By Dave Sumner, Bandcamp Daily The modern jazz scene is more diverse than it’s ever been, with great music turning up in all corners of the globe. In February’s column, we visit Melbourne and Glasgow; Paris and Buenos Aires; St. Petersburg and Mannheim; Rome and Leeds; and hit both U.S. coasts. No matter where you … Read More
By Dave Sumner, Bandcamp Daily Chad McCullough crafts his music as if it were meant to be carried delicately upon the breeze. His melodies are vibrant, yet understated, and their strength is similar to the way that a few carefully chosen words can summon a universe of meaning. Read this article here.
By John Morrison, Bandcamp Daily Born in London, raised in Lagos, and based in New York, Michael Olatuja’s album Lagos Pepper Soup is a fresh and innovative take on the long cross-continental dialogue between Black American jazz and West African popular music. Read the full feature here.
By Dave Sumner, Bandcamp Daily On this tribute to the music of Alice and John Coltrane, Lakecia Benjamin plays it pretty straight. The saxophonist infuses a spirituality into the foundation of these renditions, and this quality, in addition to an appealing propulsion and unerring melodicism, makes this a pretty easy recommendation to make to fans … Read More
By Dave Sumner, Bandcamp Daily There’s an intimacy to this that feels like spending an evening with friends—spread out across the living room, enjoying conversation and laughter. Vocal duo Martina DaSilva and Dan Chmielinski, who also plays the bass, fill their debut album with that feeling. They pick a wide assortment of tunes: some old and … Read More
by Dave Sumner, Bandcamp Daily Evgeny Sivtsov Zoo Evgeny Sivtsov reveals all kinds of idiosyncracies in his lyrical style, its ultimate form is blending the breezy lightheartedness of Sonny Clark and the crisp harmonics of Fred Hersch. This trio work from pianist Sivtsov, bassist Dan Chmielinski, and drummer Shawn Baltazor is the kind of straight-ahead … Read More
Dave Sumner, Bandcamp Zach Brock/Matt Ulery/Jon Deitemyer Wonderment This may be their first official release as a trio, but the collaborations between bassist Matt Ulery, drummer Jon Deitemyer, and violinist Zach Brock have a rich history, resulting in some of the most compelling music of the new century. Where each contributed a guiding hand to large ensemble … Read More
by Dave Sumner, Bandcamp Daily To listen to the work of Brandee Younger is to be forced to consider the question: Why isn’t the harp a more common instrument in jazz? In Younger’s hands, the instrument is as natural a fit for the genre as sax or drums, and Younger’s ability to give its sound … Read More
by Marcus J. Moore, Bandcamp Daily Brandee Younger knows what she’s up against. As a harpist, she knows people will hear her music and drop the names Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby. Younger is fine with that: Coltrane and Ashby are legends who are still somewhat underrated in the pantheon of all-time great jazz musicians. “It’s a compliment,” Younger says … Read More
Album of the Day: Greg Ward, “Stomping Off From Greenwood” by Mike West, Bandcamp Daily Two things immediately distinguish Stomping Off From Greenwood. First, there’s the unique saxophone-and-dual-guitar frontline of Chicago saxophonist Greg Ward’s Rogue Parade quintet, a hard turn from the orchestral Mingus-isms of his most recent album, 2016’s Touch My Beloved’s Thought. Second, and by … Read More
