Steve Tibbetts: Life Of (ECM)
The 13 tracks on guitarist Steve Tibbetts’ Life Of are all in the same key (D minor), or very close to it. They are all of … Read More “Steve Tibbetts: Life Of (ECM)”
Reviews
Brandon Seabrook Trio: Convulsionaries (Astral Spirits)
For the last decade, Brooklyn-based guitarist Brandon Seabrook has been a ubiquitous workhorse in New York City’s avant underground, with a ballooning oeuvre. In his … Read More “Brandon Seabrook Trio: Convulsionaries (Astral Spirits)”
Mattson 2: Play “A Love Supreme” (Spiritual Pajamas)
A Love Supreme has been covered in its entirety before—Branford Marsalis’ quartet famously did it twice, in a too-faithful studio album and then on an … Read More “Mattson 2: Play “A Love Supreme” (Spiritual Pajamas)”
Michael Musillami Trio +2: Life Anthem (Playscape)
It’s surely no coincidence that a concept album documenting Michael Musillami’s 2016 brain hemorrhage and tumor should comprise such cerebral music. At least, it does … Read More “Michael Musillami Trio +2: Life Anthem (Playscape)”
Miles Okazaki: Work: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Monk, Volumes 1-6 (Miles Okazaki)
“Exhaustive” is certainly a word that comes to mind for Work. Miles Okazaki was armed only with his solo guitar when he recorded all 70 … Read More “Miles Okazaki: Work: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Monk, Volumes 1-6 (Miles Okazaki)”
Sonar with David Torn: Vortex (RareNoise)
Sometimes opposites really do attract. Sonar is an eight-year-old Swiss “post-minimalist” quartet that combines austere, oddly interlocking rhythms with a distinctive tritone bass and guitar … Read More “Sonar with David Torn: Vortex (RareNoise)”
Dave Liebman/John Stowell: Petite Fleur: The Music of Sidney Bechet (Origin)
Jazz innovator, early soprano saxophone pioneer, gifted improviser with a tone so distinctive it can be recognized within microseconds—this is what musically knowledgeable folks tend … Read More “Dave Liebman/John Stowell: Petite Fleur: The Music of Sidney Bechet (Origin)”
AudioFiles: The Best in Bluetooth Guitar Amps
The audio gear we listen to music on has changed radically over the decades. The audio gear we perform music on, not as much. Only … Read More “AudioFiles: The Best in Bluetooth Guitar Amps”
Jakob Bro: Returnings (ECM)
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)”
Rez Abbasi: Unfiltered Universe (Whirlwind)
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)”