Articles by: S. Victor Aaron

Aurora Nealand, Mark Helias, Tim Berne - 'Live at the 188 Club' (2024)

Aurora Nealand, Mark Helias, Tim Berne – ‘Live at the 188 Club’ (2024)

‘Live at the 188 Club’ from Aurora Nealand, Mark Helias and Tim Berne underscore the three-way interplay between sax, accordion and bass, and proves the concept works nicely when the right musicians are executing it.

Ron Miles - 'Old Main Chapel' (2024)

Ron Miles – ‘Old Main Chapel’ (2024)

‘Old Main Chapel’ is a fitting epilogue in the rich, under-heralded output from the gently poignant brilliance of Ron Miles.

Chick Corea Elektric Band II - 'Paint the World' (1993, 2024 reissue)

Chick Corea Elektric Band II – ‘Paint the World’ (1993, 2024 reissue)

Chick Corea’s rejiggering the fusion jazz formula toward the jazz direction with generally sharper songwriting has made his Elektric Band II’s ‘Paint The World’ hold up well over the years.

Devin Gray - 'To the Point' [EP] (2024)

Devin Gray – ‘To the Point’ [EP] (2024)

‘To the Point’ introduces drummer/composer/bandleader Devin Gray’s new quartet, full of talented Belgians who know how to carry out his engaging compositions to the fullest.

Denny Zeitlin - 'Panoply' (2024)

Denny Zeitlin – ‘Panoply’ (2024)

‘Panoply’ is a quality sampler of Denny Zeitlin’s fertile (and still ongoing) Sunnyside era, with the added benefit of adding to his canon.

Alfredo Colón, "Doomknocker" from 'Blood Burden' (2024): Streaming premiere

Alfredo Colón, “Doomknocker” from ‘Blood Burden’ (2024): Streaming premiere

Here is the streaming premiere of “Doomknocker,” the second single from Alfredo Colón’s debut album ‘Blood Burden.’

Sun Ra - 'At The Showcase, Live In Chicago 1976-1977' (2024)

Sun Ra – ‘At The Showcase, Live In Chicago 1976-1977’ (2024)

Here we are well into the 21st century and Sun Ra’s music from these mid-70s performances is in some ways, still ahead of the present time.

How 'Crosby Stills and Nash' Captured This Supergroup at Their Peak

How ‘Crosby Stills and Nash’ Captured This Supergroup at Their Peak

Released on 55 years ago this week, ‘Crosby Stills and Nash’ brought together guys whose average work shames most rock composers. Then they upped the ante.

John Escreet - 'the epicenter of your dreams' (2024)

John Escreet – ‘the epicenter of your dreams’ (2024)

Pianist John Escreet took his great L.A. group and made it even better for the epicenter of your dreams.’ Call it addition by sweet addition.

SticklerPhonics featuring tenor saxophonist Raffi Garabedian and trombonist Danny Lubin-Laden (an alum of the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars). Standout members of the Berkeley High Jazz Band’s class of 2006, they continued playing together while studying in New York. Since returning to the East Bay they’ve co-lead Brass Magic, an uproarious horn-powered band that has honed an irresistibly celebratory sound by drawing on hip hop, funk, R&B, rock, and electronic dance music. Embracing his role as a veteran leader, Amendola has joined forces with the younger players to explore an array of kinetic approaches with their rollicking stripped-down trio, exploring new sonorities and high-energy grooves.

SticklerPhonics – ‘Technicolor Ghost Parade’ (2024)

SticklerPhonics’ secret weapon isn’t the combination of instruments, but the imagination and wherewithal to make music that’s fresh and fun.