Articles by: S. Victor Aaron

Ivo Perelman + Elliott Sharp - 'Artificial Intelligence' (2023)

Ivo Perelman + Elliott Sharp – ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (2023)

‘Artificial Intelligence’ has certain qualities brought by Elliott Sharp that are novel even by Ivo Perelman’s standards.

David Ake - 'Green Thumb' (2023)

David Ake – ‘Green Thumb’ (2023)

Pianist and composer David Ake continues to make his infrequent releases count. ‘Green Thumb’ is plenty good enough the savor until Mr. Ake is ready to make another quality collection of modern and mainstream jazz.

Vincent Meissner Trio, "Young Folks" from 'Wille' (2023): One Track Mind

Vincent Meissner Trio, “Young Folks” from ‘Wille’ (2023): One Track Mind

The Vincent Meissner Trio found a perfect moment that covers youth and European, turning a brisk cover of “Young Folks” into an appealing jazz song.

Kaze + Ikue Mori - 'Crustal Movement' (2023)

Kaze + Ikue Mori – ‘Crustal Movement’ (2023)

Seven albums in, the Kaze concept shows no sign of going stale. Every time out they freshen that concept in ingenious ways and ‘Crustal Movement’ with Ikue Mori returning is their most audacious undertaking yet.

Marc Ducret - 'Palm Sweat: Marc Ducret Plays the Music of Tim Berne' (2023)

Marc Ducret – ‘Palm Sweat: Marc Ducret Plays the Music of Tim Berne’ (2023)

We often hear about recordings ostensibly made without regard to rules, preconceptions and guidelines in pursuit of a mode of expression that’s pure and original. Marc Ducret’s ‘Palm Sweat’ actually sounds exactly like it was made that way.

Wayne Shorter (1933-2023): An Appreciation

Wayne Shorter (1933-2023): An Appreciation

Most may not put Wayne Shorter on the level of Sonny Rollins or John Coltrane, but I do. When surveying the impact he made over 50 years, it’s hard not to.

Patricia Brennan - 'More Touch' (2022)

Patricia Brennan – ‘More Touch’ (2022)

In greatly expanding the possibilities for vibraphone and marimba, Patricia Brennan’s ‘More Touch’ takes us to exciting new sonic territory fueled by exceptional musicianship and a lot of gumption.

Tomas Fujiwara's Triple Double - 'March On' EP (2023)

Tomas Fujiwara’s Triple Double – ‘March On’ EP (2023)

Musicians capable of anything deserve to play in a setting where anything goes. Thankfully, Tomas Fujiwara is allowing us to hear that with ‘March On.’

Henkel Carlson Hall - 'Recoil' (2023)

Henkel Carlson Hall – ‘Recoil’ (2023)

With ‘Recoil,’ Brad Henkel, Dustin Carlson and Samuel Hall set out and succeeded in making a freeform record that’s not just uncommon, but uncommonly good.

Mike Keneally - 'The Thing That Knowledge Can't Eat' (2023)

Mike Keneally – ‘The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat’ (2023)

After a seven-year gap, Mike Keneally did thankfully resume answering his main calling in making adventurously catchy records, and ‘The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat’ shows no loss of mojo for him.