Enduring dreary winter weather in New England demands looking forward to the longer days and warmer months of summer. The new single by the ever soulful and stylistic vocalist José James is the perfect antidote for those needing a little vitamin D boost. “Turn Me Up” features multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Aloe Blacc and is one of twelve guest-filled tracks on James' … [Read more...]
Stream Saxophonist Logan Richardson’s New Single “her”
Logan Richardson has been tearing it up for years now, more recently as an integral member of Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s inner circle (see our 2019 Montreal Jazz Festival concert review). We hear rumors of two new albums by the saxophonist slated for 2020. Pictures of studio sessions have emerged on Instagram. But the versatile altoist is constantly making moves, exploring … [Read more...]
Rob Shepherd’s Favorite Jazz Albums of the Decade
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...]
Anthony Dean-Harris’ Favorite Jazz Albums of the Decade
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...]
Our Top Picks at the 2019 Montreal International Jazz Festival
The Montreal International Jazz Festival kicks off its 40th edition this week, starting June 26th, with a line-up sure to delight the most diverse of musical tastes. Often jazz festivals can be criticized for not showcasing enough jazz per se, but this year’s Montreal edition is particularly fruitful and ripe with a great selection of actual jazz artists. We’ve highlighted a … [Read more...]