From the Broadway scrap heap to a widely interpreted jazz standard, “Darn That Dream” has had quite the journey.

Intelligent, driven and mellifluous, Rose’s lifelong relentless pursuit of excellence within jazz comes out on ‘Within and Without,’ starting with the attractively propulsive number “Afensou.”

While “Planet D ‘Rhonda” may not be as great as “Miss Marlene” and “Good Stuff,” it does end ‘Sunken Condos’ on a strong and convincing musical note.

When compiling my lists of best jazz records, broken up into 3 distinct areas of jazz, I used three criteria for inclusion on one of these lists: 1. Is it good enough? (duh) 2. Is it jazz? (duh) -and- 3. Have I already reviewed it in some form or another?Read More

Just three years out of the Berklee College of Music, pianist and composer Julian Shore has figured out a couple of important things pretty early on in his career: mind your melodies and present them in the best possible light. You May Also Like: Julian & Roman Wasserfuhr – LandedRead More

Donald Fagen makes a clean break from his thirty-year-old crowning achievement, with a big assist from the Steely Dan machinery’s secret weapon. You May Also Like: Donald Fagen, “Maxine” from ‘The Nightfly Live’ (2021): Steely Dan Sunday Donald Fagen, “Ruby Baby” from ‘The Nightfly Live’ (2021): Steely Dan Sunday DonaldRead More

About three years ago I went out on a limb and called my shots on up-and-coming female jazz performers — players, not singers — who are destined for bigger and better things in this formally male-dominated province. You May Also Like: Brian Landrus – ‘For Now’ (2020)

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

by S. Victor Aaron This is one I’ve been eagerly anticipating for a while; I’ve even said as much when I reviewed his last album, Perceptual. The wait finally ended on May 8 with the release of Season Of Changes. In that eight year span, Blade was providing drumming forRead More

by S. Victor Aaron Kurt Rosenwinkel first got my attention as the cerebral but melodic guitarist on Brian Blade’s masterpiece Perceptual back in 2000 and then via Rosenwinkel’s own major work of art Heartcore from three years later. That vastly overlooked record was a commanding balance of musicianship, texture andRead More