feature photo: Sal DeVincenzo, courtesy of Cuneiform Records The notion of progressive rock often suggests the melding of rock with some elements of jazz or jazz fusion, due to extended song forms and an emphasis on instrumental prowess. Thinking Plague sets You May Also Like: Guy Capecelatro III – HopeRead More

‘Hear and Now’ packs the instrumental prowess we’ve come to expect from Nick Finzer, paired with a finely honed compositional edge and stellar musicianship.

Sebastien Ammann and Color Wheel achieve their mission of stimulating, dynamic jazz in the span of a fairly concise four minutes. Nothing is wasted on “One.”

Trombonist Nick Finzer discusses the impetus for his new album ‘Hear and Now,’ a sweeping new tour and the importance of jazz education.

Thus far for the drummer, composer and bandleader Vinnie Sperrazza, it’s two albums, two different approaches, same high quality level jazz. The consistent ‘Juxtaposition’ justifies keeping Sperrazza on the watch list.

When great musicians from different bands and projects get together for the express purpose of making music without the restrictions they usually face elsewhere, it should bring out the best in all of them. That’s just what happened with the guys in Modus Factor on their inaugural effort ‘The Picasso Zone.’

Here’s an exclusive stream of “Flying Carpet”, from the Matthew Shipp Trio album ‘Piano Song’ to be released January 27, 2017 on Thirsty Ear Records.

A mere two months following yet another highly thought-of ensemble record, guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson has returned.

Dialectical Imagination’s ‘The Angle and the Brute Sing Songs of Rapture’ is a presentation of music that’s informed by deft musicianship but rides on waves of passion.

Ballister’s ‘Slag’ is free-form music – played that way and at its best.