by Mark Saleski Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette. Piano, bass, drums. A rational person might ask, “Do we really need another live record from these people?” You May Also Like: Noah Haidu – ‘Slowly: Song For Keith Jarrett’ (2021) Keith Jarrett + Charlie Haden and Paul Motian – ‘HamburgRead More

by Mark Saleski Sometimes, curiosity will get the best of me. A strange attraction to something new — a particular (and often peculiar) food, drink, author, musician — will emerge and the craving will not be denied. Mostly, this works out You May Also Like: Ornette Coleman, an inscrutable genius,Read More

by Mark Saleski You wouldn’t suppose that most musicians would look favorably upon being compared to an old pile of rocks. How about an old, organized pile of rocks? You May Also Like: Paul Bley, Gary Peacock + Paul Motian – ‘When Will The Blues Leave’ (1999, rel. 2019) KeithRead More

by Mark Saleski The music starts playing and every little bit of you pays attention. This is a musical connection. You May Also Like: Wadada Leo Smith – Najwa (2017) Wadada Leo Smith and Orange Wave Electric – ‘Fire Illuminations’ (2023) Deerhoof, feat. Wadada Leo Smith – ‘To Be SurroundedRead More

Warning: Listening to the Joe Jackson Band’s ‘Volume 4’ may give you a strong urge to dig out your skinny tie.

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

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

Emerson Lake and Palmer somehow went from selling 40 million records to becoming one of rock’s more reviled bands – all in the space of a single decade.

by Mark Saleski I had forgotten just how crazy Lester could be. I would often finish with one of his reviews in Creem (ah, those were the days) and wonder if the danged magazine was trying to pull a fast one on me. Nope. They were not. What I wasRead More

Early fans could be forgiven for barely recognizing Chicago by the 1980s, as fussy power ballads eventually flushed out the band’s signature horn sound.