Scientists estimate that the earth vibrates at varying frequencies between 7.83 and 33.8 Hz. Of course, music also consists of rhythmic waves, though they are limited to our unaided hearing range from 20 to 20,000 Hz. As a result, many of our planet’s tones are wholly incapable of being perceived. Earth, the latest Expansions album lead by saxophonist Dave Liebman undertakes … [Read more...]
Captain Supernova’s ‘The Voyage Never Ends…’ Album Reviewed
In his early writings, philosopher Søren Kierkegaard utilized various pseudonyms to present distinctive viewpoints and to interact with each other in complex dialogues. Throughout its history, jazz musicians have also adopted similar approaches - particularly relying on cosmic iconography - to better push their personal creative boundaries. One recent example is the three … [Read more...]
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 uses 100 billion neurons, each of which fires around 200 times every second. Given its necessary complexity, it should come as no surprise how frequently the organ malfunctions. According to the US Center for … [Read more...]
Rob Shepherd’s Favorite Jazz Albums of the Decade
Compiling a list of the greatest works of the last ten years is an inherently difficult proposition. The first complication lies in the fact that so many of my musical memories from the last decade are tied to recordings released prior to the period. Some of my best memories include the Charlie Parker song from 1950 that played at my wedding, the New Year’s Eve I first stumbled … [Read more...]
Rob Shepherd’s Favorite Jazz Albums of 2019
We continue our Season of Lists with newly-minted Staff Writer Rob Shepherd’s Favorite Jazz Albums of 2019. Also have a look at Nextbop's Best Jazz Albums of 2019, Editor-in-Chief Anthony Dean-Harris' Favorite Jazz Albums of 2019, and Staff Writer Brian Kiwanuka’s Favorite Jazz Albums of 2019. Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from 2019 is the number of artists adapting … [Read more...]