Usually when we’re on the topic of a record led by a drummer, the story will be about a bandleader and sometimes, the primary composer, who also happens to be the drummer. You May Also Like: Claudio Scolari, Daniele Cavalca, Simone Scolari – Natural Impulse (2018) Dan Cavalca – ‘LightsRead More

Sometimes old really is new again. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones existed as a trio for a handful of years after harmonica/pianist Howard Levy left, only to ask consistent fill-in saxophonist Jeff Coffin to join their ranks. You May Also Like: Bela Fleck, Robin McKelle, Delfeayo Marsalis + Others: FiveRead More

Taylor Haskins, who’s done an impressive amount of soundtrack work, has put out an appropriately cinematic project here. Originally recorded in 2009, but just issued by NineteenEight Records earlier this month, Taylor Haskins + Recombination begins with the soaring sunrise of “Morning Chorale,” moves on into the rush-hour bustle ofRead More

A life around jazz, and fellow jazz greats, has left Alphonse Mouzon with his share of stories.

The Elements of Jazz is a quartet from Miami bills themselves as “The New Sound of Miami,” with its clean and lean jazzy grooves that sharply contrast with the “new sound of Miami” from the 80s, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine. The one common element is that bothRead More

My first encounter with the musicianship of fusion guitarist Steve Khan came from Billy Joel’s 1978 album 52nd Street. I still remember a studio picture of Khan in the vinyl record’s sleeve, big black hair, mustache, guitar and all. These days, Khan doesn’t have the big black hair anymore, butRead More

by Tom Johnson Bill Frisell has become one of the most easily recognizable guitarists in jazz, and it’s not without an effort to incorporate himself into as many styles as one person could in a lifetime. Few guitarists in any genre could pull off the feat of having played inRead More

While we’ve talked about a lot of fusion guitarists over the last five years, this is about a new album by the first one. You May Also Like: Larry Coryell – ‘Last Swing With Ireland’ (2021) Murali Coryell – Mr. Senator (2016) Larry Carlton was at his most approachable withRead More

The Headhunters have completed an ambitious new jazz release — one that continues to push the edges of fusion, incorporating hip hop and funk You May Also Like: How Bennie Maupin Left Mwandishi Behind on ‘The Jewel in the Lotus’ Rob Dixon Trio, with Charlie Hunter and Mike Clark –Read More

by Mark Saleski Over the years I have spent many pen scrawls, pencil swipes, and keystrokes trying to describe what it is about ‘out’ music that moves me so much. Sometimes it’s pretty easy You May Also Like: Matthew Shipp – Zero (2018) Matthew Shipp – ‘The Intrinsic Nature ofRead More