Julian Lage Trio – ‘Arclight’
In a conversation between Dave Douglas and Marc Ribot on the “A Noise From the Deep” podcast, Ribot explained the difference between jazz and rock artists: jazz artists always give …
Blog
Logan Richardson – ‘Shift’
It would be reductionist to call Shift a Pat Metheny album. Yes, his signaturely chameleonic guitar is one of the most pronounced sounds all throughout saxophonist Logan Richardson’s latest album, …
What I Listen For
I’ve spent the last couple of years writing for Nextbop.com; though, not as consistently as I would like to. As I compiled my favorite albums of 2015 list at the …
Claffy – “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” (Stream)
Bassist/multi-instrumentalist Alexander Claffy has endeavored to create a seemingly ambitious debut self-titled album. It’s memoiric in scope, glisteningly optimistic. It can get almost overwhelmingly earnest. This is no more clear …
Smells Like Teen Spirit: A Critical Analysis of Covers
Bringing outside influences into jazz and bringing jazz to other genres has been going on probably since there was a concept of jazz as a genre. Witness hip-hop and electronic …
Dan Tepfer – ‘Acoustic Informatics’
Pianist Dan Tepfer seems to be about bridging gaps – see his mind-blowing improvisations based on Bach’s Goldberg Variations that bridge the gap between the jazz and classical worlds. His …
Glenn White – ‘Quirk’ EP
Saxophonist Glenn White does everything right in his new EP, Quirk. It’s an album with a modernist slant, with twists and turns aplenty that gather and hold attention. It does …
Ben Monder – ‘Amorphae’
Ben Monder’s Amorphae is an ECM release. It’s contemplative, expansive, tumultuously beautiful and beautifully tumultuous. It sounds positively gorgeous. It’s sparse in ways that never leave the listener wanting more …
Spocket – ‘Spocket’
Spocket’s self-titled and first release represents the best in funk rock coming from the younger side of the Chicago jazz scene. It manages to be clean and slick without being …
David Bowie – ‘Blackstar’ (Album Review)
David Bowie gave us one last masterpiece: ★ (pronounced “Blackstar”). And true to form, it leaves us with more questions than answers. I began writing this review before Davie Bowie …
Tomoko Omura “Roots” Quintet – “Kono Michi” Live at Studio Radio 45 (Video)
Violinist Tomoko Omura is one of those violinists you need to know. Her 2014 album, Roots, is a pure delight, expanding Japanese folk songs into new creations and she’s still …
Corbin Andrick – ‘Olmstead’s Whistle’
There’s something good happening in the Chicago music scene, where younger players like Marquis Hill, Makaya McCraven, and Matt Ulery have made strong statements recently. Add sax player Corbin Andrick’s …
BADBADNOTGOOD – “Skating” (Video)
BADBADNOTGOOD recently appeared on CBC’s Strombo Show and played their holiday appropriate take on Vince Guaraldi’s “Skating”. Leland Whitty continues to add more texture to this band with great results. …
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. …
Nextbop’s Favorite Non-Jazz Albums of 2015
I like that we make this list every year. No, it’s not as well read as our other posts. It doesn’t exactly fit what we do. But I like the …
Jesse Fischer – “Refuge” feat. Sarah Elizabeth Charles (Video)
Pianist/keyboardist Jesse Fischer’s latest album, Day Dreamer, is his finest yet and he’s continuing to find new places to go as an artist as he works through this material. His …
Claffy – “Chapter 1: Blossoms As They Wilt Away” (Stream)
Bassist Alexander Claffy is set to release his debut, self-titled album on Ropeadope Records this coming February. The young musician has been gigging frequently throughout New York for the last …
Lauren Desberg & Kris Bowers – “Merry Melody Medley” (Video & Stream)
A few days ago, Lauren Desberg tweeted, “I do my best singing within 3 feet of christmas decor…” It just had to be a sign that something was coming soon, …
H. Jon Benjamin Made A Very Quick Joke, and Middling Satire
Comedian H. Jon Benjamin is releasing a jazz album this week on Sub Pop Records. The album features Scott Kreitzer on saxophone, David Finck on bass, Jonathan Peretz on drums, …
Kenneth Whalum III – “Ghost Town” (Stream)
As the release of Through Hell & High Water, the impending sophomore album from saxophonist Kenneth Whalum III, grows nearer, eyes and ears are finally appropriately gathering. Whalum recently posted …
Erik Truffaz Quartet – “Djiki’n” feat. Rokia Traore (Stream)
Trumpeter Erik Truffaz has always had a continental approach. He is French, after all, and his career has kept his recordings on that side of the pond. Yet his chill …
