by Martin Johnson, The Wall Street Journal “Cecil Taylor (1929-2018) is the most influential jazz pianist of the late 20th century. Some of today’s leading keyboard masters, including Kris Davis, Vijay Iyer, Matthew Shipp and Craig Taborn, cite him as a cornerstone influence. Yet some of the major early, evolutionary chapters of Taylor’s unique style—which … Read More
by Martin Johnson, JazzTimes “Just as the album effortlessly integrates guests and inspirations into the fold, the music flows freely between tempos and genres. There are plenty of ways to make an academic presentation about the core similarities of African-American musical styles, but Marcus and Jean Baylor have found a fun and captivating approach.” Read … Read More
By Martin Johnson, The Wall Street Journal On “Transformation: Personal Stories of Change, Acceptance and Evolution” (Tiger Turn), Mr. Nash joins with Glenn Close and members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on a series of pieces that integrate spoken word and lushly arranged instrumental segments. Read more here.
by Martin Johnson, JazzTimes At a quick glance, the Royal Bopsters’ new recording, Party of Four (Motéma), appears to be a straightforward continuation of their 2015 debut, The Royal Bopsters Project. The group remains a quartet carrying the torch of vocalese from Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, the Manhattan Transfer, and New York Voices. Like their debut, the new album … Read More
By Martin Johnson, The Wall Street Journal The new recordings by pianist Aaron Parks and the duo of saxophonist Walter Smith III and guitarist Matthew Stevens couldn’t have come at a better time. In contrast to many jazz recordings, their music is easy to listen to, with familiar song-form structures and straightforward solos. The immediate … Read More
‘The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron’ Review: Vocalist Vanessa Rubin honors Tadd Dameron with an album that highlights his compositional genius. By Martin Johnson, The Wall Street Journal The great composer and arranger Tadd Dameron (1917-1965) wrote “If You Could See Me Now,” one of Sarah Vaughan’s signature songs, but until now … Read More
‘Stomping Off From Greenwood’ by Greg Ward Review The saxophonist’s Rogue’s Parade ensemble reveals its invigorating rapport on a new album. By Martin Johnson, The Wall Street Journal With the aim of furthering his jazz career, alto saxophonist Greg Ward moved from Chicago to New York 10 years ago. He accomplished his objective by returning … Read More
by Martin Johnson, The Wall Street Journal For decades, the cello has been on the fringes of jazz. The outstanding bassists, Oscar Pettiford and Ron Carter, occasionally recorded on the instrument, and cellists like Abdul Wadud,Diedre Murray and Fred Lonberg-Holm have been cornerstones of avant garde recordings and groups. Akua Dixon has forged a solid … Read More
