Charles Mingus @ Bremen 1964 & 1975
Two Bremen concerts by groups led by bassist and composer Charles Mingus in 1964 and 1975 remind us of the longevity and vitality of his brilliance.
hard bop
Thelonious Monk’s Recently Unearthed ‘Palo Alto’ Is a Stellar Posthumous Live Set
With a backstory as exhilarating as the music itself, a Thelonious Monk concert recorded at a California high school in 1968 is a rare treat for jazz fans.
Sheets of Sound: John Coltrane’s Breakthrough Year Is Lovingly Compiled in a Stellar New Boxed Set
With Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings, 37 tracks from one of the most important phases of the late jazz great's career are presented in a gorgeous new deluxe package.
Pop, Hard Bop and the Jazz Vamp: Herbie Hancock’s ‘Head Hunters’ vs. Miles Davis’ ‘On the Corner’
Head Hunters, spanning one or two lifetimes since its release, remains utterly applicable to the contemporary soundscape, encompassing the sensuality of gutbucket funk as well as airy confines of so-called jazz.
The Future (of Jazz) Is Female: Interview with Saxophonist and Composer Roxy Coss
Roxy Coss has just released a new album of all-original music, and she has recently founded the Women in Jazz Organization, a community and activist group. She can improvise and she can organize.
Latest Miles Davis/John Coltrane Box Set Reveals the Marvel of the Final Tour
The musical conflict and explorations of these jazz legends made for a stunning series of concerts that remain sharp nearly 60 years later.
It’s the Reign of Wes Mongomery in Paris
Listening to Wes Montgomery is like experiencing the first warm rain in spring. The drops may refresh, but there's something melancholy about it.
The Sonny Clark Trio: The 1960 Time Sessions
The delightful hard-bop pianist died at 31, and this is a reissue of his trio date with George Duvivier and Max Roach, somewhat overlooked in favor of his Blue Notes recordings. This should right that wrong.