Henry Threadgill, Vijay Iyer & Dafnis Prieto, Fifteen Review Henry Threadgill, Vijay Iyer & Dafnis Prieto — Fifteen: Nothing Stays Owned for Very Long. by Nolan DeBuke The absence of a bassist on Fifteen initially […]
Ryan Barry, If I Did Not Speak Out Review Ryan Barry’s If I Did Not Speak Out: Making Ideas Consequential By Sylvannia Garutch Saxophonist Ryan Barry leads a jazz group presenting familiar forms in a […]
Sullivan Fortner, Leave That In There Review Leave That In There: Be Open to the Engagement of Sullivan Fortner by Nolan DeBuke Sullivan Fortner’s playing has the kind of technical abundance that can easily become […]
Takashi Matsunaga, Ride Five Review Takashi Matsunaga’s Ride Five: Form Without Repetition by Ferell Aubre How can two improvisers create the feeling of form without depending on literal repetition? On Ride Five, pianist Takashi Matsunaga […]
Nicholas Payton + Butcher Brown, A Supreme Blue Review A Supreme Blue: Payton and Butcher Brown Speak the Same Language By Nolan DeBuke How much of a composition can change before it stops being itself? […]
Kenny Barron Trio, So Many Lovely Things: Live in Brecon Review Keeping the Melody in Sight: Kenny Barron Trio’s So Many Lovely Things By Ferell Aubre Archival jazz releases often earn their value by uncovering […]
Pete Mills, This Is Now Review Pete Mills’ This Is Now: Ensemble Design as Musical Expression By Nolan DeBuke On This Is Now, tenor saxophonist Pete Mills leads a flexible ensemble featuring Kenny Banks Jr. […]
New Jazz Underground, Hoodies Review New Jazz Underground: The Sounds Of Today’s Jazz By Nolan DeBuke New Jazz Underground’s debut album Hoodies blends styles for a current modern jazz sound because the ensemble understands how […]
Warren Wolf, Smoove Vibes Review Warren Wolf’s Smoove Vibes: Groove, Melody, and the Long Line By Nolan DeBuke Warren Wolf has long been known for what he can do on the vibraphone, but Smoove Vibes […]
Billy Childs, Triumvirate Review Billy Childs’ Triumvirate: A Piano Language in Full By Nolan DeBuke For all the conversation that naturally surrounds Triumvirate as Billy Childs’ first trio recording in decades, the album is a compelling […]
The Jazz Word 2021
