Articles by Carl Medsker
Chad Taylor Quartet at Solar Myth
by Carl Medsker
Chad Taylor Quartet Solar Myth jny: Philadelphia, PA February 27, 2026 Don Cherry's and John Coltrane's trajectories intersected in the summer of 1960, an inflection point for both artists, yielding the historic The Avant-Garde (Atlantic, 1966). It was the only time they would record together. Cherry was the brass voice in Ornette Coleman's quartet from 1957 until his exit in 1961 and was fresh off the quartet's renowned, and to some, controversial run at the ...
Continue ReadingAtempo: Callejón de la Habana
by Carl Medsker
Atempo, an Israeli-based piano trio that calls itself a purveyor of “Mediterranean folk fusion," extends its reach to the Caribbean with “Callejón de la Habana," named after a vibrant alley in Havana devoted to Afro-Cuban visual and musical art. The song is specifically based on guaguancó, an urban form of rumba originating in the black working-class neighborhoods of Havana, blending African and Spanish influences into robust celebrations. Multiple percussionists churn out Afro-Cuban polyrhythms, propelling one or more vocalists, while two ...
Continue ReadingMal Waldron: His Journey Across 12 Albums
by Carl Medsker
Mal Waldron's life story is compelling, and to mark his 2025 centenary, this article aims to introduce his work to those less familiar with it by tracing his journey across 12 distinctive recordings. Max Roach once singled him out, along with Thelonious Monk, Herbie Nichols, Hasaan Ibn Ali and Randy Weston, as uniquely original composer-pianists. Matthew Shipp later expanded this pantheon1, adding Cecil Taylor, Andrew Hill, Sun Ra, Horace Tapscott and Ran Blake for forging personal languages and ...
Continue ReadingCarl Medsker's Best Jazz Albums Of 2025
by Carl Medsker
Best of 2025? A bold claim, given the fire hose of content from which to drink. In my drafts from the torrent, I discovered many engaging, entertaining and thought-provoking releases. The ones on this list were the most often replayed throughout the year and will remain in rotation into the future. Whether energizing or calming, joyful or somber, intellectually stimulating or simply toe-tapping fun, all were a balm for troubling times. And now, 2026 is upon us, no doubt with ...
Continue ReadingChad Taylor: Smoke Shifter
by Carl Medsker
Smoke Shifter leans toward tradition, which is perhaps a bit surprising given the exploratory, cutting-edge music previously produced by everyone in this quintet. Led by master percussionist Chad Taylor, the album is a diverse program of well-crafted, contemporary songs performed by an egalitarian collective. Taylor co-founded the Chicago Underground bands with Rob Mazurek, celebrated Albert Ayler with Marc Ribot and performs with the Exploding Star Orchestra. Prominent amongst his numerous collaborations is his essential work in James Brandon ...
Continue ReadingJack DeJohnette: Song for World Forgiveness
by Carl Medsker
On October 26, 2025, the highly musical master percussionist Jack DeJohnette died peacefully. During the journey from his birthplace, jny: Chicago, to his adopted home, Woodstock, NY, he created an enduring, diverse and sonically scintillating legacy. From his early days with Charles Lloyd, through the electric Miles Davis period, to the legendary Standards Trio with Keith Jarrett and Gary Peacock, The Golden Quartet with Wadada Leo Smith and his own Special Edition and New Directions bands (and much more), he ...
Continue ReadingNadav Remez: Summit
by Carl Medsker
Israeli-born guitarist Nadav Remez has been accruing the compositions on Summit for 20 years, sharpening them in live performances until hitting critical mass. The program, comprised of Remez originals along with rearranged traditional songs, blends jazz, indie rock and Jewish folk music into a fresh and energetic experience. The melodies are memorable, the meters and harmonies artfully varied and the playing passionate. Remez's roots extend back to the Thelma Yellin High School for the Arts, which has produced ...
Continue ReadingBark Culture At Solar Myth
by Carl Medsker
Bark Culture Solar Myth jny: Philadelphia, PAAugust 21, 2025 Midway through an extended road trip, Bark Culture returned to Solar Myth in their hometown of Philadelphia for an evening, taking the stage before a standing room only audience. Formed in 2021, Bark Culture is comprised of Brazilian ex-pat Victor Vieira--Branco on vibraphone, Joey Sullivan on percussion, John Moran on bass and recent addition Sam Yulsman on piano. The enthusiastic response to the opening introductions suggested ...
Continue ReadingNick Finzer: The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1
by Carl Medsker
Listening chronologically to seven of Nick Finzer's preceding albums is enlightening and entertaining, making several aspects of his musicianship abundantly apparent. His trombone sound is full and expressive, his playing melodious and he can soulfully sing a ballad. Six albums, dating back to 2013, featured his highly talented sextet, a significant accomplishment that enhances the depth and confidence of the recordings. But Finzer's evolving skills in arranging his fresh compositions truly distinguish his work. He choreographs his bandmates amidst lovely ...
Continue ReadingDaniel Casimir: Balance
by Carl Medsker
The dynamic jny: London underground jazz scene has produced a stellar roster of innovative musicians over the last decade or so. Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Binker Golding, Moses Boyd and Theon Cross, to name a few, meld bebop, hip hop, grime, reggae, dub, calypso, afrobeat and classical musics into fresh, novel hybrids. Bassist and rising star Daniel Casimir's milieu for his last two albums, Boxed In (Jazz Re:freshed, 2021) and Balance (Jazz Re:freshed, 2024), was a jazz orchestra plus strings. ...
Continue Reading
