Every time bassist Linda May Han Oh releases an album, it's always filled to the brim with beat and soul. Her compositions have the complex ideas one would expect of contemporary jazz, but there's always a sensibility that this is music it had to reach the audience, it has to make the toes tap. She never loses sight of how to reach people with all she has to say. It's this … [Read more...]
Linda May Han Oh – “Aventurine” (Stream)
Every time bassist Linda May Han Oh releases an album, we tend to fall head over heels in love with her work anew. From 2012's Initial Here to 2013's Sun Pictures to 2017's Walk Against Wind, she never makes a misstep, always making music with an intuitive sense of rhythm that can make even the most complex ideas into absolute bangers. For her new album, Aventurine, out May … [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...]
Justin Brown – ‘NYEUSI’
For years, I have referred to Justin Brown as a murderer. He has an adeptness at the drum kit so technically rambunctious, so particularly expressive, that one's previous thinking about what drums can do dies. This has been the clear case for years in a percussive sense, however, Brown also has this capability as a composer and bandleader, as shown in his debut album, NYEUSI, … [Read more...]