If, as they say, the third time’s the charm, what does that make the fourth time? If it’s concerning a collaboration by tenor saxophonist Ken Fowser and vibraphonist Behn Gillece, it’s even more so the charm. You May Also Like: Ken Fowser – ‘Right On Time’ (2019)

When I think of Finnish jazz, I tend to think of cutting edge electro-acoustic, outside or world fusion jazz. Shame on me, because there’s also prime good ol’ American mainstream acoustic jazz coming out of this Nordic country You May Also Like: Matthew Shipp Trio – ‘New Concepts in PianoRead More

Jaimeo Brown’s work on the forthcoming Transcendence reflects the stirring continuity of traditions, as Deep South gospel is melded with blues is melded with jazz is melded with rock is melded with hip hop is melded with electronica. You May Also Like: Chris Potter – ‘Circuits’ (2019)

Boy, is it ever. From the setting to the instrument to the very label it’s appearing on, John Medeski’s aptly named forthcoming album speaks to a different time — a time long, long before his more recent genre-melting experiments You May Also Like: Medeski Martin & Wood with Alarm WillRead More

Dave Douglas, the much-feted trumpeter who’s known to make such forward-looking albums such as The Tiny Bell Trio, Freak In, Strange Liberation and Moonshine, has lately made a tactical retreat to the basics. You May Also Like: Dave Douglas, Uri Caine + Andrew Cyrille – ‘Devotion’ (2019) Dave Douglas withRead More

Accomplished musical alchemist Billy Martin has taken an opportunity away from Medeski Martin and Wood to rekindle an idea he had years ago — combining ragtime and funk with trumpeter Steven Bernstein. You May Also Like: Medeski Martin & Wood with Alarm Will Sound – ‘Omnisphere’ (2018)

Peter Viani, who had a memorable late-1970s tenure in the Frank Sinatra band, offers series of solo recitations that are lyrical but never lightweight. You May Also Like: Joe Henderson’s ‘Power to the People’ Boldly Deviated From His Hard-Bop Formula Matt Nelson, Tim Dahl, Nick Podgurski – GRID (2017)

Don’t cry, indeed. For Ben Sidran — producer of Van Morrison and Rickie Lee Jones, co-writer of “Space Cowboy” with Steve Miller, sessions man with the Rolling Stones, NPR radio voice — being a hipster seems like such an effortless thing. You May Also Like: Jeff Berlin, Ben Sidran, JeffRead More

I love a good surprise. This week it was my discovery of Kid Koala. You May Also Like: Steely Dan, “Kid Charlemagne” from ‘Northeast Corridor’ (2021): Steely Dan Sunday Sue Foley – ‘Pinky’s Blues’ (2021)

This song, a new live interpolation of a Miles Davis cut from 1961’s Someday My Prince Will Come, might be the best argument Nicholas Payton has ever made for the use of the term Black American Music (or #BAM) instead of jazz. You May Also Like: Nicholas Payton – ‘SmokeRead More