Tag Archives: Jazz music

Duende Libre’s Invocation

I’m a huge fan of Duende Libre’s 2017 self-titled debut album, and the Seattle trio’s 2018 follow-up Drift so of course I’m all over their latest, Invocation. It’s a superb album of Latin influenced modern piano trio  jazz. Duende Libre’s … Continue reading

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Michael Kaeshammer’s Tell You How I Feel, and No Strings Attached

Christopher White wrote this review. Michael Kaeshammer (pronounced case-hammer) is a young … 25 or so … German-Canadian piano player with what might be dubbed post-neo-retro trad jazz sensibilities. And exceptionally prodigious chops. A child prodigy, he studied classical piano … Continue reading

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Vesna Pisarović’s Poravna

Croatian singer Vesna Pisarović has come a long way since her song “Everything I Want” placed 11th in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. She still sings pop music in concert, and the music on her nine pop albums has been … Continue reading

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Simon Linnert Trio’s Sayeh, Joe Magnarelli’s Concord, and Tony Miceli’s Nico’s Dream

I’m getting so much enjoyment out of this record. Part of it is that I’m going through a piano trio phase, but it’s also just an excellent album. Danish former piano prodigy Linnert turns in his first trio recording with … Continue reading

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Phil Haynes’s Return To Electric, and Transition(s)

Phil Haynes, a drummer and composer who was born in Oregon, seems to be on my wavelength in 2025. Though he’s always been forward looking, lately he’s also found himself revisiting his past, particularly working with electric guitarists in the … Continue reading

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Bria Skonberg’s Into Your Own

Bria Skonberg is a native of Chilliwack, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, but she’s currently a rising star on the New York jazz scene and at festivals everywhere. She’s best known as a trumpeter playing traditional jazz, but … Continue reading

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Yonglee & the Doltang’s Invisible Worker, and Michael Sarian’s Esquina

I think of myself as more of an acoustic jazz fan than anything, but I’m definitely a sucker for the jazz-rock fusion of my youth: Mahavishnu Orchestra, Bitches Brew-era Miles Davis, Return To Forever, Weather Report. Especially if it has … Continue reading

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Yves Brouqui’s Mean What You Say, and Brian Charette’s Borderless

I don’t think you’ll hear a better new album of straight ahead guitar jazz this year than Yves Brouqui’s Mean What You Say. Brouqui has been playing professionally since he began in Paris in 1986, and since a long stint … Continue reading

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Freddie Hubbard’s On Fire: Live From The Blue Morocco

I first discovered Freddie Hubbard in the mid-70s when he was playing slightly electrified jazz with a bit of soul and fusion and post-bop in the mix. Those recordings on CTI made me a fan, which I remain to this … Continue reading

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Kenny Dorham’s Blue Bossa In The Bronx: Live From The Blue Morocco

I haven’t heard much of jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham’s music, and you probably haven’t either. It’s a pity because as many of his peers noted, he was the definition of underrated. He also died tragically young at the age of … Continue reading

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