Typical Sisters – “Hungry Ghost” (Stream)
Typical Sisters — the Chicago trio of guitarist Greg Uhlmann, bassist Clark Sommers, and drummer Matt Carroll — exist in a nice groove. They’re doing something mostly simple with an …
Streams & Videos
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – “Forevergirl” feat. Chris Turner & Mike Larry Draw (Stream)
Ancestral Recall, trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s upcoming new album on Ropeadope/Stretch Music drops in a couple weeks and it will definitely bring a spirited sense of chill. Today, Scott …
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 …
Stephan Crump’s Rosetta Trio – “Synapse” (Video)
As if we couldn’t tell you enough, we really do love the new album from Stephan Crump’s Rosetta Trio, Outliers. It’s a new album of the sweetest jams that have …
Hania Rani – “Glass” (Video)
Solo piano can be a hard sell, but something about seeing the inner workings and hearing all the little steps of Hania Rani working out her prepared piano, evoking a …
Brent Birckhead – “The Mourning After” (Video)
Upon the release of saxophonist Brent Birckhead’s debut, self-titled album, he’s releasing a video by Babatunde Salaam depicting the beautiful soul of the streets of Baltimore. It’s an absolutely lovely …
Caroline Davis – “Wingbeat” (Video)
Saxophonist Caroline Davis (whose Heart Tonic definitely wowed us last year) is keeping things moving in fascinating, adventurous directions with her new album,Alula, out May 10th on New Amsterdam Records’. …
Mike Baggetta / Jim Keltner / Mike Watt – “Hospital Song” (Video)
It’s always exciting to see what Chris & Adriana Schlarb are coming up with from their Big Ego Studios. Lately, they just announced the releases of some new works, one …
Julian Lage – “Crying” (Video)
As I have been saying a lot recently, it’s hard not to be charmed by guitarist Julian Lage. He’s hitting the roots of rock on his new album, Love Hurts, …
Javier Santiago – “River Song” feat. J. Hoard (Video)
Despite it releasing last year, I have yet to move past the brilliance of keyboardist Javier Santiago’s album, Phoenix, a release of fusion fantasticness that’s just perfect for this era. …
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – “Ancestral Recall” feat. Saul Williams (Stream)
Fresh off his Grammy nomination for 2017’s The Emancipation Procrastination, the third album of his Centennial Trilogy, trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah is gearing up to drop a new album, …
Brent Birckhead – “The Mourning After” (Stream)
Saxophonist Brent Birckhead is about to release his debut, self-titled album next month on Revive Music. Birckhead has toured with Lauryn Hill and established his place in the New York …
Julian Lage – “Tomorrow Is The Question” (Video)
I’ve been having a heck of a week, so it’s rather nice to see that Julian Lage is continually charming us once again with the new release out this February …
King Klavé feat. Keyon Harrold & Javier Santiago – “Beauty” (Video)
Percussionist Amaury Acosta, aka King Klave in his solo work and co-leader of the group (U)nity, recently dropped by the Congahead studios with friends trumpeter Keyon Harrold, keyboardist Javier Santiago, …
Twin Talk – “Weaver” (Video)
Chicago trio Twin Talk are getting ready to release their new album, Weaver, next month, continuing in the same earthy, elemental sound that they inhabit so well. Katie Ernst’s vocals …
Braxton Cook – “When You Hold Me” (Video)
One of the delights of last year was Braxton Cook’s latest album, No Doubt, a self-released collection of songs that meld all the best qualities of jazz and R&B into …
Mark de Clive-Lowe – “Memories of Nanzenji” (Stream)
Keyboardist Mark de Clive-Lowe is an artist of great multitude. His melding sensibilities of jazz, hip hop, and other assorted musical influences has always been present in his work, yet …
Pianist Gabriel Zucker Releases Visuals for “the stones in my pockets” (Video Premiere)
Pianist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Zucker is a Yale graduate and Rhodes scholar who is quickly becoming a prominent voice in the New York avant-garde music scene. Zucker has won …
