Profiles

See this? It was a young tree the deer killed by eating all the bark. I came home and part of it had fallen near … Read More “Greg Osby: Out of the Woods”

It’s Grammy Night, late, and the party has hit a groove. The house is tight-packed but loose with movement: heads bobbing, hands in the air, … Read More “Roy Hargrove: Groovin’ Hard”

The stink of Ammonia and bleach on the still-wet floor greets the Vandermark 5. It’s one hour before show time at the Black Cat, Washington, … Read More “Ken Vandermark: Focus”

Chick Corea is from the Miles Davis school: He doesn’t like to look back. Throughout his illustrious career, which got its start in 1962 in … Read More “Chick Corea: Acouschick”

Look at this painting of the most famous violin virtuoso, Niccolò Paganini, at the height of his powers in the early 19th century. Concertgoers and … Read More “Regina Carter: Regina’s Reverie”

About 70 minutes into Bertrand Tavernier’s 1986 film ‘Round Midnight, Dale Turner, the character played by Dexter Gordon, picks up a soprano saxophone and plays … Read More “Jacky Terrasson: Sourire de Francais”

We’re in the midst of winter, but it’s another breathtaking San Fernando Valley day, the temperature nestling in the mid-’70s. From the large conference room … Read More “The Jazz Crusaders & Joe Sample: The Next Crusade”

Hanging out with Bill Summers and Irvin Mayfield is a bit like being around a longtime happily married couple. As we talk in the living … Read More “Los Hombres Calientes: Big Bad Voodoo Daddies”

The first thing you hear on Christian McBride’s new album, Vertical Vision, is a hot-jazz tune that sounds like something Fletcher Henderson might have recorded … Read More “Christian McBride: Or So You Thought You Knew”