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Empirical: Wonder Is The Beginning
by Chris May
London's Empirical quartet, which first recorded in 2007 as a quintet, has had a steady lineup since 2009's sophomore album, Out 'n' In (Naim): Nathaniel Facey on alto saxophone, Lewis Wright on vibraphone, Tom Farmer on double bass and Shaney Forbes on drums. A stable lineup has given the group a certain consistency of sound, though a changing cast of featured guests has bounded it somewhat. That practically all the tunes the group plays are originals contributes to the consistency. ...
read moreSimon Phillips, John Patitucci, Niacin and Alex Machacek
by Len Davis
Simon Phillips, John Patitucci, Niacin, Marc Norgaard, and Alex Machacek. MVP with Allan Holdsworth and Frank Gambale. Japanese band Next Order, guitarist Willie Oteri, Klaus Doldinger, bassist's Tetsuo Sakurai and Peter Muller.Playlist Simon Phillips “Indian Summer" from Symbiosis (Lipstick) 00:00 John Patitucci “A Better Mousetrap" from On The Corner (GRP) 07:20 Niacin “Hell To Play" from Niacin-Live Blood Sweat and Beers (Magna Carta) 14:40 Marc Norgaard “Papaya Dream" from Tolerance (Call Sign) 22:00 Alex Machacek “Out Of Pappenheim" ...
read moreDominik Schürmann: The Seagull's Serenade
by Richard J Salvucci
Insularity is a funny thing. With globalization on everyone's mind--one way or another--it is ironic that parochialism affects the fine arts in any important way. It is not as if Pablo Picasso or Gustav Mahler were merely local celebrities. In classical music, composers have long been peripatetic figures--think of G.F. Handel, as likely regarded as British as he was German. And celebrated figures are nothing today, if not international. And yet--it is only an impression--jazz seems a bit different. Of ...
read moreSun Ra: At The Showcase (Live In Chicago, 1976-1977)
by Troy Dostert
Describing the music of Sun Ra is always challenging--perhaps even more so when it is documented on a live recording. A case in point is this offering from the Jazz Detective label, a substantial slice of Ra taken from two concerts at Chicago's Jazz Showcase in the mid-'70s. It can be dense and opaque, even impenetrable at times. But it also swings mightily, with a generous big-band sound which should appeal to all but the most close- minded jazz listeners. ...
read moreQueer Blues: The Hidden Figures Of Early Blues Music
by Ian Patterson
Queer Blues: The Hidden Figures Of Early Blues Music Darryl W. Bullock 352 Pages ISBN: 978-1-9131-7252-7 Omnibus Press 2023 The blues is ripe with legends and myths, not least the oft-touted claim that W.C. Handy was the father of the blues. But as Darryl. W. Bullock tells it, there is an important tract of blues history that has not got its due. Until now. In his telling, many of the blues pioneers were ...
read moreFederico Chiarofonte: Underbrush
by Neil Duggan
Underbrush is the first project led by drummer and composer Federico Chiarofonte. The title is appropriate as it alludes to the undergrowth from which biological forms emerge, as well as a secure space where concepts can flourish. Those natural world elements are also reflected in many of the track titles, all eight of which were composed by Chiarofonte. Chiarofonte is among those imaginative drummers who take on leadership and compositional roles as well as their role as rhythm ...
read moreThere But for the Grace of Kelly
by Patrick Burnette
Sometimes podcast hosts just want to watch the world--or at least their co-host--burn. Hence, the explanation for the inclusion of a pretty inexplicable pander-fest in this otherwise august and serious podcast. The other selections (all recent releases) incorporate humor in a couple of cases, and, well, don't in the most serious selection. Pat reports on a live concert by the more furrowed-browed of the alto saxophonists while Mike catches a few much-needed zzzz's..Playlist Discussion of Grace Kelly's album ...
read moreGhost Trees: Intercept Method
by Mark Corroto
John Coltrane and Rashied Ali might not have been the first to record as a free jazz duo with Interstellar Space (Impulse!,1974), but the pair did set the bar for future performances from the likes of Frank Lowe and Rashied Ali, Peter Brötzmann/Peeter Uuskyla, Anthony Braxton/Max Roach, and Joe McPhee/Hamid Drake. Admittedly, this genre of music might send many a traditional jazz listener packing. Fear not. The duo Ghost Trees creates accessible free jazz, and the use of ...
read moreHainbach: Crafting Soundscapes from Forgotten Relics
by Lawrence Peryer
Today, the Spotlight shines On Berlin-based electronic music composer and performer Hainbach.I have come to view Hainbach as much an archeologist or audio specimen collector as he is a musician. While he makes beautiful music and soundscapes, they are often showcase pieces for the devices he works on, which include not only vintage and rare modular synthesizers but also tape machines, test equipment, and other industrial machinery. A particular highlight of his work is his YouTube channel, where ...
read moreYusef Lateef: Atlantis Lullaby - The Concert From Avignon
by Pierre Giroux
Yusef Lateef's performance in Atlantis Lullaby is a masterclass in communication and demonstration of synergy. In this previously unreleased performance recorded in Avignon, France in 1972, Lateef, on soprano sax, tenor sax and flute, is accompanied by Kenny Barron on piano, Bob Cunningham on bass and Albert “Tootie" Heath on drums. This two-CD package is being released by Elemental Music and produced for release by Zev Feldman. It contains a 23-page booklet with stories and reminiscences about Lateef from Feldman, ...
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