In our first encounter with saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart, we came across his then-new album Abyss (2009), of which I wrote at the time “successfully melds modern jazz and soul shapes You May Also Like: Matthew Shipp Quartet – Sonic Fiction (2018) Jack Hues and The Quartet – A Thesis onRead More
The competing tubas heard on the opening seconds of Jason Robinson’s new big project Tiresian Symmetry made me instinctively utter three words: Very Very Circus. You May Also Like: Henry Threadgill Zooid – ‘Poof’ (2021) Liberty Ellman – ‘Last Desert’ (2020) Jason Stein Quartet – Lucille! (2017)
I’ve been pretty impressed with how just two guys from Indiana could create such a big, raucous noise while upholding the principles of Southern blues. Well imagine that kind of music being generated by one guy, from France. You May Also Like: Left Lane Cruiser’s Bring Yo’ Ass to theRead More
Houston has been a major center for urban jazz ever since native Houstonians the Jazz Crusaders started going electric in the late ’60s. You May Also Like: Richard Elliot – ‘Authentic Life’ (2021) Richard Lloyd Giddens Jr. – Mimosas (2017) Richard Davies – ‘Cosmic Odyssey’ (2023)
Jazz has long drawn from show tunes, Tin Pan Alley, and a handful of great composers like Ellington, Strayhorn and Monk for material. Gospel? Not so much. You May Also Like: Michael Dease – All These Hands (2017) Matthew Shipp Trio – ‘World Construct’ (2022) Bob James – ‘Once UponRead More
Straight out of Brooklyn is a improvisational trio that frolics far in the outer reaches of avant-garde. Iron Dog, consisting of Sarah Bernstein (digitally altered violin, poetry recital), Stuart Popejoy (electric bass, synthesizer) and Andrew Drury (drums, mayhem), create odd sounds both digital and analog You May Also Like: PeterRead More
When I first heard “Elected” by Alice Cooper, I thought he was singing “I wanna be a lefty” – and being so young I further thought he was saying he wanted to be left-handed (like me), not liberal.
When we last checked in with Peter Van Huffel, he was piloting a delicate dance between modern jazz and out jazz for his quartet’s Like The Rusted Key (2010). You May Also Like: Peter Van Huffel’s Gorilla Mask – Iron Lung (2017) Gorilla Mask – ‘Brain Drain’ (2019) David DominiqueRead More
<<< BACKWARD (“Snowbound”) ||| ONWARD (“Florida Room”) >>> *** STEELY DAN SUNDAY INDEX *** Kamakiriad got its mojo going with “Snowbound” and reached the summit at “Tomorrow’s Girls.” This song was the single spun off the album, and achieved some mild success, reaching #20 on the “Mainstream Rock Tracks” chartsRead More
Singapore born (to European parents), Atlanta and Dallas raised, and now ensconced in Chicago’s thriving North side jazz scene, Caroline Davis is an alto saxophonist whose taste in music has evolved from the rock & soul acts of Michael Jackson and Steely Dan to Stan Kenton, Oliver Nelson, Thad Jones/MelRead More