Ben Wendel’s Standards With Friends Video Series Keeps Moving with “Peace” feat. Matthew Stevens
We’re still easing into 2019 and all the music we’re getting and will share with you soon, but in the meantime, saxophonist Ben Wendel is continuing his Standards with Friends …
Anton Eger – “HERb +++ gA” (Video)
Drummer Anton Eger is the rambunctiously explosive energy of Phronesis, one of the most brilliant piano-bass-drum trios on Earth period. Though while he may be best known for his work …
Atlantis Quartet – “The Slab” (Video)
The Minneapolis based Atlantis Quartet of tenor saxophonist Brandon Wozniak, guitarist Zacc Harris, bassist Chris Bates, and drummer Pete Hennig have a new album out now on Shifting Paradigm Records …
French-Canadian Trumpeter Rachel Therrien Releases Video for Single “Haydée Santamaria”
Working Between New York and Montreal, French-Canadian trumpeter and composer Rachel Therrien released her fourth album, Why Don’t You Try, last year on the Multiple Chord Music label. The album …
Saxophonist Greg Ward Previews New Album ‘Stomping Off From Greenwood’; Hear Single “Metropolis”
Alto saxophonist and composer Greg Ward has a new album in store for us coming January 11th to Greenleaf Music on which he introduces his new band: Rogue Parade. Ward’s …
NORI – “Wildfire” (Stream)
NORI, the quintet out of Austin that has a charming take on the contemporary, are releasing their next album this Friday, Bruise Blood (and performing in San Antonio at FL!GHT …
Ben Wendel Seasons Band – “March” (Video)
One of the highlight albums of 2018 is most certainly saxophonist Ben Wendel’s The Seasons, a quintet filling out compositions originally for duets released as a YouTube series in 2015, …
Cordoba – “Shut It Down” (Video)
Cordoba is a group out of Chicago with an aim to inspire through charm. Their jazz and R&B inflected music, particularly on their latest EP, Break the Locks Off Everything, …
Bryn Roberts and Lage Lund – “Amaryllis” (Video)
Pianist Bryn Roberts just released a new album alongside guitarist Lage Lund called Hide the Moon and Stars. Their lead single and video recorded from the studio, “Amaryllis”, is a …
Thundercat, Flying Lotus, & BADBADNOTGOOD – “King of the Hill” (Stream)
It’s the collaboration one had to expect would happen eventually. As part of the BRAINFEEDER 10th anniversary collection, BRAINFEEDER X, celebrating a decade of releasing their particular brand of melding …
Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life – “Timing” (Stream)
Saxophonist Marcus Strickland and his group Twi-Life are getting ready to release a new album, People of the Sun, on November 9th. The group’s latest iteration features Mitch Henry on …
GADADU – “Julia”(Video)
GADADU, the group whose 2015 debut, And I See Night, seemed to have haunted us back then are making their return with their sophomore album, Outer Song, on October 26th. …
Bristol Duo Run Logan Run Release New Video for Single “ELIZA” (Premiere)
Run Logan Run is a unique experimental jazz duo hailing from Bristol and featuring Andrew Neil Hayes on saxophones and FX, and Dan Johnson on drums and percussion. Hard to …
Dave Meder – “Elegy (feat. Chris Potter)” (Video)
Pianist Dave Meder is the youngest piano faculty member ever to be hired at the University of North Texas’ prestigious jazz program (he’ll be there teaching alongside new faculty members …
KADAWA – “We’ll Get Back to You” (Video)
KADAWA — the trio of bassist Almog Sharvit, guitarist Tal Yahalom, and drummer Ben Silashi – blew us away last year with their self-titled release. Well, they’re still plugging at …
Ben Wendel’s Seasons Band Release “July”, First Track Off Debut Album ‘The Seasons’ (Video)
With the fall season’s upcoming releases looking quite promising, saxophonist Ben Wendel’s new album, The Seasons, is definitely one of the albums we are most highly anticipating around here. Based …
Butcher Brown Cover Andre 3000’s “Prototype” (Video)
