By Geno Thackara, All About Jazz Thana Alexa‘s voice contains a world of sound, and that is without even mentioning the globe-spanning musical trappings which surround it. Hearing her is like watching a thunderstorm or maybe a wild hawk in flight. She doesn’t just sing but uses her voice as an expressive precision instrument, in … Read More
George Harris, Jazz Weekly Vocalist Sarah Thorpe mixes her originals with some clever covers with a team of Oliver Hutman/p, Darryl Hall/b, John Betsch/dr and a muscular horn section of TK Blue/woodwinds, Josiah Woodsen/tp and Ronal Baker/tp. Her deliveries range from a passionate and vulnerable duet with Hutman on Horace Silver’s “Lonely Woman” to big … Read More
By Stephen Mosher, Broadway World On 44th Street, just off of 8th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, there lies a Shangri-La for the lovers of jazz. In recent memory, that place that was born some 70 years ago developed a broader vision to bring inside of its’ walls musical artists of other genres, opening another room … Read More
By Eric Snider, Jazziz Magazine At first, alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin was ambivalent about recording a Coltrane tribute album, but ultimately pulled the trigger knowing that her concept was materially different than the scores of Coltrane projects that preceded hers. Pursuance (Ropeadope Records) honors and interprets the music of both Alice and John Coltrane — with … Read More
By Nate Chinen, WBGO Speaking of keening and imploring saxophonists: Lakecia Benjamin has been working for years toward a statement as powerfully self-assured as Pursuance: The Coltranes. Releasing this Friday on Ropeadope, it’s the fulfillment of a dream, as Benjamin told WBGO recently for The Pulse. Read the full review here.
By Piotr Orlov, AFROPUNK Originally, AFROPUNK’s purpose in premiering “Om Shanti,” saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin’s collaboration with Georgia Anne Muldrow and Meshell Ndegeocello on a cover of Alice Coltrane’s spiritual anthem, was not meant to be topical. At least not in the way that it now might seem on this Friday the 13th. Coltrane’s “Om Shanti” … Read More
By Georg W. Harris, Jazz Weekly Tenor vocalist JD Walter mixes piano arias with Jean-Michel Pilc, Julius Rodriguez, Orrin Evans, Taylor Eigsti, Marc Cary and Jim Ridl alon with support by some cameo guests on this intimate, personal and heartfelt release. He’s earnest, clear and classy with Eigsti on his own “Dressed In A Song” … Read More
By Keanna Faircloth, WBGO Lakecia Benjamin stepped out on faith to produce her latest work. So much so that she exhausted her savings to bring it to fruition. Listen to the full interview here.
By Michael Jeffers, Chicago Jazz Magazine Pianist Orrin Evans previews his upcoming weekend performances at the legendary Green Mill Jazz Club with Chicago Jazz Magazine founder Mike Jeffers on this week’s “Chicago Jazz Audio Experience” podcast! Listen to the full interview here.
By Matt Micucci, Jazziz Swedish-native, New York City-based flutist/composer Elsa Nilsson translates the language of political movement to music on her third album as a leader. Hindsight was released on February 21 and it is a direct reaction to the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as the issues that have manifested … Read More