Appropriate Nerdery: BADBADNOTGOOD at Fun Fun Fun Fest X
Their day began at 3am. The day before, BADBADNOTGOOD, the quartet of keyboardist Matty Tavares, bassist Chester Hansen, drummer Alex Sowinski, and tenor saxophonist Leland Whitty, had been rehearsing in …
Gilad Hekselman – “Samba Em Preludio” (Video)
Guitarist Gilad Hekselman’s new album, Homes, feels roomier, more spacious, and more contemplative an album. Its somber tone at times is like a soothing balm, and his take on the …
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 …
St. Germain – ‘s/t’
Ludovic Navarre’s music has always been a little difficult to pin down. It’s always had a lounge sound that borrows from jazz, tailor made since its inception for late night …
Jesse Fischer – ‘Day Dreamer’
Pianist/keyboardist Jesse Fischer has always focused on the groove in his music. It’s a bent of his that can at times lean to a kind of populism, it can also …
Lionel Loueke – ‘Gaia’
Lionel Loueke’s newest trio album Gaia has the guitarist rocking hard, indulging in trippy effects on his instrument and in odd, but very natural-sounding, time signatures. It’s also one of …
Meditations on Nextbop in New York
Stories and observations around four days in October spent in New York City covering two nights of Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s sets at Harlem Stage ContentsPreludeCold, Wet, and ExpensiveThe Quest …
Kneebody & Daedelus – “Drum Battle” (Stream)
Ben Wendel and the rest of the guys from Kneebody have known Alfred “Daedelus” Darlington for a good long while. The dandy producer and the throttle-down jazz innovators have had …
Romain Collin – ‘Press Enter’
Like the exposition of a futuristic sci-fi flick, Romain Collin‘s Press Enter remains grounded in the familiar acoustic piano trio but gives glimpses into a world that’s been fundamentally changed. …
Aron Ottignon – “Waterfalls” (Live at The Funkhaus Berlin) (Video)
We’re always fans of pianist Aron Ottignon. Also, “Waterfalls” is a dope song. It’s a tune that reared its head earlier this year on his Starfish EP and it’s stayed …
Rotem Sivan – ‘A New Dance’
Rotem Sivan always surprises on the guitar. Oh, sure, his songs start off unassuming. One would think they’re simple little low-energy guitar songs. They can be somber and chill, but …
Butcher Brown – “Bailar” (Stream)
Butcher Brown made a beat tape. Their new album, Grown Folk is twenty short, tight songs, most of them between a minute and two in length, that has that fuzy, …
Christian Scott Live from Berklee on The Checkout Live
Seb and I were in New York City last weekend to catch Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s Harlem Stage shows in support of his new album on Ropeadope, Stretch Music, among …
Sun Speak – ‘Sacred Rubble’
Guitarist Matt Gold and drummer Nate Friedman have spread out some. The Chicago duo’s new EP, a five-song collection that sounds more weathered than their previous foray, Light Blue Light. …
Jesse Fischer – “Suite for the Blue Planet” feat. Takuya Kuroda (Video)
Keyboardist Jesse Fischer’s latest album, Day Dreamer is his finest release yet, maintaining the same signature buoyant sound he’s always had but with fewer moving parts for a less-is-more approach …
Michael Janisch – “Movement I – The Dance Party” (Stream)
Bassist Michael Janisch’s new live double album, Paradigm Shift, is a groove-centric ride in a souped-up engine. Its moving parts are clearly in all working order, shifting and flowing like …
Brad Allen Williams – ‘Lamar’
Guitarist Brad Allen Williams has an upfront quality to his style of play. There’s a simple essence here with just a touch of flare without ostentatiousness. The bluesy, rootsiness of …
Sidewalk Chalk – “Alright” (Kendrick Lamar Cover) (Video)
A hip-hop group that sounds better live, retains their voice when playing a cover, and still bumps without a bassist or drummer is a rare find. Having known most of …
Mary Halvorson – ‘Meltframe’
“Glitchy” is probably the best word for the latest release from Mary Halvorson, a solo guitar album she titled Meltframe. This is not to say there’s something wrong with the …
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – ‘Stretch Music (Introducing Elena Pinderhughes)’
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah plays three different horns on his new album, Stretch Music (Introducing Elena Pinderhughes)— the siren, the sirenette, and the reverse flugelhorn. They’re horns by his own …
Gilad Hekselman – ‘Homes’
There may not be any stronger melodies in jazz today than the lines flowing out of Gilad Hekselman’s guitar. Hekselman’s new album, Homes, displays his melodicism and songwriting as well …
