by Greg Bryant, Nate Chinen, WBGO “Cecil Taylor’s intensity at the piano conjured a musical sorcery stretching far beyond himself or his collaborators. In a 1975 interview with Boston Public Television, he said: ‘The purpose of the music is to achieve a levitation or a trance which is the existence beyond the normal existence.’” Listen to … Read More
by Suraya Mohamed, NPR “Look around the GB’s Juke Joint studio in Long Island City, N.Y. and you will see adornments from jazz singer Catherine Russell’s home: a vintage Royal typewriter, a black dial phone, a red tiny desk and a striking Malian Bògòlanfini cloth that drapes the piano. Black and white photos of Billie … Read More
by Matt Micucci, Jazziz Alex “Apolo” Ayala is one of the most in-demand bassists in the contemporary Latin music and jazz scene of New York City. His latest album, Bámbula, is available now on Truth Revolution Records. On it, he marries modern jazz ideas with Afro-Puerto Rican styles via a set of seven original compositions and … Read More
by Jon Norton, WGLT Normal native Adam Larson has just released the first of a trilogy of albums celebrating cities where he made his mark in jazz. “With Love, From Chicago” is a nod to the city that embraced him after he moved to New York City. He says for one, a favorable Chicago Tribune review … Read More
ABC Jazz “Our feature album this week takes us to New York and not to a club or studio, but Champian Fulton‘s home – where she captured a session live from lockdown with her father, trumpeter Stephen Fulton. Prior to this session, the pianist and singer had run a series of online gigs throughout the pandemic and … Read More
by Stephanie Steele, Bite-Size Jazz “Alex Hamburger’s latest album And She Spoke was inspired by many powerhouse women in history. But first and foremost, And She Spoke is inspired by Alex’s grandmother: a stalwart educator, and activist during the military dictatorship in Paraguay. Listen to the full interview with flutist, composer, and vocalist Alex Hamburger to learn more … Read More
By Stephanie Steele, Bite-Size Jazz Bassist Michael Feinberg’s latest album takes you through the wild ride of the pandemic. Waking up “Every. Damn. Day” to the horrible news cycle of police brutality and out-of-control politicians, feeling a little “Janky in the Middle” of it all, and mostly just hoping you can see the light at … Read More
By Simon Rentner, WBGO “Pianist, singer, and composer Rachel Eckroth is more than a musical chameleon. Her shapeshifting is so astonishingly dramatic that there is no upper limit to her creative identity.” Listen to the full episode of The Checkout here.
By Matt Micucci, Jazziz “Puerto Rican master drummer/composer/arranger Henry Cole is known for his versatility and groove. Over the years, he has performed with many of the greats, from Miguel Zenón to Gary Burton and beyond. During this time of intense activity, he also developed his own idiosyncratic “mestizo sound,” which synthesizes African, Indigeound and … Read More
By Stephanie Steele, Bite-Size-Jazz The sound of big bands brewed a love for jazz that carried Miki Yamanaka from her home in Japan all the way to New York City. Listen to this interview here.
