by Matt Silver, WRTI “This is simply an outstanding band and record. It’s delicious and also nutritious—you’ll learn something about history if you do a little research into the events that inspired some of Henriquez’s weightier compositions. In short, The South Bronx Story is worthy of every bit of praise it’s received.” Read the complete review here.
by Matt Silver, WRTI If, as a Brubeck fan, all that sounds discomfiting to you, recall the old master’s advice cited above. Zaleski has, and I suspect Brubeck would find Our Time a fine execution of the lessons he sought to impart. Read the feature here.
by Matt Silver, WRTI These days, it seems every musician is compelled to tout their new album as “their most personal yet.” They’re compelled to not just tell the truth, but to tell “their” truth. Whether listeners care, though, really depends on whether or not the music is good. And, on vocalist Lauren Henderson’s latest, Musa, … Read More
by Matt Silver, WRTI In addition to being a supremely talented musician, Roni Ben-Hur is a smart man. The veteran guitarist—Israeli born and raised—not only understands how to craft tunes, but also gets how to build an album that reflects the essential touchstones of his musicality. Read the feautre here.
By Matt Silver, WRTI In jazz, as in life, you are the company you keep. Perhaps unfair at times, it’s a truism that works out nicely for pianist Keith Brown. Casual jazz fans might not know him by name, but they might very well know him by sound; he played on acclaimed records led by … Read More
by Matt Silver, WRTI If you have any questions about where vocalist Allan Harris grew up or for whom he sings, you haven’t heard Kate’s Soulfood yet. One listen to the silky baritone’s 14th album as a leader will leave no doubt; Harris represents that same historic slice of Upper Manhattan that he honored all pandemic long … Read More
By Matt Silver, WRTI May 24, 2021. Drummer Ralph Peterson, the Art Blakey acolyte and former Jazz Messenger with a large-and-in-charge physical and musical presence on the bandstand and an outsize personality to match, died earlier this year, months shy of his 59th birthday; he’d been fighting cancer for the last six years. But you … Read More
Dave Brubeck’s most recent release “Time OutTakes,” the first release of the family’s record label Brubeck Editions, is a record of previously unreleased out takes from The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s 1959 record “Time Out.” Over the past few weeks, “Time OutTakes” has received reviews from All About Jazz, Glide Magazine, Toledo Blade, WRTI Radio and … Read More
By Matt Silver, WRTI September 14, 2020. Philadelphia born-and-bred trumpeter Wallace Roney learned from legends, played with legends, and ultimately died one too soon, passing away from complications of the coronavirus this past March at age 59. Read this article here.
By Matt Silver, WRTI August 24, 2020. Champian Fulton’s first paid gig was playing Clark Terry’s 75th birthday party. She was 10 years old. Now, at 35, the pianist and vocalist is more than just precocious and well-connected; she’s ambitious, too—averaging nearly one new release every year since her 2007 debut. Read this feature here. … Read More
