Metropolitan Jazz Octet, The Bowie Project Review Metropolitan Jazz Octet and Paul Marinaro: The Bowie Project Reinvigorates the Starman’s Legacy With a stroke of genius, the Metropolitan Jazz Octet (MJO) and Paul Marinaro embark on a journey through David Bowie’s illustrious canon, infusing it with jazz structures and tones in their album, The Bowie Project. … Read more
John Scofield, Uncle John’s Band Review John Scofield’s Uncle John’s Band: The Genre-Blending Journey Through Jazz’s Past and Future John Scofield’s Uncle John’s Band is an ambitious jazz project released under the ECM Records label. Comprising fourteen tracks of both Scofield originals and well-crafted arrangements, the virtuosic trio of Scofield on guitar, Vicente Archer on acoustic bass, … Read more
Deborah Silver, Shake It Off Review Deborah Silver’s jazzy rendition of “Shake It Off” captures the essence of a classic, contrasting beautifully with Taylor Swift’s original pop anthem. From the onset, a rich baritone horn—a rare choice for an opener—sets a distinctive tonal palette. Charles “The Hit Man” Calello’s arrangement elevates the track, filling it … Read more
Joshua Redman, Where Are We Review Where Are We: Joshua Redman’s Jazz View of Modern America It is the theme of our times to blur lines, and in the world of jazz’s increasingly blurry outlines, few musicians exemplify this stylistic fluidity as successfully as saxophonist Joshua Redman. With his newest offering, Where Are We, Redman embarks … Read more
The Black Gold Orchestra, Genesis Review A Genesis of Jazz’s Future: The Black Gold Orchestra The jazz albums of today have to hit the scene with a genre-blending sound that is increasingly popular. The Black Gold Orchestra’s debut album, “Genesis,” released on September 8, 2023, bursts onto the platform as a sprawling mosaic of Black … Read more
Tingvall Trio, BIRDS Review BIRDS by Tingvall Trio—A Melodic Flight Through An Exquisite Soundscape In the realm of jazz, few phenomena manifest the genre’s ability to blend virtuosity, accessibility, and profound emotional communication as effectively as the Tingvall Trio. The ensemble’s latest album, BIRDS, serves as an exquisite culmination of 20 years of ceaseless artistic … Read more
Pete McCann, Without Question Review In the dazzling hues of modern jazz, few artists manage to craft a sonic adventure quite as resonant and inventive as Pete McCann in his latest album, Without Question. Released on August 4, 2023, this album isn’t just a showcase of McCann’s guitar virtuosity; it’s a profound statement, an auditory … Read more
Steve Smith, Time Flies Review Drummer Steve Smith, a former member of the iconic rock band Journey and an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has led his jazz group, Vital Information, since 1983. This year marks their 40th anniversary, celebrated with the release of their new album Time Flies. The album … Read more
Buster Williams, Unalome Review Unalome: The Spiral Path of Buster Williams’ Enlightenment In the pantheon of jazz, a mélange of titans, dreamers, and artists exists. Amongst them strides a colossus—Buster Williams— who, in his latest offering, Unalome, crafts an astral journey towards enlightenment, a path tread with soulful harmonies and transcendental melodies. Drawing from the sacred … Read more
Jared Sims, Hellbender: The Resistance Review Jazz, Rock, and Beyond: A Daring Odyssey in Jared Sims’ Hellbender: The Resistance Alright, jazz voyagers! Hold on to your fedoras and berets because we’re diving deep into the sonic vortex of Jared Sims’ latest creation, Hellbender: The Resistance. I hope you’ve got your jazz hands ready because this is … Read more