Early this morning, the guys of Butcher Brown just dropped a video of their take on OutKast’s “Prototype” to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the legendary double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love …
Ambrose Akinmusire Drops First Single Off New Album ‘Origami Harvest’
Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire has always pushed the envelope, bringing about unabashed avant-gardism and exultant individualism to the music he so lovingly creates. His latest project is no different. Stemming from …
Bassist Adam Hopkins Releases “Mudball”, First Single off Debut Album ‘Crickets’ (Premiere)
One of the beauties of modern jazz is that it freely draws inspiration from an amalgam of other genres. Popular these days are neo soul, indie rock or hip hop, …
Jason Lindner’s Now Vs Now Release Video for “Silkworm Society”
Every single song on Now Vs Now’s upcoming new album, The Buffering Cocoon, is brilliant, and you’ll find that out soon enough when it drops September 14th on Jazzland Recordings …
Pianist James Francies Unveils Blue Note Debut ‘Flight’; Stream Lead Single “Dreaming”
Houston-born, New York City-based pianist, keyboardist, and composer James Francies is the newest signee to the prestigious Blue Note Records label, a feat he’s remarkably accomplishing at the tender age …
UK Band Fabled Releases Single “The Picture House” off Debut Album ‘Short Stories’ (Premiere)
Fabled is a UK band spearheaded by saxophonist and clarinetist Sam Rapley and rounded out by Alex Munk on guitar, Matt Robinson on piano, Conor Chaplin on double bass and …
Stream Previously Unreleased Thelonious Monk Track off 1963 Lost Live Album
This year is sure full of surprises for the jazz community! After John Coltrane’s posthumous album, Both Directions at Once, recently released on the Impulse label, a new previously unheard …
Saxophonist Johnny Butler Releases Video for “Burgundy”
Saxophonist Johnny Butler has never been one bereft of creative ideas. That’s certainly apparent through his album HyperViolet which released last year. To keep the momentum going (and to call …
Saxophonist Daniel Rotem Releases New Single “Country of Mind” off Upcoming Album ‘Serenading the Future’ (Premiere)
The Los Angeles jazz scene has been truly effervescent as of late with more and more extremely talented musicians deciding to call the West Coast home. Among them is Israeli …
Watch the Video for “Pheonix”, the Title Track off Javier Santiago’s New Album
I have extremely glowing praise for keyboardist Javier Santiago’s album, Phoenix (which I’m feeling confident that it’s one of my favorite albums of the year). So it brings me joy …
José James Returns September 28 With Bill Withers Tribute ‘Lean On Me’
Vocalist José James is back with a new album on September 28th entitled Lean On Me, a heartfelt and honest twelve song tribute to the legendary Bill Withers in honor …
Phronesis – “Matrix for D.A.” (Video)
Phronesis — the trio of bassist Jasper Høiby, pianist Ivo Neame, and drummer Anton Eger — are about to drop their new album, We Are All, September 14th on Edition …
Saxophonist Miguel Zenon Releases First Single off Upcoming Album Featuring the Spektral Quartet
Saxophonist Miguel Zenón is one of the most prolific musicians of his generation having received such accolades as multiple Grammy nominations and both the Guggenheim and the MacArthur fellowships, in …
Stream Pianist Art Hirahara’s “Brooklyn Express” Off his New Album ‘Sunward Bound’ (Single Premiere)
Pianist Art Hirahara discovered jazz while studying Electronic and Computer Music at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio. During his junior year there, he began taking lessons from Cleveland jazz giant …
REVIVE Music Debuts New Independent Label Division with the Release of Freelance’s ‘Yes Today’ (Video)
We’ve always been huge fans of REVIVE Music, the ever-evolving multi-faceted operation spearheaded by fellow jazz fanatic and founder Meghan Stabile. We greatly admire their entrepreneurial spirit and their passion …
The Mattson 2 Cover John Coltrane’s “Resolution” (Video)
