Philip Booth is a longtime arts journalist and bass player based in Florida. Formerly the pop music critic for the Tampa Tribune, he has contributed to many national publications, recently including the Washington Post, Jazziz, and Relix. His byline also has appeared in DownBeat, Bass Player, Billboard, Variety, Spin, Rolling Stone, and several academic journals. The debut CD from his band, Acme Jazz Garage, gained airplay on about 35 radio stations across the US.
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Performing with others, for in-the-flesh listeners in real time, requires one to think like an architect, and like a psychologist too. That, at least, is … Read More “Lawrence Sieberth Creates His Own European Quartet”
“His music is always very, very joyful,” Kenny Barron says about fellow piano master Monty Alexander in the notes accompanying Love You Madly, documenting a … Read More “Monty Alexander: Love You Madly: Live at Bubba’s (Resonance)”
It’s probably no coincidence that Brandi Disterheft’s prowess as a bassist, on her fifth album as a leader, shines particularly bright on “The Pendulum at … Read More “Brandi Disterheft Trio with George Coleman: Surfboard (Justin Time)”
The rambunctious spirit of multi-instrumentalist and composer Rahsaan Roland Kirk is reflected in the Kirk interpretations and originals played by baritone saxophonist Claire Daly on … Read More “The Claire Daly Band: Rah! Rah! (Ride Symbol)”
Often restless, hyperintense and urgent, sometimes relaxed, always probing: The music on Max Bessesen’s debut album is nothing if not evocative. He offers sonic portraits … Read More “Max Bessesen: Trouble (Ropeadope)”
A New Yorker born in Munich, Leni Stern has been digging into West African rhythms and textures for years, studying in Mali and Senegal, performing … Read More “Leni Stern: 4 (Leni Stern)”
“Elegance in Action” would make an apropos alternate title for Love Letter, the final album released by saxophone great Jimmy Heath, who died at 93 … Read More “Jimmy Heath: Love Letter (Verve)”
Remember when Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade, fast-rising talents relatively new to New York, played together for about 18 months in … Read More “Redman Mehldau McBride Blade: RoundAgain (Nonesuch)”
Last time Gary Smulyan led a trio on a set of contrafacts (the name for new melodies built on chord progressions of well-known compositions), the … Read More “Gary Smuylan: Our Contrafacts (SteepleChase)”
A rising star on the New York scene, pianist Chris McCarthy has made his name playing and/or recording with trumpeter Jason Palmer, saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, … Read More “Chris McCarthy: Still Time to Quit (Ropeadope)”
Like his first album under the Kind of New moniker, a 2015 collaboration with trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, Jason Miles’ Black Magic is all about steep, … Read More “Jason Miles/Kind of New: Black Magic (Ropeadope)”
For Brazilian Whispers, veteran flutist Andrea Brachfeld dives deep into the Jobim book, turning out fresh interpretations of familiar gems. Best known for her affiliations … Read More “Andrea Brachfeld: Brazilian Whispers (Origin)”
His recorded body of work the holy scripture of bebop saxophone, alto giant Charlie Parker has been the subject of hundreds of tribute albums since … Read More “Vincent Herring/Bobby Watson/Gary Bartz: Bird at 100 (Smoke Sessions)”
