Bill Carrothers Home Row (Pirouet) It doesn’t seem right that a record could sit on the shelf for 16 years then sound so fresh when it finally becomes available. But that’s the case with this superb disc from pianist Bill Carrothers. The approach may be standard piano trio, but the [...]

Pete Rodríguez El Alquimista – The Alchemist (Conde) The volcanic opening track of Pete Rodríguez’s third album as a leader barely hints at what’s to come on this alluring showcase of the young trumpeter and composer’s broad range of talents. Drummer Henry Cole’s thunderous introduction on “Who Do I Trust,” [...]

Mostly Other People Do the Killing This is Our Moosic (Hot Cup) The packaging of This is Our Moosic could hardly be more referential. The jacket’s design and photos specifically recall the Ornette Coleman Quartet’s epochal 1960 release This is Our Music, and in his liner notes, Moppa Elliott, double [...]

Anthony Braxton Quartet (Moscow) 2008 (Leo) One of the more exciting and encouraging developments in jazz during the past few years has been the re-emergence of improvisational legend and theorist Anthony Braxton. After spending years relatively out of sight and sound in academia, Braxton is again putting his ideas into [...]

The Bad Plus For All I Care (Heads Up) More and more, jazz-centric audiences leery about The Bad Plus’ affection for pop tunes – from classic rock to grunge – have warmed to the trio’s wildly creative approach to the material. This shift was evident at the New Orleans Jazz [...]

The L.A. Chillharmonic featuring Richard Smith The L.A. Chillharmonic (Artistry) By most measures, Los Angeles-based guitarist Richard Smith has had a successful solo career. During the past two decades, he’s helped define the urban vibe of smooth jazz on his own recordings and while working with the likes of Dan [...]