Kassa Overall & Emanuel Ruffler are Painting
Pianist Emanuel Ruffler and drummer Kassa Overall are together Painting— a freewheeling duo with a sound that seems to beckon from the corner of some far off dark room. Overall …
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Thundercat – ‘The Beyond – Where the Giants Roam’ EP
It’s becoming more and more apparent that the world has gotten hip to Thundercat. Bassist Stephen Bruner has been racking up praise and press over the last few years, most …
Benjamin Clementine Set to Release ‘At Least For Now’ (Videos)
Described by Rolling Stone as “Nina Simone’s brother steps into an elegant French café, sits down at the piano and tears open a vein” when named one of their “New …
Zhenya Strigalev’s Smiling Organizm – Live at Small’s (June 11, 2015)
Zhenya Strivalev’s recent Robin Goodie album is a great recent release featuring a hard-grooving band (pick it up here). Zhenya brought a band to Small’s Jazz Club a couple of …
REVIVE Presents ‘Supreme Sonacy Vol. 1’ in Collaboration with Blue Note (Teaser)
I have to admit when I first found out about REVIVE, I felt somewhat dejected. An organization backed by Questlove’s Okayplayer was running a jazz website out of NYC and …
Robert Glasper Covers Musiq Soulchild’s “So Beautiful” (Video)
Robert Glasper finally released his new trio album earlier this week on Blue Note Records. Read Other Articles in Our ‘Best Song Covers’ Series! We’ve been spinning our press copy on …
Disclosure – “Holding On” (Live at Wild Life) featuring Gregory Porter
Granted this isn’t jazz, but it’s always rewarding to see some of our favorite jazz musicians get a hold of the mainstream spotlight, even if just for a little bit. …
Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet – “One Month” (Video)
Drummer Mark Guiliana debuted his jazz quartet last month with the release of his Family First album. If you missed the record release party at Rockwood Music Hall, here’s the …
Becca Stevens Band – “Imperfect Animals” (Official Video Clip)
Fresh out the oven, here is the official video clip for Becca Stevens’ “Imperfect Animals”, the third single off her new album Perfect Animal released last April. The clip, directed …
Aidan Carroll – “Apollo Song” (Video)
Bassist Aidan Carroll released his debut Original Vision last March. Check out a live version of Carroll’s “Apollo Song” filmed at Rockwood Music Hall last April during the album release …
Braxton Cook and Butcher Brown – “Ooooo” (Stream)
Saxophonist Braxton Cook has been working a lot with the boys from Richmond, Butcher Brown, gigging here and there, most notably last night for a couple of sets at Washington, …
Kenneth Whalum III – “Away” feat. Big K.R.I.T. (Video)
It’s amazing how high Kenneth Whalum III can rise. He’s a saxophonist constantly in demand, touring constantly. His latest gig is backing D’Angelo on his latest tour (hopefully, he’s playing …
Chris Dingman – ‘The Subliminal and the Sublime’
“The Subliminal and the Sublime is based on the concept that, under the surface of our apparent reality, there are subliminal layers of patterns, detail and depth. When we look …
Delilah – ‘Sarah +1: A Tribute to Sarah Vaughan’
A talented jazz diva’s voice can take listeners back to a smoky 1950s nightclub where women in diamond-studded dresses sipped on chilled margaritas next to gentlemen in all-black suits begging …
Matthew Stevens – “Ashes” (Video)
Another video by Matthew Stevens, Ben Williams and Eric Doob has surfaced in a series christened “Live Off the Floor”. The video, filmed at the Victory Social Club in Toronto, …
Gonzalo Rubalcaba – “The Making of XXI Century” (Full-length Documentary)
Three years ago, Grammy award winning pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba released an ambitious double album entitled XXI Century to critical acclaim. The album featured the pianist alongside his core rhythm section …
Jon Batiste to Be Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Bandleader
Pianist and overwhelmingly charming guy Jon Batiste will move you. His live performances are practical calls to action. He connects to folks and works outside whatever musical box one could …
Jamison Ross Set to Release Debut ‘Jamison’ (Teaser + Single)
Drummer Jamison Ross won the 2012 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, edging out Justin Brown and Colin Stranahan, which earned him a recording contract with the Concord Music Group. His …
The Seasons: May with Shai Maestro & Ben Wendel (Video)
Ben Wendel is back with his The Seasons Project once again this month: twelve duets in twelve months. May features pianist Shai Maestro which is pretty hot right now having …
Gideon van Gelder – “Victory Joy Dance” (Stream)
