There's a fullness in ten years. A lot of work, if rather relentlessly done, can really make a discernible impact. Ten years ago, folks were making all the talk as rather cyclically that jazz was dead. It was such an exhausting conversation. Folks were around making this music, obviously. It couldn't be that dead. The problem was in the awareness and the tweaking of the … [Read more...]
Aaron Parks – ‘Find the Way’
Aaron Parks has never left us. It's been a while since he has released a major album as a leader, but he's been around. Upon his return to the for in his 2013 ECM debut, Arborescence, he improvised solo, feeling as passionately through his fingertips as always, but it's his new release with the fantastic trio of bassist Ben Street and the powerful force that is drummer Billy … [Read more...]
Festival International de Jazz de Montreal 2016: The Ever Beautiful Aaron Parks Trio
Aaron Parks is an altogether beautiful person, as if his aura just colors whatever he touches, particularly pianos. Billy Hart is a legend and a giant and gets to do whatever the hell he wants on the drums. Ben Street is an anchor and a pure soul able to keep the three aligned on the bass. The trio were absolutely outstanding playing one of the last sets of the festival on … [Read more...]
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 on March 1st and March 8th. The album, his second to date, marks the trumpeter’s debut on Fresh Sound New Talent and aims at reimagining jazz tradition all the while maintaining a contemp … [Read more...]