire Maret’s self-titled leader debut couldn’t have featured any other instrument. It’s full of delicate arrangements that a more powerful ax would crush. … Read More “Grégoire Maret: Grégoire Maret”
On arranging for kids, pros, Hollywood, JFK…
Host Dee Dee Bridgewater (pictured), Allison Miller, Carmen Lundy and more in D.C.
In Brooklyn, two rising bass stars raise a family
Drummer Billy Hart’s current quartet lineup has been together since 2003, working steadily for most of that time; All Our Reasons, however, is only their … Read More “Billy Hart/Ethan Iverson/Mark Turner/Ben Street: All Our Reasons”
Frame should be a mess. It’s an eclectic zigzag of contemporary styles, played in configurations ranging from duo to full sextet, with multireedist (but primarily … Read More “Ben Wendel: Frame”
In a perfect world, The Monk Project would be a hit record. It finds veteran trumpeter Jimmy Owens and a hard-swinging bop septet making fresh, … Read More “Jimmy Owens: The Monk Project”
Pianist George Colligan’s Living for the City, a record of jazz, rock and soul standards, is spotty. It’s not thoroughly inconsistent; Colligan’s power trio (bassist … Read More “George Colligan: Living for the City”
The eagerness to please that shines through the superb Live at the Library of Congress isn’t a façade. The record really does strive for entertainment, … Read More “Eddie Daniels & Roger Kellaway : Live At the Library of Congress”
Seasons is best approached as a DVD release with bonus audio CD, not vice versa. The April 2011 performance features four guitarists (Anthony Wilson, Steve … Read More “Anthony Wilson: Seasons: Live At the Metropolitan Museum of Art”
Pianist Eric Reed’s ambition for his latest album is right there in the title: to create something beautiful. He succeeds. Something Beautiful is a pristine … Read More “Eric Reed: Something Beautiful”
With an acclaimed trio album in the bag, the pianist/composer looks toward the silver screen
Like this collection’s title, the two-CD Forever Lasting is largely redundant, which is true of any CD by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. They’re one of … Read More “Vanguard Jazz Orchestra : Forever Lasting: The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra Live in Tokyo”
“Clown Painting,” the industrial groan that opens Wiry Strong, announces that trumpeter Ralph Alessi and his This Against That quintet aren’t sugar-coating their third album. … Read More “Ralph Alessi: This Against That”
Since the 1920s, all-female groups have made their mark on jazz
Michael J. West reviews Brad Mehldau & Kevin Hays’ ‘Modern Music’
Michael J. West reviews Miguel Zenón’s new CD, ‘Alma Adentro.’
Warren Wolf loves melody, and he likes it spit-and-polish. It’s evident in the song choices for the Baltimorean vibraphonist’s debut. Whether originals or covers, the … Read More “Warren Wolf: Warren Wolf”
