Album Reviews

Review: James Brandon Lewis Quartet’s ‘Abstraction Is Deliverance’

Tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis has established himself as the most versatile tenorist on the scene today in a relatively…

10 months ago

Review: Julian “J3PO” Pollack’s ‘Soul & Circuitry’

With Soul & Circuitry (Ropeadope, 2025), Los Angeles-based pianist/keyboardist/electronics wizard/producer Julian “J3PO” Pollack issues his second album on one of…

10 months ago

Review: Amina Claudine Myers’ ‘Solace of the Mind’

Every so often, an album moves beyond music, carrying the listener to an array of deeply reflective moods. Last year,…

10 months ago

Review: Joshua Redman’s ‘Words Fall Short’

Joshua Redman did not follow suit after his first vocal album, where are we (Blue Note, 2024).  Sure, vocalist Gabrielle…

10 months ago

Review: Matthew Shipp’s ‘The Cosmic Piano’

Pianist and composer Matthew Shipp seems to be garnering as much publicity for his criticisms of André 3000’s piano album…

10 months ago

Review: Ivo Perelman and the Matthew Shipp String Trio’s ‘Armageddon Flower’

If you have not yet read the two-part interview with saxophonist Ivo Perelman and pianist Matthew Shipp regarding Armageddon Flower…

10 months ago

Review: Isaiah J. Thompson’s ‘The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry’

My review of emerging piano great Isaiah J. Thompson’s Power of the Spirit (Blue Engine, 2023) ended thusly: “a must-have…

10 months ago

Review: Ches Smith’s ‘Clone Row’

One never knows where drummer-composer Ches Smith’s muse will take him next. From the Haitian voudou of We All Break:…

10 months ago

Review: ‘Quantum Blues’

There are widely publicized and wildly anticipated supergroups, and then there are those - at least a few - that…

11 months ago

Review: Nels Cline’s ‘Consentrik Quartet’

Considering guitarist Nels Cline's history, it's no surprise that the music of the Consentrik Quartet occasionally has shades of rock.…

12 months ago