<<< Part One, Non-Jazz ||| Part 3, Whack Jazz >>> In the jazz world, I’ve found that the long-established artists, especially the ones who play in the well-established styles, get the bulk of the press and buzz.

Here we are only halfway done with 2012 and it’s already been a bangin’ year for modern and mainstream jazz, whether you prefer a celebration of the tradition or an expansion of the frontiers.

New Music Monday arrives chock full of of new music-y goodness, with highly anticipated sides from Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Ralph Bowen, Squackett, Steve Smith and Vital Information

The brilliant pianist from Cuba Aruán Ortiz made a strong positive impression to anyone who paid attention to his 2010 release Alameda, a sophisticated outing of modern jazz that eludes adequate comparisons.

by S. Victor Aaron Wallace Roney’s live album that bowed last spring is a good record for several reasons, first and foremost because of the trumpet player’s dexterity on the brass horn. In our brief review of If Only For One Night, I didn’t have room to say much about the contributions of his band, but it should be noted [...]