Identical twins Jonathan and Jared Mattson have been playing expressive, stripped down jazz for a little while now, gaining plaudits and attention from unconventional corners (their last album was alongside …
Saxophonist Donny McCaslin Reunites David Bowie’s Blackstar Band On New Album (Video)
Two and a half years ago, David Bowie released Blackstar days before his death. The album, Bowie’s final masterpiece, put front and center a jazz band, namely saxophonist Donny McCaslin’ …
Rotem Sivan – “Indian Ocean” (Video)
Guitarist Rotem Sivan is preparing to release a new album, My Favorite Monster, on August 31st. He’s going harder on this one, finding a more rock-tinged edge of his usual …
Montreal Bassist Alex Lefaivre Debuts New Quartet (Stream)
Montreal, aside from hosting the world’s largest jazz festival, also harbors, like many other cities, a small yet resilient community of local musicians whose passion for jazz keeps the music …
Jazz Group Kneebody Covers Rapper Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” (Video)
You’ve all heard “Bodak Yellow” by now, the 2017 hip-hop anthem that propelled rapper Cardi B to superstardom. With its dark and hypnotic vamp and its aggressive and provocative lyrics, …
Phronesis – “One For Us” (Video)
Anyone who has followed Nextbop for a while may possibly know our strong feelings about Phronesis– one of our favorite piano/bass/drums trio on the planet. We mean it. Jasper Høiby, …
Brandon Coleman – “Giant Feelings (feat. Patrice Quinn & Techdizzle)” (Video)
Keyboardist/vocalist Brandon Coleman is an LA-based musician who is in cahoots with a bunch of the all stars of that scene– Kamasi Washington, Flying Lotus, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, (Ciara, Babyface, others …
Eric Hirsh – “To Comfort a Shadow” (Video)
Pianist Eric Hirsh has been a North Carolina staple for a while now, backing assorted groups (most notably hip-hop collective The Beast alongside Pierce Freelon) and providing a sensible, expressive …
Gilad Hekselman – “VBlues” (Stream)
Guitarist Gilad Hekselman has been keeping busy, but very soon, there’s about to be a new album to show for it. Out this September on Motéma Records, Hekselman is dropping …
Watch Trombonist Nick Finzer’s Hear & Now Perform Herbie Hancock’s “Riot”
Herbie Hancock’s iconic album Speak Like a Child was released fifty years ago in 1968 and the anniversary hasn’t gone unnoticed by rising Star NYC trombonist Nick Finzer. In order …
Jesse Fischer – “Creepin'” feat. Jaime Woods (Stream)
Keyboardist/producer Jesse Fischer is ramping up the intrigue around his upcoming Flipped II album, release date to be determined. Perhaps the mystery behind an album of remixes and covers of …
Kneebody Covers Beck’s “Dear Life” (Video)
Kneebody is continuing their cover series with a new song this week– their take on Beck’s “Dear Life” off his latest album, Colors. Comparing the two songs, Kneebody is definitely …
Stream Bassist Adi Meyerson’s New Single, “Little Firefly”, Featuring Camila Meza
Israeli bassist and composer Adi Meyerson left her home five years ago, like so many others before her, to see if she could make a name for herself on the …
Adam O’Farrill – “Siiva Moiiva” (Stream)
You should be a fan of trumpeter Adam O’Farrill. He’s an impressive young talent and a proven bandleader. Oh, sure, he’s good, particularly good for 23 years old, at that. …
Dafnis Prieto Big Band – “Out of the Bone” (Video)
The Dafnis Prieto Big Band’s new album, Back to the Sunset, is quite the grand accomplishment. Prieto’s largest ensemble yet is filled with movement after movement of his signature rhythms …
R+R=NOW – “Resting Warrior” (Stream)
“Resting Warrior”, the new single from the supergroup R+R=NOW, has that certain Glasperian, balanced sense of sprawl where everyone gets a solo and plays that solo at the top of …
Gilad Hekselman’s ZuperOctave – “V-Blues” (Video)
Guitarist Gilad Hekselman has a trio with pianist (or really keyboardist) Aaron Parks and drummer Kendrick Scott called ZuperOctave. They’re playful. With Parks on keyboards, there’s a different vibe to …
Andre 3000 – ‘Look Ma No Hands’ EP (Stream)
