Wayne Horvitz has enjoyed a long and eclectic career as a pianist and composer. These…
Reviews
Christian McBride – Christian McBride’s New Jawn (Mack Avenue)
Small groups devoid of keyboards, guitars and other instruments that provide full chordal accompaniment can…
Aaron Goldberg – At the Edge of the World (Sunnyside)
The resurrection of a piano-trio classic carries the obvious risk of being unfavorably compared to…
Charlie Haden & Brad Mehldau – Long Ago and Far Away (Impulse!)
This meeting between Charlie Haden and Brad Mehldau unites two musicians from separate generations who…
Chucho Valdés – Jazz Batá 2 (Mack Avenue)
Chucho Valdés hit a career milestone in 1973 when he founded the now-iconic big band…
Jonathan Finlayson – 3 Times Round (Pi)
3 Times Round, the third album from the genial and gloriously adept trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson,…
James Francies – Flight (Blue Note)
At 23, pianist and keyboardist James Francies is already something of a familiar musical presence.…
John Escreet – Learn to Live (Blue Room)
John Escreet likes to take risks. The UK-born keyboardist’s previous two albums were firmly in…
Richie Cole – Cannonball (Richie Cole Presents)
When saxophonist Richie Cole, who brought the phrase “alto madness” into the jazz vernacular in…
Helen Sung – Sung with Words: A Collaboration with Dana Gioia (Stricker Street)
On seven previous discs and in delightful live performances, Helen Sung has earned her thoroughly…
Aruán Ortiz and Don Byron – Random Dances and (A)tonalities (Intakt)
There is little on Random Dances and (A)tonalities that would fit within the standard definition…
Myra Melford’s Snowy Egret – The Other Side of Air (Firehouse 12)
With a career that was essentially born in New York City’s Knitting Factory scene of…
Ben Wendel – The Seasons (Motéma)
Throughout 2015, following in Tchaikovsky’s footsteps, saxophonist Ben Wendel released the first iteration of The…
Walking Distance featuring Jason Moran – Freebird (Sunnyside)
The title, of course, has nothing to do with lighter-hoisting encore-shouters at a Lynyrd Skynyrd…
Rafal Sarnecki – Climbing Trees (Outside In Music)
From fear of heights to stage fright, Warsaw-born guitarist and composer Rafal Sarnecki has been…
Captain Black Big Band – Presence (Smoke Sessions)
This third — and best — release by pianist Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band…
Buster Williams – Audacity (Smoke Sessions)
is among the character traits that define the most successful creative artists. And Buster Williams,…
Günter “Baby” Somer/Till Brönner – Baby’s Party (Intakt)
Eternally youthful Günter “Baby” Somer, 75, seems to enjoy himself every time he plays. The…
Carol Liebowitz/Bill Payne – Spiderwebmandala (Line Art)
Spiderwebmandala is a fully improvised live set by pianist Carol Liebowitz and clarinetist Bill Payne,…
Samuel Blaser – Early in the Mornin’ (Out Note)
Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser is an important, relatively new voice on his instrument who boasts…
