by Michael J. West, JazzTimes “..Spring of Two Blue-J’s, one of the great concert triumphs of free-jazz pianist Cecil Taylor’s career, is just the shorter second set from a two-set … Read More
Michael J. West, Alchemical Records The great drummer Art Blakey was also the great teacher Art Blakey. The man dedicated his life to leading bands (the Jazz Messengers) that he … 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 … Read More
Michael J. West, JazzTimes The murderer’s row of fusioneers that bassist/composer Scott Petito assembled for Rainbow Gravity is both exciting and foreboding. It implies great playing and—not unrelatedly—big, self-indulgent spotlights for the … Read More
