One of the more distinctive and convincing points made by Ted Gioia in his definitive chronicle of jazz, The History of Jazz (1997, rev. 2011, Oxford University Press) is about the under-credited impact pianist Lennie Tristano made You May Also Like: Jason Stein Quartet – Lucille! (2017) Jason Stein’s LocksmithRead More

A lesser talent than Israeli guitarist-composer Yotam might have gotten lost in this project. You May Also Like: Victor Assis Brasil – Toca Antonio Carlos Jobim (1970, 2017 reissue) Claudio Roditi’s Gorgeous ‘Brazilliance x4’ Deftly Balanced His Many Influences

Don’t even bother: it doesn’t mean anything. It’s just a weird band name they use because it sounds funny. And that, in itself, should tell you something about this band: They’re French and they have this kind of sense of humor. Add in the fact that guitarist Christophe Godin playsRead More

Whenever David Weiss is involved in a project, it’s worth sitting up and taking notice. Same goes for Billy Hart. Or Eddie Henderson, Or Cecil McBee, Billy Harper or George Cables, for that matter. But a project that involves all of these players demands your full attention. A lineup ofRead More

Brooklyn-born to Haitian parents, drummer Andrew Cyrille had gone on to record with Mary Lou Williams, Coleman Hawkins and Roland Kirk before beginning a decade-plus stint in Cecil Taylor’s band during some of Taylor’s most creative periods. You May Also Like: Andrew Cyrille, with Wadada Leo Smith and Bill FrisellRead More

Here’s unearthed new proof of Ray Charles’ still-underrated creativity, unerring rhythmic ear and undeniable moxie as a jazz musician.

The sweeping, cinematic quality of Alex Lopez’s new We Can Take This Boat makes perfect sense, really. After all, the saxophonist/composer’s debut, due on Nov. 22, follows earlier work on a series of independent films in New York City. An all-original effort, Lopez makes good on a series of namedRead More

Machine Mass Trio has constructed a mesmerizing, moving carpet of boisterous sax, knifing guitars and boiling rhythms on the electronics-laden As Real As Thinking. There is always, always something happening here, as MMT skitters with determined focus between the melodic, the moody and (to great effect) the outside. Much ofRead More

This album is credited to Anthony Wilson and rightfully so, as this master guitarist/composer/arranger wrote the four-part “Seasons” suite and led a quartet of virtuosic plectrists to perform it before a live audience. You May Also Like: Anthony Wilson – ‘Collodion’ (2023) Jan Hammer – Seasons Pt. 1 (2018)

Erik Friedlander and Tom Cora are two legends of jazz cello, true pioneers and standouts as there are so few cellists with such an improvisational jazz bent and fewer still who regularly have gone for the jugular as those two. You May Also Like: George Crotty Trio – ‘Chronotope’ (2022)Read More