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...]
Trumpeter Yazz Ahmed’s Ropeadope Debut ‘Polyhymnia’ Reviewed
It's no secret to those that follow jazz that London is one of the places to be right now. The English capital has an exciting young scene. Bahraini-British trumpeter Yazz Ahmed is extremely active within this scene, having released her sophomore record, the much acclaimed La Saboteuse, in 2017. La Saboteuse was composed of many original compositions that featured a potent … [Read more...]
Trumpeter Russell Gunn Discusses his Latest Album, Ancient Dogon Knowledge, and his Quest for Truth
Pyramids, Russell Gunn's newest album with The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, came out last month on the Ropeadope label. We caught up with the trumpeter, composer, and bandleader to discuss the record, his artistic vision rooted in ancient Dogon knowledge, his musical identity and its ties to hip hop culture, as well as his quest for truth, meaning, and purpose. Read the interview … [Read more...]
Stream “Black Indian Rain Dance” From The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra’s New Album ‘Pyramids’
Trumpeter Russell Gunn is back with a new opus from his Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra entitled Pyramids, released today via Ropeadope Records, which he describes as the second in a trilogy that began with 2016’s The Sirius Mystery.The following preamble, as excerpted from the album’s liner notes, will shed some light on the inspiration behind the record. “‘Egyptologists’ and … [Read more...]
Aaron Whitby – ‘Cousin From Another Planet’ (Album Review)
Aaron Whitby has been a session player for years, backing folks like Randy Brecker, Natalie Cole, George Clinton, and his wife Martha Redbone. In this time, his own voice as a pianist definitely picked up a lot, which may show why he has such a steady hand as a leader in his debut album, Cousin From Another Planet, out now on Ropeadope.For an album with only one cover, so … [Read more...]