Naughty Professor – “In the Tribe” Live at One Eyed Jacks (Video Premiere)
Naughty Professor’s a young band from NOLA you’ll want to be on the lookout for in the near future as they’re bound to blow-up big time. The band’s mission statement …
Quantic presents The Western Transient – ‘A New Constellation’
One can never tell what Will Holland will do next. The producer for the last fifteen years has never ceased to amaze with the music he has made that seems …
ACT – ‘ACT II’
ACT is Ben Wendel on sax (plus bassoon and melodica), Harish Raghavan on bass, and Nate Wood on drums. Their sophomore album, ACT II, consists of five originals from Raghavan …
Gilad Hekselman – “Last Train Home” (Interactive Video)
Guitarist Gilad Hekselman is consistently captivating. His 2013 album, This Just In, is such a strong release that I still personally keep it in rotation and may feel a bit …
Chad Lefkowitz-Brown – “Just Friends” (Video)
Tenor saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown is one of those musicians one should generally try to keep tabs on. He just recently released a rather inspired take on “Just Friends” with a …
The Bridge Trio – ‘The Search: Departure’
The Bridge Trio sticks to your ribs. This is very much an idiomatic expression, rooted in American soul about fulfillment, satisfaction, and sustenance. There’s a quality to this band that …
Chris Schlarb – ‘Dropsy’ Soundtrack
Guitarist/composer/cult leader Chris Schlarb makes great music. The work that he has done over the years with his band, Psychic Temple, have melded jazz, rock, and noise influences together into …
Kendrick Scott Oracle – “We Are The Drum” (Stream)
Drummer Kendrick Scott is a modern marvel as a performer and as a composer. Every one of his releases with his band, Oracle, have been extremely impressive, and his latest, …
ARK – ‘s/t’
It’s pretty amazing how such an unassuming piano trio album works so well. In their self-titled album from earlier this year, the trio known as ARK of pianist Carlos Homs, …
Josh Evans – “Chronic Mistakes” (Stream)
Trumpeter Josh Evans is set to release a new album on Oliver Lake’s Passin’ Thru imprint, Hope and Despair, on September 18th. It’s a quite decent straight-ahead affair with Evans …
Mark Guiliana & Jonathan Maron on Reverb’s Mystery Box Challenge (Video)
What happens when you give Mark Guiliana and Jonathan Maron a box of random gear and ask them to play a song? Awesomeness happens. See for yourself.
Daniel Fortin – ‘Brinks’
It’s difficult not to pay immediate attention to Michael Davidson’s vibraphone’s on the new album from bassist Daniel Fortin, Brinks. The tone is so clear, so complimentary, so constructive. It’s …
Makaya McCraven – “This Place, That Place” Live at Constellation (Video)
We at Nextbop have made our love of drummer Makaya McCraven known quite frequently. His brilliance is as equally high as a performer as it is as a composer. This …
Jesse Fischer feat. Leon “Foster” Thomas – Nomads (Video)
Keyboardist Jesse Fischer is set to release his next album, Day Dreamer, on September 25 on Ropeadope Records. It’s an album that sits back a bit elementally, Fischer as more …
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey – “Tetherball Triumph” (Video)
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey have always been a fun, playful group (even when making music about complicated subjects like race riots in Tulsa). The quartet of Brian Haas on acoustic …
Claffy – EPK
I met bassist/multi-instrumentalist Alex Claffy a few months ago as he rolled through San Antonio with the educational program, JazzReach. The 22-year-old has backed Wayne Escoffrey, Orrin Evans in his …
Future Prospect – ‘s/t EP’
There exists a certain pocket of jazz — somewhere in that R&B, funky ether, if you hit smooth jazz, you’ve gone too far — where great things can happen. In …
Sky Window – “Complicity” (Video)
Those dudes from Denton, Sky Window, are back at it again with a new video that continues with their melding of trippy projections with their spacey music. Watch the group …
Nick Finzer – ‘The Chase’
Trombonist Nick Finzer’s second album as a leader is a straight-ahead jazz album with some punch to it. It’s a pleasure to hear these original compositions exhibit the traits of …
Hiatus Kaiyote – “Breathing Underwater” (Video)
Hiatus Kaiyote is at it again. they perpetually bring the stankface-producing jams and every cut off Choose Your Weapon does so, particularly the song “Breathing Underwater” for which the band …
Liberty Ellman – ‘Radiate’
