Album Reviews

Review: ‘Triple Fever’Review: ‘Triple Fever’

Review: ‘Triple Fever’

Just when you think we’ve reached peak piano trio, a new recording arrives to demonstrate the infinite elasticity of the…

2 years ago
Review: Mary Halvorson’s ‘Cloudward’Review: Mary Halvorson’s ‘Cloudward’

Review: Mary Halvorson’s ‘Cloudward’

Mary Halvorson gives a wide range of effects and musical roles to her guitar, and the result is always idiosyncratic.…

2 years ago
Review: Lucas Pino’s ‘Covers’Review: Lucas Pino’s ‘Covers’

Review: Lucas Pino’s ‘Covers’

There are recordings that dazzle you from the first few bars—or conversely, put you off—with their audacity. Then there are…

2 years ago
Review: Kris Davis”Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard’Review: Kris Davis”Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard’

Review: Kris Davis”Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard’

On February 17, 2018, pianist Kris Davis played in the second of two concerts at Harvard University to honor the…

2 years ago
Review: David Ake’s ‘Green Thumb’Review: David Ake’s ‘Green Thumb’

Review: David Ake’s ‘Green Thumb’

It takes daring for a producer to lead off a recording with a ballad. When that producer is Marc Free…

2 years ago
Review: Avram Fefer’s ‘Juba Lee’Review: Avram Fefer’s ‘Juba Lee’

Review: Avram Fefer’s ‘Juba Lee’

F​​or the last quarter of the 20th century, Italian labels Black Saint and Soul Note issued an influential series of…

3 years ago
April 2023 Capsule ReviewsApril 2023 Capsule Reviews

April 2023 Capsule Reviews

For April, Brian Kiwanuka and Rob Shepherd provide capsule reviews of four recordings by saxophonists who are pushing music in…

3 years ago
March 2023 Capsule ReviewsMarch 2023 Capsule Reviews

March 2023 Capsule Reviews

For March, Brian Kiwanuka and Rob Shepherd provide capsule reviews of three recordings – Cécile McLorin Salvant's Melusine (Nonesuch, 2023),…

3 years ago
February 2023 Capsule ReviewsFebruary 2023 Capsule Reviews

February 2023 Capsule Reviews

For February - just under the wire - we provide capsule reviews of recent works with an eye towards avant-garde…

3 years ago
Review: Thumbscrew’s ‘Multicolored Midnight’Review: Thumbscrew’s ‘Multicolored Midnight’

Review: Thumbscrew’s ‘Multicolored Midnight’

The fourth cut on Thumbscrew’s Multicolored Midnight (Cuneiform, 2022) is entitled “Shit Changes.” You don’t have to be a climate scientist or…

3 years ago