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...]
The Robert Glasper Experiment – “Find You” (Stream)
The Robert Glasper Experiment is back at it with the announcement of their newest LP ArtScience set to drop September 16th on Blue Note. But where do you go following two GRAMMY wins and numerous collaborations with the likes of Erykah Badu, Norah Jones and even Snoop Dogg? "You do you," says Glasper with a chuckle. "People need to hear what the Experiment sounds like, just … [Read more...]
Robert Glasper Experiment feat. Yasiin Bey (Full Concert Video)
The Grammy-winning and now iconic Robert Glasper Experiment performed last March at the A Vaulx Jazz Festival in France. The group, formed by Glasper on keys, Casey Benjamin on vocals, keytar and sax, Derrick Hodge on bass and Mark Colenburg on drums was joined for the occasion by the one and only Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def). If you weren’t lucky enough to attend the show, h … [Read more...]
Anthony Dean-Harris’ Favorite Non-Jazz Albums of 2013
"...Keep in rotation." It's a term I happen to use a lot. Usually it means there's some album I just can't help but remove from my phone's memory when its space is wearing thin through week after week of constantly acquiring new music. This means a lot to me in jazz; it's my job, of course. But when I happen to say this in reference to a non-jazz work, those outside interests … [Read more...]
The Best Jazz Albums of 2012: #10-1
By the circumstances of our calendar, we culturally use the transition into the new year as a time to reflect. We reflect on how we have grown as people, about the ties to our friends new and old, about how we have conducted ourselves, of what we have liked and didn't like. We as people periodically reflect, and as people who love music, we periodically reflect on what moved … [Read more...]