Tone Poet audiophile reissues of classic albums by Kenny Burrell, Dexter Gordon and Andrew Hill continue Blue Note’s celebration of its 80th year.

Wynton Marsalis signed with the Blue Note label 15 years ago, then released an album worthy of that bastion of earthy joy.

Wayne Shorter has delivered a late-period masterpiece: The music on ‘Emanon’ is wonderful, the expectation delivered.

Always putting spirituality above improvisation, Brian Blade and The Fellowship Band connects to listeners in a way uncommon for jazz musicians, and ‘Body And Shadow’ continues a remarkable consistency of mission and quality spanning two decades.

Jose James’ new collection of classic Billie Holiday covers makes for a stellar, if somber, album. Yesterday I had the blues, indeed.

More than any other album, ‘Speak No Evil’ is the reason why we often put that word ‘legend’ in front of Wayne Shorter’s name.

This is one finger-licking, chin-wagging, cool-side-of-the-pillow triumph.

As one of the most in-demand drummers in the world — jazz and otherwise — it can be a little understandable if Brian Blade hadn’t come forth with an album since 2009’s sublime singer-songwriter excursion Mama Rosa. You May Also Like: Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band – Body AndRead More

Brian Blade commences with a quiet pulse on “He Died Fighting,” setting the stage for an appropriately militaristic opening statement. But as the rest of his long-standing Fellowship Band gathers around, the track opens up into a vista of astonishing emotional complexity. You May Also Like: Brian Blade & TheRead More

The songs, after a long time away, just started floating to the surface for Benmont Tench. He’d been a member of Tom Petty’s staggeringly underrated band the Heartbreakers forever, had even had a Nashville writing gig for a time. You May Also Like: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ gritty MojoRead More