If you’re looking for a contemporary jazz recording that’s not quite a formulaic smooth jazz release and covers a number of styles, your search is over. Candy Dulfer’s latest, Candy Store, is an audio testament to the freedom she felt making it. “I was free from any recording contract,” Candy reports, “so there was no [...]

Down to the Bone has the perfect summer soundtrack with their fun and funky new release Supercharged. True to the title, this release is a pumped-up, constant jam that won’t let your body remain idle. It needs a warning label – “Product contains powerful horns (props to Shilts and the D.C. Horns), percolating bass, mean [...]

Flow, the new Blue Note release from Terence Blanchard, may be the best jazz release of the year. I’ve been listening to this release over and over and always find something interesting. Flow covers many musical directions, from African chants to an infusion of electronic soundscapes. Blanchard’s band, the primary musicians on the recording (no [...]

When I first saw that the new release from David Sanborn, Closer, identically follows the formula from his last release, I was going to write that he’s applying the if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it approach. Closer has the same players, producer, and the same ratio of known, not-so-known, and original Sanborn compositions. I [...]

I’ve been listening to modern jazz for years. Naturally I knew of Medeski, Martin and Wood. They’ve received good press but I’d never heard anything that I enjoyed. However, I never gave up on finding what MMW fans were talking about. My patience has paid off with their new release, the memorably titled End of [...]

Even though Hiroshima had songs on a couple of Windham Hill holiday compilations, Spirit of the Season is the first full holiday release from the band. After listening to this 11-song collection, I’m ready for the sequel. This is an excellent holiday recording and makes me wonder why they haven’t done it before. June Kuramoto’s [...]

The Yellowjackets celebrate the holiday season with their first complete recording of Christmas music. This is the easiest review I?ve ever had to write. If you like the Yellowjackets, or if you like the sounds of the season, buying Peace Round is a no-brainer. Russell Ferrante notes that there are some challenges in recording a [...]

The Yellowjackets celebrate the holiday season with their first complete recording of Christmas music. This is the easiest review I’ve ever had to write. If you like the Yellowjackets, or if you like the sounds of the season, buying Peace Round is a no-brainer. Russell Ferrante notes that there are some challenges in recording a [...]

A scenario I’d like to see at the 2004 Grammy Awards ceremony: The Grammy returns to honoring jazz during its primetime special. Some of modern jazz’s best known bassists are playing a tribute to Jaco Pastorius. After thunderous applause, the award for Best Large Ensemble Album is announced. The winner: The Jaco Pastorius Big Band [...]

He’s known by different names in different genres – Quasimoto, Otis Jackson, Jr., and the entire band in Yesterdays New Quintet. The man is Madlib, a DJ, producer, rapper, and musician who has making a name for himself in clubs, hip-hop, and jazz over the last five years. Blue Note recently gave Madlib access to [...]