Articles by: S. Victor Aaron

Simon Hanes – ‘Tsons of Tsunami’ (2024)

Simon Hanes – ‘Tsons of Tsunami’ (2024)

By harnessing his love for surf rock and other, disparate music forms all at once, Simon Hanes and his Tsons of Tsunami is making the case for why we should enjoy this audacious mixture of styles, too.

Luckless UK’s Underrated ‘Danger Money’ Arrived Just as Prog Fell Apart

Luckless UK’s Underrated ‘Danger Money’ Arrived Just as Prog Fell Apart

Released 45 years ago this month, UK’s trio-led sophomore effort ‘Danger Money’ is past due for a reevaluation.

Tim Berne’s Science Friction [Marc Ducret, Craig Taborn + Tom Rainey] – ‘No Tamales on Wednesday’ (2024)

Tim Berne’s Science Friction [Marc Ducret, Craig Taborn + Tom Rainey] – ‘No Tamales on Wednesday’ (2024)

By playing different songs after several more years of further developing their chemistry, Science Friction’s ‘No Tamales on Wednesday’ qualifies as a welcome official ‘new’ album by this long-defunct Tim Berne group.

Dave Harrington, Max Jaffe + Patrick Shiroishi – ‘Speak, Moment’ (2024)

Dave Harrington, Max Jaffe + Patrick Shiroishi – ‘Speak, Moment’ (2024)

The sounds made by Dave Harrington, Max Jaffe and Patrick Shiroishi on ‘Speak, Moment’ are the sounds of discovery, surprise and uncommon communion.

JS 551 Rainbow 2022 photo Studio Fuglseth

John Surman – ‘Words Unspoken’ (2024)

By painting impressionistic portraits out of cues and basic figures for ‘Words Unspoken,’ John Surman got the best contributions from his quartet.

Mary Halvorson – ‘Cloudward’ (2024)

Mary Halvorson – ‘Cloudward’ (2024)

‘Cloudward’ offers a rare chance to see how Mary Halvorson’s music evolves when everything else is kept the same.

Five Moments of Eternal Brilliance From Steely Dan’s ‘Pretzel Logic’

Five Moments of Eternal Brilliance From Steely Dan’s ‘Pretzel Logic’

Released 50 years ago today, Steely Dan’s ‘Pretzel Logic’ remains a pinnacle achievement for the premier jazz-pop rock band. Here’s a handful of reasons why.

David Torn, Tom Rainey, Tim Berne + Trevor Dunn – ‘Disco Tent/Ravens Low & Ready 2’ (2024)

David Torn, Tom Rainey, Tim Berne + Trevor Dunn – ‘Disco Tent/Ravens Low & Ready 2’ (2024)

David Torn, Tom Rainey, Tim Berne & Trevor Dunn came together make an instant album that’s explosive, urgent and intense, even when it isn’t loud.

Why You Shouldn’t Overlook the Doobie Brothers’ ‘What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits’

Why You Shouldn’t Overlook the Doobie Brothers’ ‘What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits’

Released 50 years ago this month, ‘What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits’ found the Doobie Brothers at a near-peak of their early-era powers.

Ivo Perelman, Barry Guy + Ramon Lopez – ‘Interaction’ (2024)

Ivo Perelman, Barry Guy + Ramon Lopez – ‘Interaction’ (2024)

‘Interaction’ really all of one big collection of amazing moments, a continuum of passion and a brainstorm of original ideas filtered through three highly trained instruments.