“Victory Joy Dance” is the first track of Lighthouse, the second album by Amsterdam-based pianist Gideon van Gelder. As the title of the song suggests, the playful interaction between the …
Juan Dhas – ‘Embracing Clarity’
On his debut solo album Embracing Clarity, 21-year-old Dubai-born guitarist Juan Dhas displays a musical sensibility well beyond his years. The album consists of seven original compositions that flow, flutter, …
Chance the Rapper, Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment Release New Album ‘Surf’ (Video + Download)
Fans have been eagerly awaiting a follow-up to Chance the Rapper’s 2013 mixtape Acid Rap since it more or less broke the Internet, and on Friday they got the next …
Jazz at Lincoln Center Changes Hiring Policy
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is one of the world’s leading big bands, and the only full-time jazz big band in the United States that offers pensions and salaried …
Kamasi Washington’s ‘The Epic’ at the Regent Theater (Full Concert Video)
Kamasi Washington followed up the release of his critically acclaimed album The Epic with a live performance at Los Angeles’ Regent Theater. In addition to Washington’s 10-piece working band (called …
Ben Williams Celebrates His ‘Coming of Age’ in Berlin
Known for his work in the Pat Metheny Unity Band, and the Next Collective, Ben Williams is one of those artists who represent the fresh wind that has been blowing …
Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet – “One Month” (Stream)
Family First, the new album from drummer Mark Guiliana, drops in one week. It is a departure from his recent focus on electronic works My Life Starts Now and Beat …
‘The Bad Plus Joshua Redman’ Equals Awesome
I was a bit skeptical upon first hearing of The Bad Plus Joshua Redman (Nonesuch). BP members Reid Anderson (bass), Ethan Iverson (piano), and Dave King (drums) have asserted in …
New Rotem Sivan Trio Album
Guitarist Rotem Sivan is one of those musicians who can surprise. His For Emotional Use Only with his trio with Haggai Cohen Milo on bass and Mark McLean on drums …
Marquis Hill feat. Legendmane – “Love My Life” (Video)
Monk Award winning trumpeter Marquis Hill has been dazzling for quite some time. Each release of his keeps pushing boundaries and making for inspiring work. His latest work, Modern Flows …
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, …
Joel Kerr – “Water Talk” (Video)
Montreal bassist and composer Joel Kerr has released his latest album False Dawn and is in the midst of touring parts of Central Canada to promote the album. False Dawn …
Ethan Iverson & Ron Carter Return to NYC’s Mezzrow
It was no surprise that Ethan Iverson and Ron Carter’s performance last Thursday was sold out: a partnership between one of the most innovative and contemporary pianists in jazz and …
Robert Glasper Covers Jhene Aiko’s “The Worst” (Video)
The second single from Robert Glasper’s much anticipated June 16th Blue Note Records trio album is upon us. We pretty much said all we could about Covered when we posted …
Christian Scott Octet 4/30/15 (Audio)
Trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah brought his octet to New Orleans at the end of this past April. The concert was recorded and recently made available to stream online. Check …
Kamasi Washington & Miles Mosley Duo (Video)
You’ve by now heard of LA saxophonist Kamasi Washington. The Thundercat and Flying Lotus collaborator, who also performed on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, released his ambitious, some might …
The Bridge Trio at 92Y Tribeca (Full Concert Video)
The Bridge Trio is a young ensemble hailing out of New Orleans comprised of Conun Pappas on keys, Max Moran on bass and Joe Dyson on drums. The three protégés …
In Montreal with the Tara Kannangara Group
The Tara Kannangara Group is a Toronto-based quintet that features Kannangara on trumpet, flugelhorn, and voice, Chris Pruden on piano and keyboard, Colin Story on guitar, Julian Anderson-Bowes on electric …
Mehliana – “Centinela” (Video)
Hopefully, you remember pianist Brad Mehldau and drummer Mark Guiliana‘s amazing Nonesuch album from last year, Mehliana: Taming the Dragon. The explosive pairing made for some of the most interesting …
Steve Coleman and the Council of Balance – ‘Synovial Joints’
Steve Coleman has always been a musician who could find the rhythm in anything. His compositions would seem to indicate his soul is a metronome. Steve Coleman’s work has always …
John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Louis Amstrong and Dave Brubeck on PBS’s Blank on Blank (Videos)
A new Blank on Blank animated short featuring John Coltrane has been making the rounds recently. Blank on Blank is a production of Quoted Studios, a nonprofit content studio based …
Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet Presents ‘Familly First’ (EPK)
I already lauded the greatness of drummer Mark Guiliana when I posted his Vic Firth performance spotlight video to the website and Anthony has already presented his new album, Family …
John Raymond Releases ‘Foreign Territory’ (EPK + Stream)
If you’ve paid close attention to my Sounds For Sunday playlists (which you should), you’ve certainly noticed that I played cuts off John Raymond’s April 28th release, Foreign Territory, both …
Becca Stevens Band – “105” (Video)
Singer-songwriter Becca Stevens follows the beat of her own drum, or in this case ukulele. The young product of the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music is a highly …
Jarryd Torff – Feel Alright (Video)
Jarryd Torff is turning out to be quite the conundrum, and we couldn’t be happier about it. We first discovered the young musician as part of the now defunct Montreal-based …
Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet to Release ‘Family First’ June 4
Last year, drummer Mark Guiliana made some big steps in his life. He got his family going with vocalist Gretchen Parlato and the two of them have a kid now. …
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 …
Percussion is Your Friend
Experimental musicians, take note– percussion is your friend. Last Friday, May 1, trumpeter Rob Mazurek headlined an evening of experimental music, touring with his latest configuration, Black Cube SP, and …
Grand Pianoramax – Big Easy (Video)
Grand Pianoramax, the unconventional trio of Leo Tardin on keys, Dom Burkhalter on drums and Black Cracker on rhymes, is set to drop their newest EP, Big Easy, on us …
Kevin Hays – ‘New Day’
Kevin Hays’ excellent new release New Day finds the pianist in a very melodic zone, surrounded by musicians from a singer-songwriter tradition while keeping his jazz bona fides very much …
St Germain Releases New Single “Real Blues” (Video)
French electronic artist St Germain, né Ludovic Navarre, has signed to Nonesuch Records and will be ending a 15 year hiatus on October 9, 2015, with the release of a …
Shai Maestro Set to Release ‘Untold Stories’ (Teaser + Free Download)
Pianist Shai Maestro, formerly of the Avishai Cohen trio, is set to release his third album as a leader since leaving the famed bassist’s band. Untold Stories will drop April …
The Seasons: April with Eric Harland & Ben Wendel (Video)
Looks like another month has passed us by, meaning a new Ben Wendel duet has surfaced on YouTube. April features drummer extraordinaire Eric Harland on percussions in what amounts to …
Yaron Herman – “Vista” (Video)
In case you haven’t already heard, Israeli pianist Yaron Herman, who now resides in France, has signed to Blue Note France. His debut for the label, entitled Everyday, is set …
NEA Jazz Masters: Tribute to Charles Lloyd (Video)
Charles Lloyd is a true jazz legend who hasn’t stopped astounding us with his creativity and inventiveness ever since he stepped on the scene in the 60s, ever reinventing himself …
Sarah Elizabeth Charles – “Bells” (feat. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah) (Video)
One of our favorite albums of the year so far is definitely vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles’ sophomore release, Inner Dialogue. It’s a smartly crafted album from an artist with a …
Terence Blanchard Set to Release ‘Breathless’ (EPK + Stream)
Terence Blanchard has a new band and a new album coming out May 26th on Blue Note. His new quintet, dubbed the E-Collective, features Charles Altura on guitar, Fabian Almazan …
Win an Autographed Copy of Ben Williams’ ‘Coming of Age’
We can’t stop singing the praise of Ben Williams’ newest opus Coming of Age over here at Nextbop. We’ve already posted the teaser for the album as well as a …
Kyle Nasser – ‘Restive Soul’
Saxophonist Kyle Nasser recently released a more than serviceable album alongside Jeff Miles on guitar, Dov Manski on piano, Chris Van Voorst on bass, and Devin Drobka on drums that …
JOBS’ ‘killer BOB sings’ Out June 30
We’ve had run-ins with killer BOB before, at least that’s what they used to be. In one of the more epic moments of Nextbop’s history, percussionist Max Jaffe joined multi-instrumentalist …
Julian Lage Trio – Live at Blue Whale, Los Angeles (video)
Virtuoso guitarist Julian Lage has been involved in a number of great duet albums recently with Fred Hersch, Nels Cline, and Chris Eldridge. He recently released World’s Fair, his solo …
Robert Glasper Covers Radiohead’s “Reckoner” (Stream)
The time we have all been waiting for has come. The illustrious Robert Glasper is set to drop a new album June 16 on the famed Blue Note label, this …
