Eri Yamamoto Trio: Life

Tourist guides to jazz in New York often recommend the same venues like The Village Vanguard, Birdland and Blue Note, but there is a place known by true connoisseurs that should be the point of destination for everyone wanting to experience a real working trio with one of the most interesting pianis... [ read more ]

Ron Carter: Detroit Jazz Festival 2016 Artist-In-Residence

As the artist-in-residence for the 37th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival, m: Ron Carter maintained an active role in both the artistic and educational functions that accompanied this distinguished position, made even more extraordinary by the fact that it was all happening in his hometown. Ha...

Paolo Fresu and Omar Sosa featuring Natacha Atlas and Jaques Morelenbaum: Eros

While the connection between Cuban pianist Omar Sosa and Italian trumpeter m: Paolo Fresu was established back in 2006, their partnership truly blossomed with Alma (Ota Music, 2012), a beauty of an album with a soft sell approach. That record--quite possibly the most moving item in eithe... [ read more ]

Neil Cowley Trio: Spacebound Apes

The impact of ambition and competitiveness in a creative pursuit can be double edged. As a spur to action, an attempt to fulfil potential it is surely a positive--think of the mutual admiration and competition between say Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney in the mid-1960s for example. But there are ti... [ read more ]

Nels Cline: Lovers

The power of m: Nels Cline's Lovers does not stem from his guitar mastery. It flows from the solidity of its finely orchestrated vision. Rendered over 18 pieces and marking the fulfillment of a 25-year endeavor, the album explores the contours of intimacy through a series of compositions... [ read more ]

Sara Serpa and AndrA(C) Matos: All The Dreams

There may be no combination better capable of painting and promoting aural iridescence than that of vocalist Sara Serpa and guitarist AndrA(C) Matos. The work they've produced together, both on their first duo album--Primavera (Inner Circle Music, 2014)--and on this alluring outing, pits consistency a... [ read more ]

Enten Eller: Tiresia

The Italian super-gruppo Enten Eller returns with Tiresia a set of improvisations for the epicurist. I suggest the music connoisseur who prefers to indulge in the prolonged unwrapping of their experience can get the most out of the three lengthy compositions this quartet delivers. Maybe a better phr... [ read more ]