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 Greg Bryant, WBGO NEA Jazz Master Dave Liebman’s new release, Selflessness, is a passionate reimagining of the John Coltrane songbook. Liebman and his Expansions ensemble have cracked the code to a concept seldom expressed in previous renderings of Coltrane’s most burning mid-to-late-period compositions. Read more here.
By Greg Bryant, WBGO Singer-songwriter Sasha Dobson’s latest album, Girl Talk, is an engaging return to her first love: standards and swing. Read more here.
By Greg Bryant, WBGO Grammy-nominated trumpeter Tim Hagans’ newest recording, A Conversation, is a five-part musical narrative that addresses the ongoing need for dialogue. Listen to this interview here.
By Greg Bryant, WBGO “Ben-Hur’s new album, Stories, chronicles the latest chapter in his approach, combining songs from his childhood with originals that address more recent social issues and the quest for freedom. To realize his vision, the guitarist chose a lineup that includes trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, drummer Victor Lewis, pianist George Cables, bassist Harvie S … Read More
By Greg Bryant, WBGO What he was diagnosing amounts to a pernicious form of marginalization, apart from the prevailing binary in most discussions of race in the United States. “The current vision of solidarity among Asian-Americans is cartoonish and blurry,” Kang argued — a fog of nostalgia and sentiment. “Everything else is the confusion of … Read More
By Greg Bryant, Nate Chinen, WBGO A force of nature — that’s how many admirers memorialized drummer Ralph Peterson, Jr. when he died earlier this month, at 58. And it’s easy to understand why, given the cyclonic fury of his time feel, and the incendiary drama of his attack. Read more here.
By Nate Chinen & Greg Bryant, WBGO It’s never a bad time to talk about Thelonious Monk. His indomitable music and incorruptible example serve as a renewable resource, because there’s always something fresh to uncover, another brilliant corner to explore. Listen to this podcast here.
