Ron Carter Quartet and Vitoria Maldonado: Brasil L.I.K.E

The road that connects Brazilian music and jazz--the essential thematic nexus on this collaborative venture that brings bassist Ron Carter (and his quartet), vocalist Vitoria Maldonado, Ruria Duprat's Brasilian Orchestra, and a handful of guest soloists into the same line of thinking--has always bee... [ read more ]

Michael Moynihan Quartet: Chronicles

Tucson, Arizona is not the first place most people associate with jazz. But it's where saxophonist m: Michael Moynihan grew up, and the setting for his debut album Chronicles. He says "I try to incorporate the settings as an integral part of the music on Chronicles, and have selected all... [ read more ]

Eric St-Laurent: Planet

Given the fact that guitarist Eric St-Laurent pulls from many different places and styles in his work, it's tempting to consider him a musical polyglot. The truth, however, is that he really only speaks a single language--his own, which just so happens to be influenced and informed by everything fro... [ read more ]

Wadada Leo Smith: Wadada Leo Smith: America's National Parks

Trumpeter m: Wadada Leo Smith has a feel for the epic in his art, on recordings like: America (Tzadik Records, 2009), a duet set with drummer m: Jack DeJohnette; "America's Third Century Spiritual Awakening," from his first Golden Quartet (Tzadik Records, 2000) outing; Occupy T... [ read more ]

Parker Abbott Trio: Elevation

It's hard to imagine a musical palette with more sonic possibilities: It's a bunch of 88s: two pianos, combined with an array of electric keyboards: Moogs, MicroKorgs (sounds like small aliens from the planet Korgon), glockenspiels, melodicas, a Hammond B-3 organ, a Nord Electro, a Microbrute (a dim... [ read more ]

David Bennett Thomas: Deeper Journey

Pianist m: David Bennett Thomas takes inspiration from God's word. Not unlike Finish pianist/harpist m: Iro Haarla, on her beautiful duet set Kirkastus (TUM Records, 2015), with saxophonist m: Juhani Aaltonen, where Biblical Psalms informed the music, Thomas' Deep... [ read more ]

Lewis Porter on John Coltrane

The following interview with Lewis Porter, author of John Coltrane: His life and Music, was conducted by telephone on April 15, 2000. I am indebted to Dr. Porter for taking the time from his exceptionally busy schedule as musician, writer, teacher, and father to share his views with us. All About Ja...