Joe Jackson tries to radically reinterpret many of Duke Ellington’s best-known works. Some remakes emit sparks, but all too few.

Tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm’s latest release Live at Smalls places the listener at the center of jazz innovation in New York City. You May Also Like: Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop – Rev (2017) How Billy Joel’s ‘Turn the Lights Back On’ Recalls Past Glories

Nearly every fusion jazz artist has a straight jazz side inside of them, and although not as often, the reverse is often true, too. You May Also Like: Pearcy / Gratzmiller Jazz Quintet – ‘Over the Edge’ (2018) Rob Reddy – Citizen Quintet (2016)

Already, we’ve seen the blues and jazz genres enlivened by a series of out-of-nowhere surprises that included Little Feat, Wes Montgomery (yes, Wes Montgomery!) and Bonnie Raitt — even as a new supergroup of fusion-heroes formed. Spectrum Road muscled its way onto this list thanks to virtuoso performances by theRead More

Trigonometry, the third album by alto saxophone rising star Jacám Manricks, was a stellar post-bop set. It was just the kind of record you’d expect with a guy of his experience, education and raw talent You May Also Like: Organ Freeman – Respect My Art (2017) Steve Fidyk – AlliedRead More

Pat Metheny introduces a new twist or turn with each album, and he’s taken so many turns, he’s bound to end up in a spot he’s been in before. You May Also Like: Pat Metheny – ‘From This Place’ (2020) Pat Metheny, “You Are” from ‘From This Place’ (2019): OneRead More

Edward LaRose’s painting on the cover, itself so full of ying-and-yang dualities, sets an expectant tone for Ralph Peterson’s layered and challenging new recording — and the drummer delivers. You May Also Like: How the Dr. John-Led ‘Bluesiana’ Sequel Somehow Matched the Original Cuong Vu 4-Tet, featuring Bill Frisell –Read More

With Beyond the Blue, jazz vocalist Tessa Souter expertly blends European classical tropes with the jazz spirit. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Sounding something like the classic Blue Note recordings of trombonist Curtis Fuller’s youth, Down Home has an in-the-pocket joy that’s contagious. You May Also Like: Richard Turgeon, “A New Shade of Blue” (2020): One Track Mind

Johnny DeBlase plays bass for a couple of thrash-jazz bands, including one of my personal favorites, Many Arms. You May Also Like: Desertion Trio – ‘Numbers Maker’ (2021)