Matthew Shipp Trio – Piano Song Newman Taylor Baker – Drums Michael Bisio – Bass Matthew Shipp – Piano Renowned pianist, composer and bandleader Matthew Shipp’s new full length album Piano Song is the latest in a discography that establishes him as a contemporary master of the jazz idiom. For nearly three decades Shipp has
Mary Halvorson – Meltframe (Firehouse 12) A few weeks ago, something amazing happened. I closed my eyes and was transported back in time to the music of my youth: the angsty, rough edges of Nirvana, the intricate and driving rhythms of Radiohead, the dark melodicism of Muse. When I opened them again, I realized it
Michael Foster’s The Ghost There’s a First Time for Everything Self-released on Bandcamp and on cassette; recorded live in Philadelphia. Michael Foster is an emerging musician on the New York music scene. For the past several years, he’s been active working with his group, The Ghost. He also has a duo consisting of himself and
James Brandon Lewis Trio – No Filter (BNS Records, 2016) Consisting of Luke Stewart on bass, Warren G. “Trae” Crudup III on drums and bandleader James Brandon Lewis on tenor sax and vocals, the James Brandon Lewis Trio is an electrifying, forward thinking contemporary Jazz ensemble. The trio’s newest project No Filter is a forceful,
William Parker – For Those Who Are, Still (AUM Fidelity, 2015) This box set comes with three CDs (see below for full details of the contents of the CDs). The opening sounds of For Fannie Louie Hamer + Vermeer, is basically found in music from India. This goes on at length. It is more improvised
Muyassar Kurdi and Nick Jozwiak – Intersections and Variations Bandcamp Release (January 1, 2017) Intersections and Variations by Muyassar Kurdi and Nicholas Jozwiak presents cutting edge sounds that will really grab your attention. The creative use of gongs, plus cello filling the air, is quite effective establishing the mood of this composition. Muyassar’s voice
Farmers by Nature – Love and Ghosts (AUM Fidelity, 2014) Gerald Cleaver (drums) William Parker (bass) Craig Taborn (piano) A double live album of music from the band Farmers by Nature (Gerald Cleaver, Craig Taborn, William Parker) is a daunting affair, especially if you’re familiar with any of these musicians or the trio’s previous recordings.
Leap of Faith Orchestra ‐ The Expanding Universe Recorded at Nave Gallery, Clarendon Presbyterian Church Somerville, MA – 6/4/2016 The Expanding Universe by The Leap of Faith Orchestra, is one of several groups led by Dave Peck. In his own words, here’s how he describes these projects: “I have had an improvisation ensemble called Leap of Faith
Kris Davis – Duopoly (Pyroclastic Records, 2016) Duopoly (du-op-o-ly) Noun: A fun play on words suggesting that two things hold equal presence or control rather than one thing dominating the other A perfect name for an album of duets featuring Kris Davis and other creative improvisers where neither improviser is in neither the background nor
The decade-plus pairing of tenor saxophonist/bass clarinetist Keefe Jackson and vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz has stood as a fruitful and prolific relationship. The Jazz duo is a unique and challenging undertaking, too often the duo format can leave even the most gifted players and composers in an uphill battle to push against the inherent limitation of
