by Gary Fukushima, Downbeat “In Her Words is a conversation, alternating anecdotes from their lives like two friends over lunch. Here, the shared plate is an unconventional string quartet of … Read More
By Gary Fukushima, Downbeat On the opening track of drummer Ulysses Owens Jr.’s new big band album, he plays five sharp rim shots, which catapult the band into “Two Bass … Read More
By Gary Fukushima, Downbeat In 1957, Art Blakey experimented with expanding the Jazz Messengers to a 14-piece band, featuring smart arrangements by trombonist Melba Liston. Thirty years later, he returned … Read More
