Oscar Hernández, longtime pianist, arranger, and musical director for Rubén Blades’ orchestra and founder/musical director of the Grammy-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra, wears his prestige lightly. … Read More “Oscar Hernández & Alma Libre: Visión (Ovation)”
Vocalist Mankwe Ndosi brings a brand-new dictionary to music. Her sonic language is a string of spontaneous combustions that nod toward Jeanne Lee and Meredith … Read More “Mankwe Ndosi & Body MemOri: Felt/Not Said (Auspice NOW)”
Amirtha Kidambi’s name received a bit of a boost last year when she put a voice to Mary Halvorson’s lyrics on Code Girl. It was … Read More “Amirtha Kidambi’s Elder Ones: From Untruth (Northern Spy)”
When the story of this era’s jazz masters is told, West Coast tenor man and bandleader Ernie Watts ought to be prominently featured. Watts, perhaps … Read More “Ernie Watts Quartet: Home Light (Flying Dolphin)”
Tenor saxophonist Jessica Jones has always maintained a holistic approach to her art, neither adhering to a single school of thought nor limiting the role … Read More “Jessica Jones Quartet: Continuum (Reva)”
When you’ve been reviewing jazz records for almost 30 years, it’s surprisingly rare when a performance hits you on a deep emotional level, when you … Read More “Rhythm Future Quartet: Rhythm Future Quartet And Friends (Magic Fiddle)”
There was a time when “fusion” meant wailing synths and distorted electric guitar, a loud, showy sound that traded the bounce of swing for the … Read More “Allison Au Quartet: Wander Wonder (Independent)”
It’s not a stretch to declare Atlantis Quartet the best small jazz ensemble based in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. The four members have been together since … Read More “Atlantis Quartet: Hello Human (Shifting Paradigm)”
Lucent Waters is a spray of vivid contrasts: contemplative pin-drop quietude giving way to explosive outbursts; dramatic displays of camaraderie offset by moments of solitary exploration; … Read More “Florian Weber: Lucent Waters (ECM)”
The Intakt label of Switzerland has become an important repository for a genre that might be called “refined free jazz.” It is a productive niche … Read More “Ken Vandermark/Nate Wooley/Sylvie Courvoisier/Tom Rainey: Noise of Our Time (Intakt)”