This one almost got away from us, but over this past Mother’s Day, Andre 3000 (y’know, of OutKast) dropped a two song EP dedicated to his late parents. Yet the …
Kneebody Cover Rihanna’s “Work” (Video)
I wasn’t really asking for this, but I also make it a habit to sleep on Rihanna (hell, I still like Sia’s earlier work), but “Work” is a catchy song …
Dafnis Prieto Big Band – “Danzonish Potpourri” (Video Premiere)
Drummer, composer, and 2011 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Dafnis Prieto recently released what may just be his most ambitious project to date, Back to the Sunset, the debut album of the …
Stream Drummer Jonathan Barber’s Debut Single “Crown”
Drummer Jonathan Barber is quickly making a name for himself. Voted this year’s best “Up & Coming” drummer in the Modern Drummer Readers Poll, the young Barber is setting the …
Stream Saxophonist Mike Casey’s New Cover of “Nature Boy”
Rising saxophonist Mike Casey is all about his online presence. His press releases are chalked up with social media metrics. “West End”, the first single off his upcoming album Stay …
Johnny Butler – “Crossing the River” (feat. Kassa Overall) (Video)
Saxophonist Johnny Butler has always had a diversity of influences in his music. It’s worth noting, though, that one of those influences is the drummer/rapper/producer Kassa Overall. They all come …
Edward Simon – “Triangle” (Stream)
Venezuelan pianist and Guggenheim Fellow Edward Simon is just about as well respected as anyone in the realm of jazz piano. His accolades include stints with Greg Osby and Terence …
Portico Quartet – “View from a Satellite” (Video)
Portico Quartet’s latest album, Untitled (AITAOA #2), the companion album to last year’s Art in the Age of Automation, just dropped last week and it’s spacey, trippy, dopeness that I …
Gauthier Toux Trio – “Filter” (Stream)
French pianist Gauthier Toux has been racking up awards on the European circuit with his progressive blend of jazz music. His newest album, The Colours You See, is set to …
Kiefer – “What A Day” (Stream)
I wish I could talk about Mndsgn more often (bear with me, here, I’ll get to the feature). His last two albums have been staples in my library and floated …
Martin Nevin – “Sculpting in Time” (Video)
Bassist and composer Martin Nevin has shared the stage with the likes of Albert “Tootie” Heath, Greg Osby, Ethan Iverson, and Ambrose Akinmusire, but Tenderness is Silent, to be released …
Jesse Fischer – “Punjab” (Stream)
Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson would have turned 81 today. Everybody’s got their favorites and Henderson is pianist/producer Jesse Fischer’s. So in tribute of the legend, Fischer just dropped the first …
Petros Klampanis’ Rooftop Stories Video Series
Bassist/composer Petros Klampanis is a superbly talented musician with quite the mind for arrangement. His last album, Chroma, certainly is proof of that. Yet little else really displays arranging prowess …
Justin Brown – “Lesson 1: DANCE” (Stream)
I’ve learned a few things over the years covering the players of the modern jazz scene. Amongst those characters I’ve encountered and heard play their craft, I knew long ago …
Saxophonist Kamasi Washington Announces New Album ‘Heaven and Earth’ With Two Teaser Videos
Saxophonist Kamasi Washington has received, over the past three years, more praise and adoration than any other in the realm of jazz and of its orbiting offsprings. The mainstream media …
Kassa Overall – ‘Drake It Till You Make It’ EP (Stream)
The multi-talented Kassa Overall keeps busy and keeps finding ways to meld all those various talents in his works. His latest effort, the four-song EP Drake It Till You Make …
Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints – “Libra”
Saxophonist Joe Lovano is a musician whose career I have been following for quite some time. His sound is timeless and exciting gaining momentum and grace as the years elapse. …
Javier Santiago feat. Proper-T – “Yesterday” (Video)
Keyboardist and producer Javier Santiago has been flying under the radar ever since the release of his 2015 debut EP The Year of the Horse, much to our chagrin we …
