Nala Sinephro Composes Cosmic Jazz on ‘Endlessness’
Nala Sinephro’s Endlessness is music that is good for the ear, the mind, the heart, and the very future of the philosophical orientations of jazz.
experimental jazz
Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko Explore Their Connections
Bamako is the truest kind of jazz, all about movement and communication, and Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko make for an expert team at the helm.
Josh Johnson’s ‘Unusual Object’ Is a Fascinating Record
Celebrated saxophonist Josh Johnson infuses his music with various styles on this surprisingly accessible new LP of processed, ambient jazz.
Samuel Goff’s ‘Diminished Borders’ Is a Manic, Introspective Free Jazz Trip
Drums and dual saxophones create an atmosphere that invites frenetic pacing and meditative peace on Samuel Goff, Camila Nebbia, and Patrick Shiroishi’s Diminished Borders.
Sun Ra Arkestra Travel the Spaceways at SFJazz Center
A Sun Ra Arkestra show promises a chance to leave the often dreary Earth blues behind and board a spaceship ride into the cosmos with these sonic adventurers.
Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall Bend the Avant-Garde to Their Will
Experimentalists Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall have united to create an album that, even by their compartmentalized standards, is pretty out there.
Patrick Shiroishi Explores Family History with the Arresting Calm of ‘Evergreen’
Japanese-American experimental multi-instrumentalist Patrick Shiroishi once again pays tribute to his heritage in this deeply moving new album, Evergreen.
Trevor Dunn Defies Musical Categorization with the Spellbinding ‘Seances’
With the help of his longstanding trio and a chamber quartet, bassist/composer Trevor Dunn unleashes the messy, complex, and utterly mesmerizing Sèances.
Phillip Golub Gives Processed-Based Composition an Uncommon Warmth on ‘Filters’
Approached as neo-classical minimalist jazz, Filters is a triumphant solo debut from Phillip Golub and another fascinating album from greyfade.
‘The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra’ Gets Its Most Crucial Reissue
The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra hearkens back to Sun Ra’s big band roots and his determination to create a genuine exploration of otherworldly space.
Max Johnson Lets His Double Bass Weep on ‘Hermit Music’
Jazz bassist Max Johnson’s Hermit Music could be the soundtrack of Charles Mingus’ mid-1960s mental breakdown in a good way.
Battle Trance’s ‘Green of Winter’ Blends the Beautiful and Eerie With Saxophones
Battle Trance’s Green of Winter goes further down the rabbit hole of abstraction, minimalism, and impressionism while testing the limits of the saxophone.