Liberty Ellman has often been a secret weapon. Maybe it’s what he’s learned from the M-Base musical school of thought. Maybe his ears are made of pure magic. He’s like …
Omer Klein Solo Piano at TEDxHamburg
Omer Klein did a 20 minute solo piano performance at TEDxHamburg, which turns out to be a good introduction to his music if you are unfamiliar with it. If you …
Beats & Pieces Big Band – ‘All In’
Beats & Pieces Big Band is immediately gripping. Band director Ben Cottrell has written songs with soul and bounce to them that this group performs with an infectious energy, which …
Savoy In Color – ‘Hear Today Then: Live at Zeb’s’
The big band format can be a hard sell. It’s a large machine and the moving parts frequently don’t have a lot of room. Very often, as a reviewer, I …
HIGH RISK – “Tied Together” (Video)
HIGH RISK, the self-titled album for the group trumpeter Dave Douglas put together featuring bassist Jonathan Maron, drummer Mark Guiliana, and electronic musician Shigeto has been an impressive direction for …
Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle – “The LBC” (Video)
Keyboardist Eddie Moore and his band, The Outer Circle, are soon to release a new album to follow up 2013’s The Freedom of Expression. Yet on the path to this …
Ibrahim Maalouf – “Red & Black Light” (Stream)
Ibrahim Maalouf never rests. Since we last heard from him in 2012, when he released WIND with Frank Woeste, Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier, and Clarence Penn, Maalouf has dropped no …
Taubenhouse Trio – “Migrations” & “With You” (Videos)
Israeli pianist and New School alumni Yaniv Taubenhouse is set to release his second album following last year’s Fresh Sound New Talent debut Here from There. Moments in Trio Vol. …
Drum Tricks with Mark Guiliana: Making Acoustic Drums Sound Electronic (Video)
Here’s one for all the drumheads out there. Drummer extraordinaire Mark Guiliana teaches his tricks on how to make acoustic drums sound electronic with live-band examples featuring bassist Jonathan Maron. …
Robert Glasper Trio – “Stella By Starlight” (Video)
Pianist Robert Glasper has a new album about with a return to his trio of bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Damion Reid (some of whose work you can hear streaming …
Erykah Badu Drops ‘FEEL BETTER, WORLD! LOVE, MS.BADU’ Mixtape (Stream)
Let’s face it, life isn’t always easy. Many of us struggle to make a decent living and have to deal with the daily hardships dealt to us. On top of …
RBMA x Boiler Room Present a Live Set by Taylor McFerrin (Full Concert Video)
If you’re a regular to the site you know by now that Saturdays are reserved for full concert videos. I decided to change the vibe a bit this week and …
Tigran Hamasyan – “Lament” (Video)
Pianist Tigran Hamasyan is a private figure who doesn’t overly expose himself on social media hence why we haven’t heard much from him since the release of his Nonesuch debut …
Luis Perdomo – ‘Twenty-Two’
Occasionally a song will grab you out of nowhere and shake out the cobwebs. Recently I had the pleasure of hearing Luis Perdomo’s “Cota Mil” on the radio (shout to …
Painting – “You Were Right All Along” (Video)
Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal‘s Speakeasy premiered the new video from pianist Emanuel Ruffler and drummer Kassa Overall, a.k.a. Painting, for the song “You Were Right All Along” off their …
Benjamin Clementine – ‘At Least For Now’
It seems everyone wants to tell and talk about Benjamin Clementine‘s life story. However, no one does so better than Clementine himself on At Least For Now; so, let’s leave …
Thundercat – “Them Changes” (Video)
Every time Thundercat rolls out a new video, it always seems like the most Thundercattiest thing he could do. It seems entirely possible for Steven Bruner to end up victorious …
BADBADNOTGOOD Boiler Room Brownswood Basement Live Show (Full Concert Video)
Just unearthed this little gem from 2014. BADBADNOTGOOD hits Boiler Room for a short interview with Gilles Peterson and a live set from the Brownswood Basement for an hour of …
Brandee Younger’s “Dorothy Jeanne” and Marcus Strickland & Christie Dashiell’s “Let’s Wait Awhile” (Janet Jackson Cover) Off ‘REVIVE Music Presents: Supreme Sonacy (Vol. 1)’ (Audio)
Wow that was a long title… just bear with me for a sec. You’ve already got the bird’s-eye view of REVIVE Music and Blue Note Records’ Supreme Sonacy Vol. 1 …
Keith Askey Trio – ‘Too Much Guitar’
Everything is constantly moving at Jellowstone Studios. The Richmond, VA, magic factory that Devonne Harris calls home (and happy birthday to him once again, his birthday was yesterday) is a …
The Seasons: June with Luciana Souza & Ben Wendel (Video)
