Aron Namenwirth’s Hurricane begins with a quiet storm gaining momentum. As sound unfolds the images on the album cover are imbued with meaning. The dark painted spirals suggest a kind of “fun house” trip to come; one where sounds bend and contort until traditional bass, percussion, and piano sounds abstractly familiar. The opening chord of
Mushroom Hour Half Hour is a Johannesburg, South Africa-based experimental music label. A quote from South African musicologist Dr. Sazi Diamini gives a look into the label’s philosophical approach to music-making, “There is no formal process as such ….. it’s an experiment that relies on the sensitivities between the players …..” MHHH outfit SPAZA is
“We aim to destroy a history … that no longer serves a purpose.” – Blacks’ Myths Black Expression is at the great place right now and even though all of it isn’t for me, it is amazing to examine all of these avenues open for creatives from the African Diaspora. Whether it is listening to
In 2017, I was invited a cover a myriad of events at the Red Bull Music Festival in New York City and Los Angeles. Along with interviewing the iconic music producer, Teddy Riley and legendary composer, Patrick Adams, I was called on to do a series of interviews and reviews to document the first Alice
Anyone familiar with my musical taste knows that the vibraphone is my favorite rhythm section instrument. Bobby Hutcherson and Milt Jackson were on constant rotation as a youth and I’ll never part with their records. Yet, after the years I sought out other players who approached the board in different ways. Lionel Hampton (tha Gawd),
A first run through Big Ceremony’s EP only really introduces the play in balance between the synthesizer and drums, and even between technology and humanity. The ten-piece record is filled with live recorded tracks all lasting under six minutes long. With the shortest piece at about 40 seconds, the phrases, rhythmic movements, and fluidity can
Amirtha Kidambi is a composer, there’s no denying that at this point in time. But there was a time where this talented musician and intellectual had to break through gender stigmas and discouragement when it came to her studying composition as a young woman. She and I talked for nearly an hour, so this interview
Bobby Bradford & Hafez Modirzadeh – Live at the Blue Whale (NoBusiness, 2018) Various – Mushroom Hour Half Hour Presents SPAZA (Mushroom Hour, 2019) Jason Stein, Greg Ward, Eric Revis, Jim Black – Nature Work (Sunnyside, 2019) Pneuma – Who Has Seen the Wind? (Songlines, 2019) Uivo – Zebra (Bocian Records, 2018)
The first time I learned about “new jazz” singer, Ms. Jeanne Lee, was in 2015. I was given the opportunity to research and write a piece for Bitch Media about African American Women composers. The piece was entitled, Black Women Composers to Discover (re-published in Bitch Media’s online outlet in March, 2018). The blurb from
Nick Sanders Trio – Playtime 2050 (Sunnyside Communications, 2019) Ben Stapp & Joe Morris featuring Stephen Haynes – Mind Creature Sound Dasein (Listen Foundation!, 2019) Michael Attias – Echoes la Nuit (Out of Your Head Records, 2019) Logan Strosahl’s Spec Ops – Sure (Sunnyside Communications, 2019)
