For the conclusion of our 2-part conversation with creative jazz drummer and composer Devin Gray, the Maine-born musician speaks of his increasing ties to Europe and how the fertile Berlin music scene environment gave him new ways to flourish. S. VICTOR AARON: So now I want to shift over toRead More

Here is Part 1 of the SER interview with drummer/composer/bandleader Devin Gray, a passionate, hungry musician who’s both as intensely introspective as he is outgoing and engaging.

Devin Gray has always successfully tackled challenging music, but the Berlin Underground bent of ‘Hz Of Gold’ may be the biggest challenge he’s met yet.

Regardless of what one might think of the political messages of Devin Gray, his musical messages on ‘Melt All Guns II’ are undeniably mighty.

‘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.

Here is a hard rockin’ new single from Adam Hopkins’ ‘Crickets’ band, “Grounded,” a standalone single and extra track from the fifth anniversary vinyl reissue of ‘Crickets.’

Here is S. Victor Aaron’s Best of 2018 list for modern and mainstream jazz releases.

Adam Hopkins is one of the few talents with the vision to make jazz directed at the current and future generations, not the past ones.

The big accomplishment of the first ‘Dirigo Rataplan’ was in Devin Gray’s insight in conceptualizing ways to get the most out of his fellow musicians and himself. That’s the same kind of brilliance found on ‘Dirigo Rataplan II.’

<<< 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: Jimmy Haslip, jazz bassist: The Albums That Shaped My Career