Ben Wendel’s latest “The Seasons” installment steps off slightly from the beaten path with the first appearance of a vocalist to the project, namely Brazil’s Grammy award-winning Luciana Souza. The …
GADADU – ‘And I See Night’
Frailty can be deceptive. Something’s perceived weakness could in fact wield some hidden strength, forged from withstanding the elements. Like an insect’s exoskeleton, eggshells, or a Brooklyn-based jazz quintet, sometimes …
Shaun Martin – “The Yellow Jacket” (Video Premiere)
Grammy-winning pianist/keyboardist Shaun Martin (Snarky Puppy, Erykah Badu, Chaka Khan) has just released his first album as a leader, 7 Summers, on Ropeadope records. On “The Yellow Jacket”, Martin and …
Ingebrigt Haker Flaten Chicago Sextet Live In Antwerp, December 2014 (Video)
Bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten is a beast. He attacks his instrument with whoever he’s playing with and does so with a ferocity so infectious, it’s impossible to find the music …
Johnny Butler Live at Piano’s (Download)
Last month, saxophonist Johnny Butler played a set at NYC‘s Piano’s alongside trombonist Ryan Snow, bassist Aidan Carroll, and drummer Jason Nazary. They recorded a good ten minutes of their …
Ron Carter Quartet at the Montreal International Jazz Festival
The Ron Carter Quartet took the stage on Saturday, July 4 (the penultimate night of the 2015 Montreal International Jazz Festival) at the historic Monument-National, Quebec’s oldest operating theater. Carter …
Marc Cary on the Fender Rhodes, Influence, and Individualism
The Marc Cary Trio hit le club l’Astral at 9 p.m. on Friday, July 3 as part of the 36th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. The band drove …
Marena Whitcher’s Shady Midnight Orchestra – ‘Ghostology’
Art about ghosts, spirits, and the afterlife can quickly become trite and unnecessarily serious, but Marena Whitcher and her Shady Midnight Orchestra ensure that subject matter doesn’t get in the …
Uri Caine at the Montreal Jazz Festival
Solo concerts are some of the most difficult and revealing situations for musicians, but they can also be the most rewarding and profound for both the performer and the audience. …
Eliane Elias at the Montreal Jazz Festival
Eliane Elias enjoys a reputation as a musician who can swing as convincingly as she can samba, and she did not disappoint the crowd who filled Montreal’s Monument National for …
Dave Douglas’ High Risk at the Montreal International Jazz Festival
Prolific trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas was the proud father introducing his brand new baby to Montreal fans at le club l’Astral Tuesday, June 30. His new venture, High Risk, …
Leaving Room for Magic: Ben Williams on Inspiration, Balance and the Synergy Behind ‘Coming of Age’
Black rimmed Ray Bans and a 10pm hit set the atmosphere as Ben Williams steps onto the bandstand. He picks up his bass and pauses. After a moment of silent …
Snarky Puppy at the Montreal Jazz Festival
It’s hard to believe June 30th, 2015 was Snarky Puppy’s first time performing at the Montreal Jazz Festival; they filled the 2300-capacity Métropolis Theatre like a veteran act. That’s not …
Guitar Night at the Montreal International Jazz Festival
On Monday, June 29, 2015 at the 36th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, I went to hear two quartets led by two of the most influential guitarists of …
‘The Bad Plus Joshua Redman’ + Kneebody at the Montreal International Jazz Festival
The collaboration between Joshua Redman (sax), Reid Anderson (bass), Ethan Iverson (piano), and David King (drums) is one of the most musically successful enterprises in recent memory. The band has …
Montreal Jazz Festival: Christian Scott at Upstairs
The crowd was already riled up by the time Christian Scott and his sextet stepped onto the stage of a packed Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill on June 28th. Scott, …
On the Nature of Attention
Last week, DownBeat magazine released its 63rd Annual Critics’ Poll. Topping the Rising Star Guitarist category is a young man named Michael Blum who seemingly topped this chart through email …
Seamus Blake – “Sofa Song” (Video)
New York based saxophonist Seamus Blake is making the jump to Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s 5passion label. Not much about his upcoming album Superconductor has been revealed aside that it features the …
Henry Threadgill – ‘In for a Penny, In for a Pound’
On Henry Threadgill’s latest record In For A Penny, In For A Pound, the saxophonist/flautist/composer and his longstanding band, Zooid, merge the ethos and improvisation of jazz with the compositional …