Ben Wendel’s ‘BaRcoDe’ Is Unique and Uniquely Excellent
Ben Wendel has played with groove-oriented rhythms, electronics, and unusual instrumentation, as if jazz tradition were secondary to creativity.
Will Layman
Will Layman is a writer, teacher and musician living in the Washington, DC area. He has been a contributor to National Public Radio and WNYC's "Soundcheck" as a jazz critic. He plays rock, funk, and jazz in the bars and clubs in and near the nation's capital. His fiction and humor appear in print and online.
Saxophonist Walter Smith III Presents His Soulful Trio Voice
A trio like Walter Smith III’s is exceptional for its commitment to playing as a unit. Their jazz language as a whole can’t help but impress.
John Pizzarelli Discusses His Tribute to Tony Bennett
For all his success and longevity, John Pizzarelli seems youthful — funny and easygoing as a personality and, inevitably, always the son of his legendary dad, the guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis Create Ecstatic Post-Hardcore Jazz
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis make fearless and non-smooth fusion with the clarity and dynamism of “post-hardcore” that wasn’t around in the 1970s.
Violinist Meg Okura Creates a Lush Span of Styles
Meg Okura creates a unique musical blend, and her new album with the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, Isaiah, is ambitious and lushly accessible.
Cellist Tomeka Reid Creates Dancing String Band Jazz
Tomeka Reid’s music is full of the elements that have always made it fun to hear: a groove, memorable melodies, collective spirit, and conversation.
Jazz Trumpeter Dave Douglas Presents a New Quartet
Dave Douglas’ Four Freedoms allows his elastic band to take chances and improvise outside the lines. It’s a wonderful session that liberates your ears.
Melissa Aldana Creates Ideal Latin American Balladry
The overall sensation of Melissa Alada’s Filin is not just beauty but distillation. The songs, even those without sung lyrics, get definitive interpretations.
Vibes Phenom Joel Ross Dips His Jazz Into Gospel Music
Joel Ross takes his usual pyrotechnics and funnels them into a refined ensemble sound that also channels sincere, powerful jazz with a gospel center.
Julian Lage Teams with John Medeski for Impeccable LP
John Medeski colors each Julian Lage composition to perfection. For all its ease of listening, this album isn’t comfort food as much as a really balanced meal.
Craig Taborn Is at the Apex of Contemporary Jazz
In 2026, Craig Taborn and other improvisers of his generation are at the peak of their creativity. This music has rarely been more elevated, refined, and exciting.
The Late Al Foster Is Tuneful on a Final Live Date
Jazz drummer Al Foster sounds like a miracle of melody, polyrhythm, and listening on this beautiful album, Live at Smoke.