Brothers Zaccai and Luques Curtis are back with a new album commissioned by Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works. Algorithm, coming August 23rd to the brothers’ own Truth Revolution Records, builds upon The Curtis Brothers Band’s 2012 debut Completion of Proof, drawing inspiration equally from mathematical concepts as well as from some of the brothers’ pivotal mentors over … [Read more...]
(U)nity – ‘(U)nity is Power’ (Album Review)
The band (U)nity, co-lead by pianist Axel Laugart and percussionist Amaury Acosta, are legit and have been for a minute now, but with the release of their first proper album, their sound is more fully formed. Their previous releases, singles and mixtapes, had a roughness that showed direction, but with the release of (U)nity is Power, out now on Ropeadope, their meshing of … [Read more...]
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – ‘Ruler Rebel’
Since time perpetually moves forward, all movement is technically forward movement. Everything is a form of progression. Experience gives texture to signature, though the elements of signature -- those attributes that define the outward expression of persona -- remain fundamentally intact because the everlasting battle of nature versus nurture will always end up in some sort of … [Read more...]
Curtis Brothers Quartet – ‘Syzygy’
The Curtis Brothers Quartet's new album, Syzygy is dropping in mid-December where it will be (very) unfortunately overlooked as critics and listeners turn our collective attention to 'best of 2016' lists (nextbop included, of course). Don't make that mistake. The quartet (brothers Luques and Zaccai Curtis on bass and keys, respectively, plus Richie Barshay on drums and … [Read more...]
Romain Collin – ‘Press Enter’
Like the exposition of a futuristic sci-fi flick, Romain Collin's Press Enter remains grounded in the familiar acoustic piano trio but gives glimpses into a world that’s been fundamentally changed. The establishing shot of the film is the short lead-in track "99" followed by the second track, "Clockwork", which drops you fully into the world being created, and throughout, the … [Read more...]