Enoch Smith Jr. – “Sweepin’ Through the City” (Video)
Enoch Smith Jr. is an outstanding pianist. Whether playing on an album or in the middle of a church sanctuary, the brother throws down. His compositional style involves beautiful chord …
Lauren Desberg – “Rock Steady” (Stream)
Back in 2012, vocalist Lauren Desberg released an EP, Sideways, that still lingers with us here at Nextbop. Desberg’s voice has a coolness to it that’s always a pleasure to …
Ben Williams – “Black Villain Music” & “Half Steppin” (Stream)
We’ve already shared the EPK as well as the first single, a cover of Lianne La Havas’ “Lost & Found” featuring Christian Scott, from Ben Williams Coming of Age set …
Charles Evans – “Ending Beauty” (Stream)
Baritone saxophonist Charles Evans in his upcoming duo album with soprano saxophonist Dave Liebman has made tempestuous music. The new album, On Beauty, through its various movements has all the …
Aron Ottignon & Rodi Kirk – “Renata” (Video)
Pianist Aron Ottignon has been working constantly gearing up for his new EP, Starfish, to drop next Monday, April 20th. The title track is pretty dope and Ottignon works the …
Sky Window – “Dream Controller” (Video)
The dudes from Denton who wowed us all as openers for this last year’s Jazz for the Masses Party during SXSW, Sky Window, are pretty damn spectacular just as musicians. …
Hiatus Kaiyote – “Shaolin Monk Motherfunk” (Stream)
We’re steadily, almost impatiently, waiting for the upcoming sophomore release from Perth, Australia’s Hiatus Kaiyote. Choose Your Weapon drops May 4 on Flying Buddha/Sony Music Masterworks. They’ve already dropped “Breathing …
Ben Williams Covers Lianne La Havas’ “Lost & Found” Featuring Christian Scott
A little over a week ago we wrote about Ben Williams’ sophomore album Coming of Age and featured its EPK (read here). We’ve since listened to the album in its …
Butcher Brown – Georgia Ave (Video)
We posted about the upcoming Braxton Cook meets Butcher Brown EP a few days ago. While you wait for it to drop sometime this summer, watch a new video for …
Charles Lloyd’s ‘Wild Man Dance’ EPK
Charles Lloyd’s Twitter byline reads as follows, “Jazz Sax, Composer, Musical Healer”, and the tenor man is nothing short of eccentric as can be attested by the EPK to his …
iiii – “Looking Glass” (Video & Download)
There’s a pleasantness to iiii that floats around them. The jazz/R&B quartet are set to release a new EP later this spring and have released the video and download of …
Mark Guiliana’s Vic Firth Performance Spotlight (Video)
Over the years, Mark Guiliana has acquired a formidable pedigree making him one of our favorite drummers on the scene today. Aside from work with his own band, Beat Music, …
Braxton Cook meets Butcher Brown – “FJYD” (Stream)
Braxton Cook and Corey Fonville have played together before in Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s band but the pair is now joining forces under a new format for an EP entitled …
‘The Bad Plus Joshua Redman’ Out May 26 on Nonesuch
The Bad Plus, the highly-lauded modern-day legendary trio of pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson, and drummer Dave King, continually push forward as artists, making music that always distinctly sounds …
Gilad Hekselman Trio – Live in Cardiff, UK – April 1, 2015 (video)
Gilad Hekselman is finishing up a trio tour in Europe where he was joined by Joe Martin on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums. A bit of video from the …
Javi Santiago’s ‘The Year of the Horse’ EP
Pianist Javi Santiago is a graduate of the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and a product of the prestigious Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program. The young musician recently released …
Jaga Jazzist – “Starfire” (Stream)
When the subject of out-of-bounds but still kind of in jazz comes up, the name Jaga Jazzist frequently comes up. The group from Norway has been pressing musical boundaries and …
Spenser Liszt & His Disciples – “Tick, Tick… / On A Limb” (MF DOOM / Samiyam Mashup Cover) (Video)
It’s hard for me to explain why I’m so drawn to this performance. Spenser Liszt is a leader in the Denton, Texas, band Sky Window, who headed up the most …
The Seasons: March with Matt Brewer & Ben Wendel (Video)
Ben Wendel has dropped the third installment of his “The Seasons” project on us. March is a particularly stunning duet between Wendel on bassoon and Matt Brewer on bass. Check …
Matthew Stevens – “Big Feeling” (Stream)
Matthew Stevens just dropped a new track off Woodwork, his debut as a leader. “Big Feeling” is a bonus track for the Japanese version of the album to be released …
Meditations on SXSW 2015
