Kassa Overall’s ‘I THINK I’M GOOD’ Album Reviewed
The human brain is incredibly powerful. It controls every function of our bodies, allows us to reason, and permits us to both create and appreciate art. To do so, it …
Vijay Iyer
Watch Vijay Iyer on Chris Thile’s ‘Live from Here’ (Video)
It’s kind of amazing what Chris Thile has done with his public radio show, Live from Here, creating a new showcase for performers in a way that only public radio …
Nextbop’s Favorite Jazz Albums of 2017
We have a small, volunteer staff here at Nextbop. Folks who read us here contribute work, adding to the collective of voices that we so cherish here and giving additional …
Vijay Iyer – ‘Far From Over’
There has always been an air of adventure about his music, but since Vijay Iyer has started releasing records on ECM, the acclaimed pianist has really been exploring. Iyer’s ECM …
Rez Abbasi drops new single “Propensity”
Guitarist Rez Abbasi is back at it with a new album coming October 6th on Whirlwind Recordings. Unfiltered Universe brings back Abbasi’s South Asian-inspired supergroup, Invocation, featuring saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, …
Thums Up Live at the 2017 Ecstatic Music Festival (Stream)
Thums Up is one of those projects that has floated around for a little while but I’ve yet to hear but sound like so awesome a configuration that I would …
Nextbop’s Favorite Jazz Albums of 2015
I’m not quite sure what more I could say here about jazz in 2015. There may not have been some overarching narrative that guided how art was made and released. …
Threadgill, Iyer, and Prieto Conjure Up a Storm at The Jazz Gallery
The most powerful storm I’ve ever seen was at the Big Bend National Park in the isolated elbow of Texas. A tremendous set of clouds marched toward our site in …
Vijay Iyer and the Brentano String Quartet Create ‘Time, Place, Action’ in San Antonio
Aaron Prado didn’t plan on being on the stage last Friday night. The pianist and former KRTU music director was merely planning on attending the performance of his old teacher’s, …
Vijay Iyer Trio at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Full Concert Video)
Since the inception of this site in 2009, pianist Vijay Iyer has been on a tear producing album after album of deeply compelling, intricate, powerful and addictive music, each time …
Jason Moran And Vijay Iyer Masterclass At NEC (Video)
It’s not often that two MacArthur geniuses get together, let alone to give a masterclass. Nonetheless, this is what happened last September at the New England Conservatory. Pianists extraordinaire Jason …
Vijay Iyer Trio Breaks ‘Break Stuff’ in San Antonio
Some note hovering between an F and an F# hovered over the Vijay Iyer Trio during their soundcheck before their performance Saturday, January 17th at San Antonio’s Carver Community Cultural …
The Best Jazz Albums of 2012: #10-1
By the circumstances of our calendar, we culturally use the transition into the new year as a time to reflect. We reflect on how we have grown as people, about …
Jazz Community Responds to Trayvon Martin Tragedy
Sean Bell. Amadou Diallo. Danroy Henry. Ramarley Graham. Orlando Barlow. Aaron Campbell. Timothy Stansbury. Oscar Grant. In the land of freedom and opportunity, the possibilities for these names to become …
Nextbop’s Best Jazz Albums of 2011
I was recently asked to define what trend ran through jazz in the past year and I found I couldn’t think of anything definitive about that other than the fact …
Best Jazz Albums of 2010 by Nextbop.com
It was rather difficult putting together a list of the best jazz albums of 2010. Unlike our list of non-jazz albums, there didn’t seem to be a massive sense of …