Yesterday we unveiled Nextbop's Best Jazz Albums of 2019, which was compiled by our staff as a whole. Today, we continue our Season of Lists with Editor-in-Chief Anthony Dean-Harris' Favorite Jazz Albums of 2019. There's something kind of lovely about the lack of one major cohesive idea present in the genre of jazz at the moment. The idea of what the music can be is larger … [Read more...]
Javier Santiago’s New Ropeadope Album ‘B-Sides: The Phoenix Sessions’ Reviewed
It cannot be said that Javier Santiago plays the keys without a sense of lyricism and tension. It cannot be said that Santiago doesn't compose songs with powerful arcs that don't let go. In his Ropeadope debut last year, Phoenix, Javier Santiago did this all over, and he did it as a jazz fusion masterpiece, but that may have been due to the tools used for the job, leaning more … [Read more...]
Javier Santiago – “River Song” feat. J. Hoard (Video)
Despite it releasing last year, I have yet to move past the brilliance of keyboardist Javier Santiago's album, Phoenix, a release of fusion fantasticness that's just perfect for this era. Even the way the album starts off, with the swirling, building, earth-moving tune "River Song" with vocalist J. Hoard creeping in bit by bit to make this a real singalong, it's just all too … [Read more...]
King Klavé feat. Keyon Harrold & Javier Santiago – “Beauty” (Video)
Percussionist Amaury Acosta, aka King Klave in his solo work and co-leader of the group (U)nity, recently dropped by the Congahead studios with friends trumpeter Keyon Harrold, keyboardist Javier Santiago, and a fresh new composition for the three of them to jam called "Beauty" that certainly fits its description. It's always a delight to hear what's new coming from Acosta, and … [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...]