Articles by: S. Victor Aaron

Soft Machine - 'Høvikodden 1971' (2024)

Soft Machine – ‘Høvikodden 1971’ (2024)

Soft Machine’s peak roster playing at peak performance is reason enough to plunk down for ‘Høvikodden 1971’ if this boundary-pushing style of jazz-rock is your thing.

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.