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 video series on YouTube with its 17th installment, covering Horace Silver's "Peace" alongside guitarist Matthew Stevens. It's a lovely, prickly take from the two and yet another sign of Wendel killing it … [Read more...]
Anthony Dean-Harris’ Favorite Jazz Albums of 2018
As one of our most exciting times of year (which we refer to as the Season of Lists), the Nextbop staff relishes the end of the year to declare our favorite releases from the last twelve months, noting a moment in time and reminding folks (out there reading and amongst ourselves in the staff) of what great music was out there and maybe to catch up on what you may have missed, … [Read more...]
Nextbop’s Favorite Jazz Albums of 2018
As one of our most exciting times of year (which we refer to as the Season of Lists), the Nextbop staff relishes the end of the year to declare our favorite releases from the last twelve months, noting a moment in time and reminding folks (out there reading and amongst ourselves in the staff) of what great music was out there and maybe to catch up on what you may have missed, … [Read more...]
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, with one song for each month of the year. It's a bold, dazzling album that must be embraced (and though I never did get around to reviewing it, it certainly appeared on The Line-Up a lot lately … [Read more...]
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 on the video series he put together back in 2015 involving duet compositions with assorted musicians, the project has now evolved to include a full band (many of whom were in said … [Read more...]