For the uninitiated here, “whack jazz” is a term of endearment. It’s jazz that is endearing to me because it’s brave, daring and breaks all the rules about what jazz is supposed to be You May Also Like: David S. Ware & Matthew Shipp Duo – Live In Sant’Anna Arresi,Read More

The title for the Noah Kaplan Quartet’s debut album makes all the sense in the world when you look up the word “descendant” in the dictionary. There, you’ll find one of the definitions read “deriving or descending from an ancestor.” You May Also Like: Noah Jack, “Neighborhood” (2017): One TrackRead More

If you’ve ever been interested in Ornette’s Free Jazz, but thought that it might be “too much,” then this album might be worth a listen. The first track, “First Take”, is literally a shorter version (17 minutes) of the Coleman classic. The double quartet lineup is impressive, too: Don Cherry,Read More

Matt Steckler’s Dead Count Bounce is a band that within the parameters of traditional jazz seeks new musical directions You May Also Like: Dead Neanderthals – The Depths (2017) Gato Libre [Natsuki Tamura] – ‘Sleeping Cat’ (2022)

Drummer and composer Tyshawn Sorey is said to one of up-and-comers whose due for an arrival. Gaining notice as a member of Steve Coleman’s Five Elements, Steve Lehman’s combo as well as Pete Robbins’ sILENT Z, Sorey’s also studied under Anthony Braxton and is currently studying under George Lewis. ButRead More

Little Worlds is another one of those oddly configured trios that’s been popping up lately in jazz, but there is nothing gimmicky sounding from this guitar (Ryan Mackstaller), trombone (Rick Parker) and drums (Tim Kuhl) getup. With all three of these musicians being veterans of rock, jazz and whack jazz,Read More

One of the busiest players in Chicago’s jazz/improvised music scenes, the name of vibist and composer Jason Adasiewicz always seems to come up You May Also Like: Jason Stein Quartet – Lucille! (2017) Ivo Perelman, Mat Maneri, Mark Feldman, Jason Hwang – ‘Strings 1’ (2018)

I’m a sucker for odd instrumentations, which is one of the reasons why I’m drawn to progressive and whack jazz. Listening to strange timbres that come from instruments coming together that aren’t usually combined tends to perk my ears up, trying to solve the puzzle of the sonic conundrum. ItRead More

I had this discussion about jazz with a friend of mine once. He really couldn’t deal the sound of a full-bore, large-scale ensemble You May Also Like: Rob Dixon Trio, with Charlie Hunter and Mike Clark – Coast To Crossroads (2018) Rob Mazurek & Exploding Star Orchestra – ‘Lightning Dreamers’Read More

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