In Defense of Good Sax, Part Three (The Joy of Saxless Jazz)
Starring John Zorn and Marc Ribot. So what happens when one of the most prolific and staggeringly gifted sax players (and composers) of our era, John Zorn, conducts his music…
Starring John Zorn and Marc Ribot. So what happens when one of the most prolific and staggeringly gifted sax players (and composers) of our era, John Zorn, conducts his music…
It occurs to me that I've said little, on the record, about McCoy Tyner. This is a shame, since he is one of my all-time favorite musicians and a case…
Depending on how old you are, the iconic image above may mean different things. If you are young enough that digital files have been the primary way you've experienced music…
This hurts. Of course jazz enthusiasts are (always have been?) a small if discerning bunch, so it's unlikely the sudden passing of Billy Bang will register as much as it…
I was unprepared for Pitom. As a result, my initial experience with the band’s debut album in 2008 was one of those exceedingly rare occasions when one’s astonishment is both…
I. L’amour de l’art fait perdre l’amour vrai. Or, the love of art makes one lose real love (attributed to Richepin). As quoted by Vincent Van Gogh in one his…
I. Til Love and Fame to nothingness do sink When I have fears that I may cease to be Before my pen has glean’d my teeming brain, Before high piled…
Just before my birthday, on the subject of Eric Dolphy (who I'm happy to call attention to anytime the opportunity presents itself), I had the following to say about what the…
A Match Made in Heaven Turns Into a Near Miss This review should be prefaced by a simple acknowledgment: William Parker has few peers in contemporary music. For the better…
The Mingus Big Band is bigger than most big bands because they play the music of Charles Mingus. Of the many words one could use to describe Mingus, (and one…