A new book by jazz author Debbie Burke looks at the history of klezmer and lavishes the most love on today’s klezmer artists. In-depth, personal interviews with over thirty musicians, authors, enthnomusicologists, historians, klezmer professionals from radio and the movies, and others involved in sustaining this art from the shtetls of Eastern Europe include the... Continue Reading →
A single track born of a year of deprivations: lockdown restrictions, travel restrictions, social distancing, and the inability to practice or perform together. Still, with all those chains in place, beautiful music has emerged. Whether because of the constraints or in spite of them (or both), sax player and leader Oli Morris has been inspired... Continue Reading →
Pianist, arranger and composer Gordan Spasovski is out with a new CD called “Light Pillar” that brings glints of sun into all corners of a room. Eight sizzling tracks describe the freedom of a steady tempo, the value of space and air, and the music of spoken words. “Outside of Time” is a linguistic approach... Continue Reading →
First-time music producer Jason Burt came across a musical treasure trove when he stumbled on an almost 80-year-old 78rpm made by his grandfather, a trumpet player, and other soldiers in a US Army Air Force band. The troops were serving in the Philippine campaign of the Pacific theater. Before the war ended, the 20-piece orchestra... Continue Reading →
Composer and trumpet player Charlie Porter has a new CD out that’s inspired by the ordeal we’ve all gone through in the past year and, despite difficult obstacles and seemingly impossible odds, this new body of work manages to have come out shining with hope and optimism. An abundance of tracks and so many creative... Continue Reading →
A sax is a playground to Derek Brown, who has perfected a “slap-tongue” technique that explores the instrument percussively while being extremely lyrical. He has drawn inspiration, he says, from disparate musicians as Bobby McFerrin, Sonny Rollins, Green Day, Rachmaninoff and Justin Bieber. In his newest CD “All Figured Out,” Brown uses funk and bounce... Continue Reading →
The band that reveres the Italian classics and plays them with gusto and amore has a new CD called “Back in the Swing of Things.” Originally slated for release on Valentine’s Day, the delay is now timed with the re-opening of Pizza Express Soho. The album is comprised of eleven colorful and dynamic tracks like... Continue Reading →
The latest album by Quebec-based composer and saxophonist Mehdi Nabti pulls from a keen interest in and detailed knowledge of music from the African continent, Europe and Asia. What he has come up with is informed by his understanding of established and novel modes, but the result is natural, easy to get and vibeful. The... Continue Reading →
A fascinating primer on taking care of your woodwind or horn from Mike Jacobsen, the owner of Grey Door Music in Australia. He began his career in 1992, and while being a great technician and artisan, he continues to learn from his industry peers and instrument manufacturers. Advice, tips and how to keep loving on... Continue Reading →
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