A collection of disparate thoughts from 2015’s South By SouthWest Music Festival in Austin, Texas ContentsPreludeOn the Day Of…On Bicycle InfrastructureEnding the BoycottBADBADNOTGOOD’s PocketThe Resources You Never Think OfArt and …
Kamasi Washington – “Re Run Home” (Stream)
This May 5th, LA saxophonist Kamasi Washington hopes to redefine the boundaries of jazz and music in general with his debut on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label, entitled The Epic. The …
Steve Wilson: Notes to a Young Player
In a quiet room in a quiet hall, facing a framed print of a ’57 Blue Note record, Steve Wilson folds his hands into his chin, and stares across the …
Romain Collin Set to Release ‘Press Enter’ (EPK)
Nextbop has been a very exciting adventure indeed. We set out a little over five years ago to create a website for people to discover, or in some cases rediscover, …
SFJAZZ Collective’s Tribute to Joe Henderson (Full Concert Video)
We premiered “Fire” off the SFJAZZ Collective’s new album Live: SFJAZZ Center 2014, The Music of Joe Henderson and New Compositions a month ago. Now here’s your chance to watch …
Sarah Elizabeth Charles’ “Bells” Premiere (Stream)
Vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles is set to release her sophomore album Inner Dialogue tomorrow on Truth Revolution Records. To celebrate the occasion, Nextbop is premiering the second single off the …
Natalia Mateo Covers “Strange Fruit” (Video)
Thirty-one year old vocalist Natalia Mateo is set to make her ACT debut on March 27th with Heart of Darkness an album comprised of originals but also several covers including …
Lauren Desberg Covers The Whispers “Rock Steady” (Stream)
Vocalist Lauren Desberg is back at it having recently released the first single off her debut album Twenty-First Century Problems, out April 28. It’s a cover of The Whispers 1987 …
Portico Set to Release ‘Living Fields’ (Stream)
Sadly the Portico Quartet is no more. The band has dropped a member yet Duncan Bellamy, Milo Fitzpatrick and Jack Wyllie are continuing their musical adventures under the moniker Portico. …
Austin Peralta Memorial Concert – “Nothing Personal” (Video)
This past November marked the second anniversary of the passing of pianist/keyboardist Austin Peralta. The young musician who was very much coming into his own with a style remembered quite …
Phronesis to Reissue ‘Life to Everything’ as Double Vinyl
Phronesis is celebrating its tenth anniversary in grand fashion by reissuing its critically acclaimed 2014 album Life to Everything as a double vinyl with three previously unreleased tracks. The album, …
Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet – ‘Intents and Purposes’
Music is wide and music is expansive. It has pockets and nooks and crannies where some of us may never trod. We face it with open ears but there’s just …
Thomas Enhco – “Looking For The Moose” (Video Clip)
French pianist Thomas Enhco dropped a solo album on us two days ago entitled Feathers, out on the Verve label. We’ve yet to check it out in its entirety, but …
Sarah Elizabeth Charles – “White and Blue” (Video)
Vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles’ standout vocals first hit our radar back in 2011 on Enoch Smith Jr.’s Misfits. Since then, she has worked with various musicians and groups. Now, upon …
David Lyttle Releases ‘Faces’
I hadn’t heard of David Lyttle before I contacted Lyte Records, the label he runs, regarding Aidan Carroll’s Original Vision. Since then I’ve been following Lyte Records on Twitter and …
Daniel Rosenboom Releases Double Album ‘Astral Transference & Seven Dreams’
I have to admit I was reticent about this one at first. Daniel Rosenboom’s Astral Transference & Seven Dreams is billed as “blending the rhythmic counterpoint and morphing development of …
Jarryd Torff Releases ‘Islands’ EP (Stream)
Multi-instrumentalist Jarryd Torff is at it again. We first covered Torff under his former moniker Cyrus back in 2013. He’s since joined Nikky Yanosky’s band as a saxophonist on top …
Myriad3’s “der Trockner” (Video Clip)
Progressive power jazz trio Myriad3, out of Toronto, released their sophomore album The Where last June on Alma records. It got a few plays on Anthony’s The Line-Up upon release, …
Aron Ottignon – “Waterfalls in Tanzania” (Video)
Pianist Aron Ottignon has been staying busy. He’s spent much of the last year touring with French pop act Woodkid and putting together his upcoming EP, Starfish. Around this time …
Robert Glasper Tours the Steinway Factory (Video)
You’ve certainly heard the expression “like a kid in a candy store”. But what about “like Robert Glasper at the Steinway factory”? Glasper recently earned his golden ticket to the …