by Ron Schepper, Textura “This sophomore release by Matt Ulery’s Delicate Charms has the distinction of being the Chicago bassist’s first live recording. Yet no matter how different the projects might be within his wide-ranging discography, one thing in particular unites them: Ulery’s voice as a composer. Every piece he writes bears his unmistakable signature, … Read More
by Ron Schepper, Textura In their Best 30 Jazz Albums of 2021, Textura nods to Jalen Baker’s This Is Me, This Is Us, Jihye Lee Orchestra’s Daring Mind, Adi Meyerson’s I Want To Sing My Heart Out In Praise of Life, Adam Moezinia’s Folk Element Trio, Tomoko Omura’s Branches Vol. 2, Sam Pilnick’s The Adler … Read More
by Ron Schepper, Textura “Professional speakers know that an audience’s attention is often better caught by speaking softly rather than at the top of one’s lungs. Illustrating how that principle can extend into other areas, Haeun Joo embodies it within a jazz context.” Read the full review here.
By Ron Schepper, Textura “After making an auspicious debut with her 2018 release Where We Stand, Adi Meyerson takes a significant artistic leap forward on her follow-up. Original, ambitious, imaginative, adventurous—I Want To Sing My Heart Out in Praise of Life is all that and more. “ Read the full review here.
By Ron Schepper, Textura “If there’s a melancholy undercurrent to the debut album by Sam Blakeslee and his Wistful Thinking ensemble, there’s good reason for it.” Read the full review here.
By Ron Schepper, Textura Alí Bello separates himself from his jazz violin-playing colleagues by grounding his music in the rhythms and musical traditions of Venezuela and the Caribbean. Joined by his Sweet Wire Band and guests Regina Carter, Jaleel Shaw, and others on his sophomore effort Inheritance, the New York-based Bello draws heavily on both … Read More
by Ron Schepper, Textura Vibraphonist Jalen Baker discusses his musical career and debut album This Is Me, This Is Us, which Textura also reviewed. Read the full review here and the interview here.
By Ron Schepper, Textura Hailing from Houston, Jalen Baker impresses as a vibraphonist, composer, and bandleader of preternatural poise on his debut collection. What he has accomplished on This Is Me, This Is Us is more in line with what one expects from an artist well into a career rather than on a first album. … Read More
By Ron Scheper, Textura From her 2015 release Roots to the two instalments in her Branches project, Tomoko Omura’s Japanese heritage continues to be a remarkably fertile source of inspiration, ideas, and source material for the New York-based jazz violinist. The second chapter makes for a wonderful companion to last year’s inaugural Branches volume and … Read More
By Ron Schepper, Textura Charnett Moffett’s astonishing bass command is evident throughout New Love, his seventh release as a leader for Motéma Music and seventeenth overall. His playing alone warrants the release’s recommendation, but there’s considerably more to like about the project beyond his fretless electric. All twelve songs are compact statements, and his primary … Read More
