A former editor of JazzTimes, Mike Joyce has written extensively on jazz, blues, country, and pop music for The Washington Post, Maryland and Washington, D.C. public television stations, and other outlets.
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It’s not often that seasoned jazz musicians find one of their own recordings truly revelatory in hindsight. Yet here’s a striking example. As acclaimed veteran … Read More “Hal Galper Trio: The Zone: Live at the Yardbird Suite (Origin)”
Pardon the cluster name drop, but in the ebullience of Jay Leonhart’s new release you can hear an imaginary gathering of 20th-century wits—Mose Allison, Willie Dixon, … Read More “Jay Leonhart: Joy (Sunnyside)”
When the German-Indian film epic A Throw of Dice arrived in 1929, it appeared to have everything going for it, including a cast of 10,000 … Read More “Rez Abbasi: A Throw of Dice by the Silent Ensemble (Whirlwind)”
Putting aside for the moment mention of chamber-jazz weaves, global influences, modal designs, and high-wire improv, what’s the most economical way to describe the performances … Read More “Mat Maneri Quartet: Dust (Sunnyside)”
Getting your hands on a new Bill Frisell CD is a bit like unboxing a gift from a good friend with great taste. So what … Read More “Bill Frisell: Harmony (Blue Note)”
Let’s face it. Given what we’ve long known about his remarkable artistry and output, is it any wonder that Wallace Roney’s latest CD is worth … Read More “Wallace Roney: Blue Dawn – Blue Nights (HighNote)”
Recording for a legendary jazz label may be fraught with expectations, especially for a contemporary artist with unabashedly eclectic tastes. But at this stage in … Read More “Jamie Cullum: Taller (Blue Note)”
What a joy it is to find George Cables recording again following a series of potentially career-ending health issues. Clearly, as the title of this … Read More “George Cables: I’m All Smiles (HighNote)”
The title of Vic Juris’ latest release references one of the album’s chief strengths. Largely devoted to original, recently minted tunes, it’s brimming with tonal … Read More “Vic Juris: Two Guitars (SteepleChase)”
Can devotees of guitarist Bill Frisell listen to Epistrophy without connecting a lot of dots? Not likely. Recorded live at Manhattan’s Village Vanguard and prominently … Read More “Bill Frisell/Thomas Morgan: Epistrophy (ECM)”
Hammond B-3 vet Caesar Frazier and company offer listeners drawn to vintage jazz organ abundant relief with this album, clearly inspired by the keyboardist’s organ-combo … Read More “Caesar Frazier: Closer to the Truth (Savant)”
Nothing humbles a jazz guitarist accustomed to playing a solidbody or archtop instrument quite like an acoustic flattop, even if it’s a top-tier Taylor cutaway. … Read More “Mimi Fox: This Bird Still Flies (Origin)”
If name-dropping were a crime, keyboardist Keiko Matsui would have a helluva time promoting Echo. The album features a string of well-known artists, including guitarist … Read More “Keiko Matsui: Echo (Shanachie)”
Audacious by nature? You could easily make that case for Sound Underground, given its lean and unlikely instrumentation—alto sax, trumpet, and guitar—and its stirring yet … Read More “Sound Underground: The Power of Three (Tiny Music)”
If you glance at the tracks listed here, you may be tempted to start out with two notable collaborations and one Willie Nelson-penned country classic. … Read More “Pat Bianchi: In the Moment (Savant)”
After an anthemic opener resounding with block chords and splintered beats, John Escreet toggles between form and freedom, composition and improvisation on Learn to Live. … Read More “John Escreet: Learn to Live (Blue Room)”
First, the bad news: In the candid liner notes accompanying his latest (and, apparently, final) solo album, Barre Phillips tells writer Steve Lake that this … Read More “Barre Phillips: End to End (ECM)”
Given guitarist John Abercrombie’s recent passing, you may be inclined to view Open Land, a film by directors Arno Oehri and Oliver Primus, as something … Read More “Open Land: Meeting John Abercrombie (ECM)”
If veteran drummer, arranger, and composer Phil Haynes is busy tallying lucky stars these days, it’s easy to hear why, thanks to a pair of … Read More “No Fast Food: Settings for Three (CornerStore Jazz)”
The latest release from pianist Bill O’Connell is generic in name only. In many ways, it’s a distinctly personal statement, inspired by the recent passing … Read More “Bill O’Connell: Jazz Latin (Savant)”
Aptly enough, this tribute to folk-music legend Lead Belly comes with 12 strings attached, albeit in a thoroughly modern jazz context. Eager to salute one … Read More “Adam Nussbaum: The Lead Belly Project (Sunnyside)”
Guitarist Nels Cline has always been a sucker for music that’s a bit mystifying—not easily described, transcribed or summarized. So no one should be shocked … Read More “The Nels Cline 4: Currents, Constellations (Blue Note)”
If Danish guitarist Jakob Bro needed a good reason to further explore some of the music he’s recorded in recent years while also breaking new … Read More “Jakob Bro: Returnings (ECM)”
Art is shaped by nuance, guitarist Rez Abbasi asserts in the brief liner notes that accompany Unfiltered Universe, and the sentiment offers a clue as … Read More “Rez Abbasi: Unfiltered Universe (Whirlwind)”
Surrounded by five budding ballerinas, guitarist Russell Malone is pictured on the cover of his latest recording at a performing arts academy in New Jersey. … Read More “Russell Malone: Time for the Dancers (HighNote)”
When it comes time to record, Cyrus Chestnut has never been inclined to stay in his lane. The widely acclaimed jazz pianist, who once devoted … Read More “Cyrus Chestnut: There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit (HighNote)”
Given his exemplary technique and imposing stylistic reach, traits previously displayed on an impressive series of studio sessions, it’s not surprising that trumpeter Sean Jones … Read More “Sean Jones: Live From Jazz at the Bistro (Mack Avenue)”
Like Beautiful Life, its Grammy-nominated companion album of 2014, Flowers was born of deep, unimaginable grief, following the death of saxophonist Jimmy Greene’s 6-year-old daughter, … Read More “Jimmy Greene: Flowers: Beautiful Life—Volume 2 (Mack Avenue)”
Guitarist Nate Najar never met the late jazz legend Charlie Byrd, but there’s no mistaking their strong spiritual connection. It’s almost palpable on Blues for … Read More “Nate Najar: This Is Nate Najar (Candid)”
Even if Prototype, the title of Jeff Lorber Fusion’s latest release, is meant to be emblematic of contemporary jazz to come, don’t expect a series … Read More “Jeff Lorber Fusion: Prototype (Shanachie)”
