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Will Layman
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Will Layman is a writer, teacher and musician living in the Washington, DC area.  He is a contributor to National Public Radio and frequently appears as a guest on WNYC’s “Soundcheck” as a jazz critic.  He is a regular contributor to YankeePotRoast.org, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and several other web publications.


Features

Monday, January 24 2011

The Bad Plus Plays It Straight(ish)

The Bad Plus is about equally likely to play Nirvana or play Stravinsky. But mostly they play their brand of up-to-the-minute jazz. Will Layman looks at the new recording by the Bad Plus, Never Stop, discusses the band’s history, and talks it over with the group’s pianist, Ethan Iverson.


Tuesday, November 30 2010

Miles Davis: How Much Is Enough?

With the 40th anniversary of Bitches Brew, the Miles Davis Industry has, depending on your point of view, showered fans with gifts or merely trotted out the great trumpeter's image and leftovers for another payday. Our jazz critic talks to Davis' son and nephew about the need for a Bitches Brew celebration—reissues, concerts, and fresh material.


Thursday, December 17 2009

A Chance to be Uncanned: An Interview with Melody Gardot

Melody Gardot talks about how she got switched from classical to jazz, why she decided to cover "Over the Rainbow", and how a "lust for comfort destroys the passion of the soul".


Thursday, September 3 2009

Great City, a Great City's Music: The Vancouver International Jazz Festival

Our jazz critic Will Layman spent a full week soaking up the music -- and the city -- offered by what may be North America's finest jazz festival.


Wednesday, December 17 2008

The Best Jazz of 2008

More than ever, the best jazz is coming from small labels, and more than ever the best draws a decent slice from the dynamics of rock and pop music without itself being a commercial venture.


Columns

Tuesday, January 31 2012

Jazz Triumphs of 2011 That Only a Fool Could Miss

Critics can be fools, particularly in their own eyes. Here are five jazz discs from 2011 that should have been on my top ten list but slipped from view, then. It's not too late to dig them.


Tuesday, January 10 2012

Remembering Paul Motian: The Drummer Who Quietly Shook Things Up

It may seem odd to call a drummer “quiet”, but Paul Motian was Mr. Subtle. From the start of his career until the last months of his life, he was shaking things up. Quietly. Brilliantly.


Tuesday, November 22 2011

Sympathetic Vibrations

There's a renaissance for the vibraphone in jazz, even though many folks don't even know this instrument exists.


Monday, September 19 2011

A 'Dear John' Letter to Jazz: To Hell with Loving You

Jazz is unpopular, pretentious, sexist, a window-dressing for those seeking "class", and more. Why shouldn't I give up loving it?


Monday, August 22 2011

The Off-Handed Cool of Michael Franks

Is he just a "smooth jazz" hack? Or is Michael Franks a real jazz singer whose best work from the '70s remains a viable way to sing today?


Double Standards [17.Jul.08]
Bass Reflections [17.Oct.07]

Reviews

Friday, January 20 2012

Chick Corea / Eddie Gomez / Paul Motian: Further Explorations

Nineteen choice tracks from a live week at New York’s Blue Note -- a loose tribute to pianist Bill Evans


Friday, January 13 2012

Rez Abbasi’s Invocation: Suno Suno

True “fusion” music from a great Pakistani-American guitarist: jazz and rock and Pakistani music in a great, ingenious amalgam.


Tuesday, November 29 2011

Keith Jarrett: Rio

Fully improvised, live solo piano from the guy who made it famous—proving why he’s still a master.


Friday, November 18 2011

George Benson: Guitar Man

A great master proves, yet again, that he just does what he wants to do, regardless of quality.


Monday, October 10 2011

Freddie Hubbard: Pinnacle Live and Unreleased from Keystone Korner

Powerful, live hard-bop trumpet from a late but exciting period in a great career.


Keren Ann: 101 [23.Mar.11]
Vijay Iyer: Solo [20.Oct.10]
Commonwealth [23.Jul.08]
Fieldwork: Door [14.Jul.08]
Cuong Vu: Vu-tet [18.Apr.08]
Joe Jackson: Rain [28.Jan.08]
Tahiti 80: Fosbury [29.Jan.07]
Richard Bona: Tiki [14.Dec.06]
KEM: Album II [17.May.05]

Blogs

Wednesday, December 14 2011

Bubbling Under the 75 Best Albums of 2011: Tedeschi Trucks Band

This week we presented our Best 75 Albums of 2011. Here are several more just bubbling under the top 75...


Sunday, December 13 2009

The Apples in Stereo: #1 Hits Explosion

The Apples in Stereo - #1 Hits Explosion - Yep Roc [$13.98]


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