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

Don’t get me wrong, I love jazz guitarists who derive their inspiration from guys like Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell and Pat Metheny, but it’s so refreshing to hear a new guitarist come along who excels by taking the road less traveled. That’s former child prodigy guitarist Julian Lage, who seemsRead More

by Mark Saleski Why do people hit a musical wall at a certain point in their life? They stop listening to anything put out after their high school (or college) years. Worst of all: they just stop listening. Music is no longer a part of their life. You May AlsoRead More

This double-album set features late-period performances by the Jazz Messengers found years after Art Blakey passed away.

Stan Kenton would have been 100 this year and, in many ways, he’s as misunderstood now as he was in his own time. You May Also Like: 14 Jazz Orchestra, Jazzrausch Bigband + Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra: Big Bands on Different Paths

Author Jonathan Franzen (The Corrections, Freedom) was feeling sort of burned out and overexposed after spending several months book touring, with his personal history a constant subject. His solution was to travel to a remote island You May Also Like: Why You Should Give Pat Metheny’s ‘Rejoicing’ Another Listen ‘ElegantRead More

It’s been a couple of years since we last heard from pre-eminent jazz rhythmist Jeff “Tain” Watts, when his star-studded engagement Watts was introduced. You May Also Like: Kevin Eubanks – East West Time Line (2017)

Clarinetist Mort Weiss, who turns 76 years young tomorrow, is ten years into a remarkable comeback after laying off working as a musician for four — that’s right — four decades. You May Also Like: Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio – ‘Cold as Weiss’ (2022)

Shane Endsley might not be a familiar name to you, but the Grammy-nominated funk-rock-jazz group he cofounded Kneebody might be. Even if it isn’t, this trumpeter who’d gigged with Charlie Hunter, Ben Allison and Chris Speed became more noticeable with the debut of his own Music Band. Then The OtherRead More

by Mark Saleski There are two things that can be counted on when cracking open a new Carla Bley Big Band record: 1. many, many interesting and twisty passages of musical architecture and 2. volume. Oh yes, the horn section is enormous You May Also Like: Riverside [Dave Douglas, ChetRead More