When “Hocus Pocus” Guitar God Jan Akkerman Went Kind of Blue
Jan Akkerman’s discography is vast and ranges from rock to jazz to classical works, several including solo performances on the guitar forerunner, the lute.
jazz
The Greyboy Allstars Drop a ‘Grab Bag’ of Goodies
The Greyboy Allstars’ Grab Bag: (2007-23) is a vibrant collection of previously unreleased tunes showing off the mad skills of these San Diego groove masters.
Boom.Diwan Use Jazz for Kuwaiti Pearl Diving Music
Boom.Diwan’s new LP is gorgeous, deeply personal work that emerges from encounters between performers with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
Jazz Singer Michael Mayo Astounds With a Stunning Voice
Jazz singer Michael Mayo is young but has a stunning voice and unique approach that blends tradition and his own material into one hypnotic sound.
Brian John McBrearty’s New Album Exudes Warmth and Mystery
With his latest LP, Brian John McBrearty is ably assisted by stellar fellow musicians and has begun another artistic chapter with beauty, grace, and passion.
Sun Ra’s Astonishing 1970s Gig Finds Him in Full Flight
The relentless determination in the face of indifference and poverty makes celebratory gigs like this one from Sun Ra hard-won and vital now.
Will Mason Quartet’s Glorious Celebration of Microtonal Chamber Jazz
Drummer and composer Will Mason used modernist paintings, poetry, and compositions as chief influences on this hypnotic new album.
Dave Mackay Dives Into Electronics on ‘The Looking Chamber’
In a reaction to the pandemic, British jazz pianist Dave Mackay explores synthesizers on his adventurous new release, ‘The Looking Chamber’.
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The 18 Best Jazz Albums of 2024
This was another year of riches in the best jazz and creative music, with barriers between the tradition and the avant-garde melting away.
Jazz’s Historical Agenda as Protest Music in the Stellar ‘Brassroots Democracy’
The excellent Brassroots Democracy details the beautiful and bleak ways that jazz music created the soundtrack of an emancipatory movement that lasts to this day.
Opa’s ‘Goldenwings’ Is a South American Jazz Fusion Classic
Opa’s Goldenwings is an influential Uruguayan jazz album that somehow got lost in the shuffle but is gloriously brought back to life with love and care.
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The 15 Best Ambient Albums of 2024
André 3000’s surprise Album of the Year nod at the Grammys was only one of the many ambient/experimental highlights to happen in a wild year like 2024.