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New Music Monday for June 5, 2023
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and SpotifyThe music of Herbie Hancock has affected the lives of generations of jazz performers. Like many of these musicians, it was the opportunity to play with the great pianist/composer that introduced the drummer Mike Clark to the jazz world at large. Hancock initially had Harvey Mason in the drum chair …
New Music Monday for May 29, 2023
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Drummer Joe Farnsworth sets out on a bold new path in answer to the question, “In What Direction Are You Headed?” The new disc marks a turning point in his career, as he’s assembled a new quintet featuring not his renowned forebears but esteemed talents from his own generation and …
New Music Monday for May 22, 2023
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and SpotifyAs difficult times often beget new beginnings, the Covid-19 quagmire gave birth to alto saxophonist Eric Alexander. To some, a tenor-to-alto switch may not seem to be a newsworthy matter, but for the initiated, it’s the stuff of headlines. An inveterate tenor at the apex of the scene for more …
New Music Monday for May 15, 2023
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Three years after the release of Artemis’ critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, the all-female ensemble returns with a marvelous follow-up that highlights the improvisational strength of its members as well as their respective gifts as composers. “In Real Time” showcases a new lineup of the collective with founding members …
New Music Monday for May 8, 2023
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and SpotifyBuilding on a long track record of scholarship and interpretive artistry focused on the great Mary Lou Williams, vibraphonist and composer Cecilia Smith unveils “The Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project Volume One: Small Ensemble Repertoire.” Through countless hours of immersion in the Williams archive at the Institute for Jazz Studies, …
New Music Monday for May 1, 2023
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and SpotifyWorld-renowned guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli has dedicated many of his albums to the great songwriters and performers who have helped to establish the Great American Songbook and the pop music canon: Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Richard Rodgers, and Duke Ellington, to name a few. With his …
New Music Monday for April 24, 2023
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and SpotifyTaj Mahal can rightfully be called a living legend for his contributions to popular music. With a voice that is as instantly recognizable as Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles or Dr. John, Taj Mahal throughout his career has pushed the envelope of American music forward by incorporating sounds from the Caribbean, …
New Music Monday for April 17, 2023
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Toronto has been known as a great jazz city for decades. When jazz fans all over the world hear bands like Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, they instantly recognize the swinging arrangements and immaculate playing as being emblematic of the Toronto sound. With “The Toronto Project,” The …