Articles by Mark Sullivan
Big Ears 2026
by Mark Sullivan
Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN March 26-29, 2026 Another year, another jam-packed festival lineup. The Spotlight presentations included SUSS Presents Across the Horizon, an ambient country experience; films and performances related to Ethiopia's musical legacy; and David Byrne's Who is the Sky? Polish pianist/composer Hania Rani offered an ambient concert and the North American premiere of her piano concerto; returning saxophonist/composer John Zorn was featured in a 12-performance series; and there were several performances by Laurie ...
Continue ReadingStéphane Wrembel Quartet at Middle C Jazz
by Mark Sullivan
Stéphane Wrembel Quartet Middle C Jazz Charlotte, NC February 22, 2026 French Gypsy jazz guitarist Stephane Wrembel began the show solo, playing selections from Django Reinhardt's Preludes for Solo Guitar. Reinhardt is, of course, the foundational Gypsy jazz guitarist, and Wrembel considers the Preludes to be key to understanding his music. He spent five years learning to play them by listening to Reinhardt's recordings and has published a collection with the music presented in both ...
Continue ReadingMark Sullivan's Favorite Jazz Albums of 2025
by Mark Sullivan
There must be an echo in here: like just about everyone else, I observe that there was a lot of great music released in what was otherwise an unsettling year. They ranged from hard bop (Words Fall Short, Belonging) to fusion (Hard Believer, Live at Berlin) to experimental (Trio of Bloom). Experimental guitarist Nels Cline appears on two of my picks. The supply of historical material (both previously unknown recordings and reissues) again seems inexhaustible. Somehow, newly discovered tapes keep ...
Continue ReadingVince Guaraldi’s Charlie Brown: Jazz Impressions and Good Sport
by Mark Sullivan
Everyone knows the Vince Guaraldi soundtrack A Charlie Brown Christmas (Fantasy Records, 1965). However, Guaraldi composed and performed music for many other Peanuts-related projects, two of which have been recently released. They represent the beginning and end of the journey: Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown was recorded in 1964, one year before the broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas; 1975's You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown was the penultimate soundtrack Guaraldi recorded before he died in 1976. ...
Continue ReadingOpa and The Blackbyrds: Coveted 1970s Jazz-Funk
by Mark Sullivan
Opa released only two albums before disbanding in the early 1980s. While neither of their albums found commercial success during their initial releases (despite the high-profile personalities involved), both titles gained underground followings over the following decades. The Blackbyrds' City Life celebrates its golden anniversary. “Happy Music," the dancefloor-ready title track and the group's heavily sampled signature hit, “Rock Creek Park" are the showpieces. The LP re-releases are a gift to DJs and samplers who have had to do serious ...
Continue ReadingFestival International de Jazz de Montréal 2025
by Mark Sullivan
Various Venues Festival International de Jazz de Montréal Montréal, Canada June 28-July 2, 2025 The headliners of the 45th edition of the festival included names like Gospel legend Mavis Staples, Canadian rockers Blue Rodeo, Canadian Inuk musician Elisapie, New Orleans musician Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Nigerian singer/songwriter Ayra Starr, Canadian indie band Men I Trust, Canadian singer/songwriter Allison Russell, Colombian ensemble Monsieur Periné, and American jazz bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding. These were the artists appearing ...
Continue ReadingJoe Troop's Whirlwind at The Evening Muse
by Mark Sullivan
Joe Troop's Whirlwind The Evening Muse Charlotte, NC April 23, 2025 Joe Troop grew up in the tobacco town of jny: Winston-Salem, North Carolina. However, a year of study abroad in Spain led him to move to Argentina, where he lived for several years. He absorbed Latin music until it became his second language. The banjo is his primary instrument, but his bluegrass background has been thoroughly blended with his experience in World Music. He ...
Continue ReadingBig Ears Festival 2025
by Mark Sullivan
Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN March 27-30, 2025 This year's festival again featured several spotlighted events (but none of them required special ticketing, as was tried last year). “Across the Horizon" was a series of concerts combining Americana and ambient music, curated by Bob Holmes and the band SUSS. “Age of Reflections" hosted ambient music with a light show at Church Street United Methodist. “Blacktronika" celebrates the pioneering electronic artists of color. There were ...
Continue ReadingMark Sullivan's Favorite Jazz Albums of 2024
by Mark Sullivan
This was an exceptional year for jazz albums of all sorts, as well as jazz-adjacent experimental music. The supply of previously unreleased live recordings seemed nearly inexhaustible! People discovered tapes right and left, presenting exceptional performances in good to excellent recording quality. My lists could easily have been much longer. Lists are unranked. Lakecia Benjamin Phoenix Reimagined (Live) Ropeadope Jakob Bro Taking Turns
Continue ReadingQuartet Diminished: Deerand
by Mark Sullivan
Deerand is a Persian term which means “duration" of instrument's tones. Quartet Diminished was established in Iran in 2013 by guitarist Ehsan Sadigh. This is their fourth album, following Station Three (Hermes Records, 2021). Their music is stylistically diverse, drawing freely from contemporary jazz, art rock, and avant-garde music. The membership has been relatively stable. Sadigh (electric guitar) has had bandmates Soheil Peyghambar (woodwinds), Mazyar Younesi (piano, voice), and Rouzbeh Fadavi (drums) on most of the group's albums. ...
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