Articles by: S. Victor Aaron

Vinyl

Steely Dan Sunday, "Everything You Did" (1976)

In rock music, there’s been occasions where one act provokes another in a rock song, resulting in a retaliatory song by the provoked. You May Also Like: Steely Dan, “A Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry” from ‘Northeast Corridor’ (2021): Steely Dan Sunday Steely Dan’s Aja at 40: Still the pinnacleRead More

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Josh Ginsburg – Zembla Variations (2012)

In a couple of days, bassist/composer/bandleader Josh Ginsburg will issue his first album, one he’s clearly ready for. You May Also Like: Naya Baaz [Rez Abbasi + Josh Feinberg] – ‘Charm’ (2023) Josh Johnson – ‘Unusual Object’ (2024)

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Rahsaan Roland Kirk, “Rip, Rig and Panic” (1965): One Track Mind

You can’t have a discussion about characters in jazz with including Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

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Half Notes: The October Trio – New Dream (2012)

When you peel away all chordal instruments, the rhythm section gets exposed. That can be a delight or a disaster, but in the case of Toronto’s October Trio, it’s the former. Evan Arntzen’s sax or clarinet has a lot of character, a product of his expressive articulation, but Josh Cole’sRead More

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Justin Walter – Stars (2012)

Trumpeter Justin Walter sensed that his latest album Stars was destined to be out of the ordinary. “I was very aware from the beginning that this was going to be a strange album,” he acknowledges, “but I also wanted it to be a serious album.” You May Also Like: RobertRead More

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Charles Gayle Trio – Streets (2012)

Like Giuseppi Logan, tenor saxophonist Charles Gayle was in the thick of it during the free jazz revolution taking place in New York during the 1960s. You May Also Like: How Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle Saved ‘One From the Heart’ Similar Fashion – Portrait Of (2018)

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Chick Corea/ Eddie Gomez/ Paul Motian – Further Explorations (2012)

It’s yet another tribute to the singular artistry of Bill Evans, but this one has a special plot line: the drummer played for Evans in one era and the bassist played for him in another era. You May Also Like: Bill Evans – Another Time: The Hilversum Concert (2017) TheRead More

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Pete Robbins Transatlantic Quartet – Live In Basel (2012)

Both Pete Robbins’ band and music represents reaching across from one space to another. The aptly named Transatlantic Quartet consists of musicians on either side of the “pond,” starting with the Massachusetts saxophonist Robbins You May Also Like: Albert Ayler Quartet – Copenhagen Live 1964 (2017) Matthew Shipp Quartet –Read More

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Steely Dan Sunday, "Haitian Divorce" (1976)

You could call “Haitian Divorce” a love song, but as Steely Dan love songs go, it’s not about the bliss so much as it’s about the ugly side of romance. You May Also Like: No related posts.

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One Track Mind: Wayne Shorter, "Tom Thumb" (1967)

During the 1964-68 period while he served as the “idea man” in Miles Davis’ Second Quintet, Wayne Shorter reeled off album after album under his own name that were extremely creative and sometimes breathtaking. You May Also Like: Wayne Shorter (1933-2023): An Appreciation Wayne Shorter – ‘Emanon’ (2018)