Simon Rentner, WBGO Today’s show unfolds in two parts. First Joe Lovano shares his appreciation of fellow tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, whom he first learning about his while growing up in Cleveland, OH. (Lovano expressed his appreciation many years later with an original blues, “Big Ben.”) Then we’ll take you to the 2018 Montreal Jazz Festival … Read More
Nate Chinen, WBGO Lessons Learned is an apt title for the 14th album by Judi Silvano, a vocalist and composer who draws from a wide range of experience. Her Zephyr Band — named after an early-2000s album she made with pianist Mal Waldron — has Kenny Wessel and Bruce Arnold on guitars; Adam Kolker on bass clarinet, … Read More
Scott Yanow, Jazz Artistry Now The upcoming 50th anniversary of Miles Davis’ groundbreaking Bitches Brew album served as a perfect excuse for altoist Charles Pillow to arrange new versions of some of Mr. Davis’ repertoire from that era. But unlike most other electric Miles tribute projects, the results are much different than one might expect. Charles Pillow, who is originally … Read More
Giovanni Russonello, New York Times BRANDEE YOUNGER QUINTET at Jazz Standard (Aug. 21-22, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.). Ms. Younger’s harp playing can be airy or imagistic, but it’s usually grounded in a groove. Over the past decade, she’s proven adept at bringing the instrument into contexts where it had rarely gone: jazz infused with neo-soul; springy … Read More
Giovanni Russonello, New York Times MEG OKURA AND THE PAN ASIAN CHAMBER JAZZ ENSEMBLE at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (Aug. 20, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.). “Ima Ima” is the new album from this impressive violinist and bandleader, and her fourth with the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble. It’s a record of grandiloquent beauty that transitions easily from grooves to … Read More
Kevin Johnson, No Treble Composer, producer, engineer, and bassist Scott Petito has released Rainbow Gravity, a new album featuring an all-star cast of musicians. His music comes to life thanks to saxophonist Bob Mintzer trumpeter Chris Pasin, guitarist David Spinozza, keyboardists Rachel Z, David Sancious and Warren Bernhardt, vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, and percussionist Bashiri Johnson. Petito also got … Read More
Leonid Auskern, Jazz Quad Иден Барекет родился в Буэнос-Айресе в 1987 году, с 2013 года живет в Нью-Йорке, но вырос и стал джазовым музыкантом в Израиле. Здесь в девять лет он начал играть на альт-саксофоне, а в пятнадцать перешел на баритон-саксофон, с которым не расстается с тех пор. Иден закончил консерваторию в Тель-Авиве, приобрел опыт … Read More
Ron Schepper, Textura Yes, and…Music For Nine Improvisers might initially seem an odd title, but a bit of background brings clarity. The name originated from The Compass Players, a Chicago theatre outfit founded in 1955 (and predecessor to Second City) that turned improv into a fine art by applying the ‘Yes, and . . .’ principle … Read More
Philip Booth, JazzTimes One strategy for making a recording project more accessible: Use popular melodies and themes as starting points. Don Braden, who deserves greater recognition as one of our era’s tenor sax titans, takes just such an approach with Earth Wind and Wonder, drawing from the chartbusting soul and R&B of Stevie Wonder and … Read More