Stuart Nicholson writes about the amazing pianist Tord Gustavsen, one of the latest in a long line of fine musicians ECM has plucked out of Norway.
And Christopher Porter fills us in on the rest of the current Norwegian scene, which builds on ECM’s legacy while creating its own.
These Times is Mike Stern’s debut on ESC after a long career on Atlantic that began with Upside Downside in 1986. It sees him consolidating … Read More “Mike Stern: These Times”
The vexing issue of the conflict in Iraq has prompted many jazz musicians to raise their voice in onstage protest. The Chicago Underground Trio’s Slon … Read More “Chicago Underground Trio: Slon”
The most controversial band in jazz today is neither some plugged-in improv band nor a no-stones smooth-jazz group. No, the Bad Plus is an acoustic piano trio that makes many people fall in love with jazz for the first time even as it turns off longtime listeners to the music. Why are tastes so divided about the Band Plus? Tad Hendrickson talks with the band about their phenomenal success over the past year. Meanwhile, Bill Milkowski dissects the group, and John Murph wonders aloud if race is part of the Bad Plus’ popularity.
It’s happening, it’s underway-it’s just a question of how far and how fast. With more and more ensembles including a musician dealing with electronics-sequencing, programming, … Read More “Jazztronica: A Brief History of the Future of Jazz”
Formed in 1971, Weather Report was one of the most important bands in contemporary jazz-indeed, some have persuasively argued it was the most important group … Read More “Weather Report: Live and Unreleased”
As Art Lange persuasively argued in the liner notes to Dr. Cyclops’ Dream (Soul Note), the second Herbie Nichols Project album, “There is a prevalent … Read More “Ben Allison: Peace Pipe”
Despite the unqualified admiration of just about everyone who counts on the international jazz circuit, recognition that Michel Petrucciani had been perhaps the finest of … Read More “Michael Petrucciani: Concerts Inedits”
