When compiling my lists of best jazz records, broken up into 3 distinct areas of jazz, I used three criteria for inclusion on one of these lists: 1. Is it good enough? (duh) 2. Is it jazz? (duh) -and- 3. Have I already reviewed it in some form or another?Read More

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIs1Lg1qgo0&w=420&h=315] Last year, a British singer-songwriter living in Spain by the name of David Philips made a no-frills record, The Rooftop Recordings, a bare-bones set of home recordings that depended entirely on Philips’ songs You May Also Like: David Philips, “Home” from Winter (2017): Something Else! sneak peek DavidRead More

Chris Greene might be in command of the proceedings on this live document, but the other three cats in his quartet are hardly passive sidemen.

<<< Part Three, Whack Jazz In the final piece of these exhaustive, four-part salutes to the top releases of 2012, the fusion jazz records are surveyed. You May Also Like: S. Victor Aaron’s Best of 2015 (Part 4 of 4, Fusion Jazz): John McLaughlin, Chris Potter, Donny McCaslin, Jeff LorberRead More

On every Donald Fagen album, there’s inevitably a track or two that particularly brings to mind Steely Dan’s Aja and on Kamakiriad, that “Aja” track would be the smooth lounge-y jazz-pop number “On the Dunes.” You May Also Like: Steely Dan, “Reelin’ in the Years [Live]” (2021): Steely Dan SundayRead More

Mort Weiss’ tenth album in eleven years continues the torrid pace of activity that this accomplished clarinetist has been on since beginning his long-delayed recording career in 2001. You May Also Like: Mort Weiss – Mort Weiss Is a Jazz Reality Show (2015) Dan Weiss Trio – ‘Dedication’ (2022) DelvonRead More

<<< Part Two, Mainstream and Modern Jazz ||| Part 4, Fusion Jazz >>> In continuing with a long-held tradition, I’ve parsed out the jazz that goes avant-garde from the more conventional stuff. You May Also Like: S. Victor Aaron’s Best of 2015 (Part 4 of 4, Fusion Jazz): John McLaughlin,Read More

Toronto-based pianist Chris Donnelly has made two records so far, and both of them are solo piano records (Solo (2009) and Metamorphosis (2011). We now finally get to hear how this inventive musician interact with other musicians with the first album by Myriad3, a trio he recently formed with fellowRead More

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 buzz.

A couple of guys about a half generation apart but both a full generation or two after the ones who created the sweetly swinging jazz they thrive on, Scott Hamilton and Harry Allen carry the torch for the original great tenor sax masters You May Also Like: Tyler Mitchell featuringRead More