Rafiq Bhatia – “Breaking English” (Live Session Video)
If we’re talking a lot about guitarist Rafiq Bhatia‘s upcoming new album, Breaking English, a whole lot, it’s largely because we’re really excited about it. Besides, the album drops tomorrow …
Terence Blanchard and the E-Collective Drop New Single “Dear Jimi”
Terence Blanchard and his band the E-Collective are back with a new album entitled Live, set to drop April 20th on Blue Note Records. Following their politically-charged 2015 release Breathless, …
Anteloper (Jaimie Branch & Jason Nazary) – “Ohoneotree Suite” (Stream)
Trumpeter Jaimie Branch, who wowed the masses with last year’s Fly or Die, is a frequent collaborator with drummer Jason Nazary (of Bear in Heaven, Little Women, Helado Negro). Together, …
Nels Cline 4 – “Imperfect 10” (Stream)
Guitarist Nels Cline has a new group alongside fellow guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Tom Rainey, and they’re set to release their new album, Currents, Constellations, April …
Rafiq Bhatia – “Breaking English” (Single Stream)
Guitarist Rafiq Bhatia is steadily introducing us to his new album, Breaking English, out April 6 on Anti-. Much like the first single, “Hoods Up”, the title track with touches …
Stream ‘More Songs About Error And Shame’ by Canadian Band Peripheral Vision
JUNO-nominated (that’s a Canadian GRAMMY for those who don’t know, comes with maple syrup and a beaver fur hat) jazz quartet Peripheral Vision is embarking on a tour of Western …
Introducing French Trio ONEFOOT
Shots fired in Paris. ONEFOOT, the trio comprised of keyboardist Yessaï Karapetian, bassist Marc Karapetian and drummer Matthieu Font, is rapidly making a name for itself in the Old Continent …
Rafiq Bhatia – “Hoods Up” (Stream)
Guitarist Rafiq Bhatia is super dope. He does super dope work with Son Lux (new album Brighter Wounds is out now. He does super dope work with Vijay Iyer (take …
Jazz and Hip-Hop Collective QNA Drops New Single “Karoshi”
NYC jazz and hip-hop collective QNA are set to drop their sophomore effort, XII, this month. The band, comprised of MC Supe, vocalist Marina Espinet, saxophonist Benjamin Chin, guitarist TJ …
Emma Frank – “Best Friend” (Video Premiere)
Vocalist Emma Frank brings genuine peacefulness and transparent honesty to everything she touches including her newest opus, Ocean Av, slated for a February 16th release on Brooklyn-based Susan Records. Joining …
Kneebody – “How High” feat. Inara George
There’s something about the latest single from Kneebody that seems familiar. It floats through the air easily and Inara George‘s vocals float along with it. It’s difficult to put a …
August Greene (Common, Robert Glasper, Karriem Riggins) – “Optimistic” feat. Brandy (Video)
This song is important. It’s one of those Gospel songs that still works as a secular tune. Sounds of Blackness, the choir that put this song out in the 1990s, …
AJ Ghent [j-ent] – “Power”
AJ Ghent [J-ent] hails out of Fort Pierce, Florida, where he grew up surrounded by music. His great uncle Willie Eason was the creator of the “Sacred Steel Tradition,” while …
The Gloaming – “The Sailor’s Bonnet”
Fiddle master Martin Hayes, guitarist Dennis Cahill, sean-nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, hardanger innovator Caoimhin Ó Raghallaigh and New York pianist Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman) joined forces in 2011 to …
Nils Frahm Featured in Crack Magazine Mini-Documentaries
For the past two years, German musician and composer Nils Frahm has been building a brand new studio in Berlin to record his 7th album, All Melody, released just last …
Ben Wendel – “Stars Fell on Alabama” (Video)
Ah, the overdubbed Brady Bunch video. They’re the internet’s way of saying I’m-a-one-person-musical-badass. One can do these sorts of overdubs live or in audio recording, but this way has that …
Herbie Hancock on ‘Austin City Limits’
It’s hard to believe but legendary pianist Herbie Hancock had, before quite recently, never performed on the equally legendary American public television show Austin City Limits. This changed last week …