Aidan Levy has written a just-released book on living legend Sonny Rollins that deftly chronicles the life and music of the great tenor player and does so with an honest eye. Perhaps its greatest strength is evoking the times he has lived (and continues to live) through and actually himself had a huge hand in... Continue Reading →
When a jazz icon has a handful of words to say about a storied and stellar career, you listen. Especially if it’s the inimitable Sonny Rollins. I first heard him on 1978’s “Don’t Stop the Carnival” and was nothing short of stunned. Recorded live at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall, it was the first... Continue Reading →
Dropping AUGUST 12, Evan Carydakis has a new track called “Movin’ On.” It’s right in line with the blazing material he has so far; songs like the funky “Ponderosa” and the cooler, laid-back “Majorca.” But with “Movin’ On,” the pace is strong and his notes set the story in motion. His horn has an assertive... Continue Reading →
Using his blockchain handle “NiftySax” (for NFTs, or non-fungible tokens), the composer and tenor sax musician Milo Lombardi has just released fifty-five tracks that provide a variety of moods and modes to meditate to or ponder our place in the universe. Presenting and consuming music through blockchain, he claims, absolutely cracks the music industry wide... Continue Reading →
Tenor sax player Tim Armacost has taken all that he knows about music and brilliantly placed it into the new book The Jazz Saxophone Book (Sher Music, 2022). A large spiral-bound book full of clear instruction, easy-to-follow examples and personal commentary, this book is a friendly and highly accessible helping hand for sax players just... Continue Reading →
Which comes out on top: James Martin’s vocals or his presence on the tenor sax? Hard to say, because on his latest offering “Keep Movin’” he can slot himself in with any musical POV and create jazz with an immersive vibe. With a career that clocks in a lot of mileage in the New Orleans’... Continue Reading →
The new release on October 4 of “Zigsaw: Music of Steve Lampert” is the 14th album by tenor sax player Noah Preminger (pictured above) but the first wholly devoted to and inspired by his friend, composer and trumpet player Steve Lampert. Their collaboration on this album shines through in its unique presentation of one continuous... Continue Reading →
Funkin’ up T. Monk’s “Epistrophy” righteously, tenor sax player DK Anderson digs in deep and comes up with some shockingly fresh angles. It’s one of the tracks on his new CD “Quantum Truth,” an inventive collection of songs played on a different plane than the listener may be used to. Take the standard “All The... Continue Reading →
Sly Scott studies the classical masters and fits into any imaginable musical scenario. He has an ear out for World Beat, R&B, movie and TV theme music, rock, and more. Though he finds unusual places to practice, he keeps moving, grooving and growing as a musician. When did you realize music was your path? I... Continue Reading →
Debbie Burke - jazz author 
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