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...]
Stream the Kendrick Scott Oracle’s New Single, “>>>>>>>>>Voices”
Following the release of his 2015 Blue Note debut, We Are the Drum, drummer Kendrick Scott found himself in a rut. The music he now composed and played just never felt quite good enough. His inspiration faltered and self-doubt settled in. But, as Scott now points out, “Wayne Shorter says there’s always something unfolding on the other side of the negative.” Scott reached out to … [Read more...]
Pianist James Francies Unveils Blue Note Debut ‘Flight’; Stream Lead Single “Dreaming”
Houston-born, New York City-based pianist, keyboardist, and composer James Francies is the newest signee to the prestigious Blue Note Records label, a feat he’s remarkably accomplishing at the tender age of 23. But Francies is wise beyond his years and his rise through the music world can only be described as meteoric. He’s already played with jazz royalty like Pat Metheny, … [Read more...]
R+R=NOW – “Resting Warrior” (Stream)
"Resting Warrior", the new single from the supergroup R+R=NOW, has that certain Glasperian, balanced sense of sprawl where everyone gets a solo and plays that solo at the top of his game, tapping into a quality in the arranging reminiscent of the sharpest jams on Lionel Loueke's Heritage album which Robert Glasper also produced. It was he who put this spectacular band together … [Read more...]
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (Featuring Vic Mensa) – “Freedom is a Word”
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah is constantly treading the line between innovative and revolutionary. Whether you like him or not, aTunde Adjuah is one of the only neojazzmen going where no one has gone before. Exhibit A, 2017 gave birth to the trumpeter’s Centennial Trilogy, a triple album, which brought him attention not only from all the usual suspects but also from Rolling … [Read more...]