Compiling a list of the greatest works of the last ten years is an inherently difficult proposition. The first complication lies in the fact that so many of my musical memories from the last decade are tied to recordings released prior to the period. Some of my best memories include the Charlie Parker song from 1950 that played at my wedding, the New Year’s Eve I first stumbled … [Read more...]
Stream Vocalist and Saxophonist Braxton Cook’s New Single “Don’t Wanna See You” (Premiere)
Saxophonist turned vocalist Braxton Cook is heavily invested in developing his own unique sound as of late. The former King Adjuah pupil has been slowly stepping away from the jazz realm in order to dive head first into the worlds of R&B and Soul, exhibiting true versatility à la Robert Glasper. Who knows, maybe the young Cook will have a Grammy of his own some day! Following … [Read more...]
Watch the Video for Drummer Curtis Nowosad’s New Single “The Water Protectors” (Premiere)
Drummer, social justice advocate, and NYC jazz staple Curtis Nowosad has a monumental new album, his third has a leader, coming June 14th to the Sessionheads United label. The eponymous release, unapologetically focused on social justice, features five originals, four of which are named after notable activists of the past and present, as well as three covers: “Home is Where the … [Read more...]
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 a jam that can make folks in Generation Jones reflexively ask young folk "what you know about all that?!". It's pretty great. To keep its dopeness on your mind, Cook just released a music video of him performing … [Read more...]
Braxton Cook – ‘No Doubt’ (Album Review)
The idea of Braxton Cook making an R&B album isn't all that surprising. The seeming ease with which he plays the saxophone always had an amiable quality to it. But when he broke out on vocals on his debut album, Somewhere in Between, last year, it was clear that Cook would be playing in this familiar pocket. Throughout his new album, No Doubt, out now, Cook is out front, either … [Read more...]