Joe Block, There Is Always Hope Review Joe Block’s There Is Always Hope: When Familiarity Becomes Musical Language by Nolan DeBuke There is a difference between knowing a composition and knowing how a particular group […]
Greg Chako, Hard Bop: For The Record Review Greg Chako, Hard Bop: For The Record: Who Fills the Space? By Ferell Aubre Removing an instrument from an established jazz format does more than change its […]
Steve Wilson, Enduring Sonance Review Steve Wilson: Enduring Sonance, Where Lyricism Lives By Nolan DeBuke Lyricism is easy to associate with slowness. Give a melody enough space, soften the dynamics, allow notes to linger, and […]
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. […]
The Jazz Word 2021
