The future of the genre lies in places where it’s less insular and more artistically adventurous. The 20 best jazz albums are outstanding examples of that impulse.
Dave Holland and John Scofield create a jazz master class and a supremely relaxed example of a couple of guys just hanging out and playing tunes.
The level of musicianship is nothing short of Jedi Master level, with John Scofield playing the Obi-Wan Kenobi role to the next gen Rebel Alliance, Lettuce.
These 15 jazz albums for people not sure they like jazz provide a gateway to a style or artist – an invitation to enter and hopefully emerge wanting more.
If you’ve always wanted to get interested in jazz, jump in. Don’t approach it with fear or a sense that you don’t know enough about it. It’s just a smorgasbord of stuff to enjoy.
Critic Will Layman listens to jazz podcasts, muses on Charles Mingus, reads Jason Miles, and discusses the best new jazz recordings of May 2022.
The jazz guitar trio is a classic format, and John Scofield, Steve Swallow, and Bill Stewart are as well-equipped to venerate it and renew it a bit on Swallow Tales.
Timeless guitarist John Scofield has the biggest audience of his career creating effortless, playful jazz that swings like yesterday but appeals in the present. Joyous.
