Author's posts
New Music Monday for February 14, 2022
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Pianist Bill O’Connell is a genuine triple-threat in jazz, equally well-known as a composer, arranger and instrumentalist. He honed his craft carefully from his days with Mongo Santamaria in the ‘70s, his gigs with Chet Baker, Gato Barbieri, Sonny Rollins and others, and his long-time associations with Jerry …
New Music Monday for February 7, 2022
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Pianist and composer Deanna Witkowski honors the First Lady of Jazz, Mary Lou Williams, on her lovingly conceived and radiantly realized seventh album, “Force of Nature.” Released along with Witkowski’s first book—a detailed and engaging biography of Williams—the disc caps off 20 years of immersive research into …
New Music Monday for January 31, 2022
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Le Coq Records offers up a second volume from its ever-growing family of brilliant musicians with “The Jazz All Stars Vol. 2.” It showcases not only the virtuoso musicianship of many of contemporary jazz’s most in demand players, but also shines a brighter spotlight on their compositional gifts. …
New Music Monday for January 24, 2022
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Bernie Dresel has been one of the busiest studio musicians in the world since moving to Los Angeles in 1983. He’s traveled the world, occupying the coveted drum chair for Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band since its inception in 1999, and an overlapping 15 years as drummer for …
New Music Monday January 17, 2021
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Iconic pianist/composer Fred Hersch was an early adopter of new technologies and new ways forward when the pandemic hit in early 2020. But he’s also been among the most eager to return to live performance and collaboration now that life has begun to resume some semblance of normality. …
New Music Monday for January 10, 2022
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Multi-Grammy-winning piano legend Bob James returns to the trio format for the first time in four years with “Feel Like Making Live!,” a celebration of his unique artistry and storied career that stretches back 59 years. Consisting of bassist Michael Palazzolo along with drummer Billy Kilson, the …
New Music Monday for January 3, 2022
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and SpotifyNow entering its third decade as an ensemble, Hagiga’s founder, saxophonist Alon Ferber looked to Eddie Harris’s “Freedom Jazz Dance” as inspiration and a theme for their fourth recording, “Reflecting on Freedom.” With an exciting three horn frontline—reminiscent of some Dave Douglas or Booker Little ensembles—they draw liberally …
New Music Monday December 27, 2021
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and SpotifyMary LaRose has pushed the boundaries of the tradition of jazz vocalese into the post-bop world for many years, writing lyrics to the compositions and improvisations of Ornette Coleman, Anthony Braxton, and most often, Eric Dolphy. “I have felt connected to the music of Eric Dolphy since my …