Articles by Mike Jacobs
Ben Wendel With Gilad Hekselman: October
by Mike Jacobs
Ben Wendel's 2015 The Seasons was initially a video-only project featuring the saxophonist in a different duet for each month of the year. The project was so successful, it later spawned a tour and a studio album [The Seasons (Motéma Music, 2018)] that featured Aaron Parks, Gilad Hekselman, Matt Brewer and Eric Harland. “October," with guitarist Hekselman, was a highlight of the original 12 duets for its seamless and inventive use of real-time technology--not to mention that it's pretty darn catchy.
Continue ReadingMark Lettieri: Expanding Boundaries
by Mike Jacobs
In the years since Mark Lettieri first sat down with All About Jazz, much has changed--and, in a sense, much has not. At the time of that (2020 interview), Lettieri had a budding solo career, but was still primarily known as being part of Snarky Puppy's (SP) formidable six-string triumvirate (along with fellow guitarists Bob Lanzetti and Chris McQueen). Today, he's still very active in SP--and the Vulfpeck-adjacent Fearless Flyers--but Lettieri's profile as a solo artist has seemingly ...
Continue ReadingJon Herington: Kernel Of Truth
by Mike Jacobs
From Jon Herington's Pulse and Cadence (ESC, 2008)--[which is itself a re-release of Herington's Japan-only solo debut, The Complete Rhyming Dictionary (Glass House, 1993)]--"Kernel of Truth" features the future Steely Dan touring guitarist with stalwarts Peter Erskine, Jim Beard, Victor Bailey and Arto Tuncboyaciyan in what may be one of the most interlocking arrangements ever. ...
Continue ReadingBanned From Utopia: Tink Walks Amok / Thirteen
by Mike Jacobs
The late Frank Zappa was known for, among many other things, having some virtuosic touring bands. Even the bandleader's demise wasn't enough to break the bond of many members of his various touring ensembles, who formed “The Band From Utopia" in 1994, just after the maestro's passing. Later re-monickered “Banned From Utopia," the group recorded So Yuh Don't Like Modern Art (Favored Nations, 2002), which featured a smattering of Zappa-esque original tunes alongside a handful of retooled--and notoriously challenging--Zappa classics. ...
Continue ReadingMichael Manring: The Adamski Photographs
by Mike Jacobs
In many ways, Michael Manring's album The Book of Flame (Alchemy, 1998) proved to be a stylistic bridge between his Thonk (High Street, 1994)-era output and his subsequent canon (which ended up almost exclusively solo bass--oriented). But not only was the album populated with about half and half multi-instrument pieces to solo pieces, it also contained some of the most original outliers in the bassist's catalog. “The Adamski Photographs" is perhaps the foremost example of this. Incorporating rollicking, Monk-isk piano ...
Continue ReadingParsons / Ravitz / Har Even: Twelve Steps
by Mike Jacobs
Here, the talented trio of Eran Har Even (guitar), Claire Parsons (keys, vocals, effects), and Ziv Ravitz (drums) weaves free and twelve-tone influences into their own extraordinary jazz sensibilities. The result is something undeniably special. ...
Continue ReadingBruce Hornsby: Camp Meeting
by Mike Jacobs
To anyone that has paid attention to his nearly 40-year career, it goes without saying that Bruce Hornsby is much more than a guy with pop hits, MTV videos, GRAMMYs and stints with the Grateful Dead under his belt. For those that haven't, look no further than the title track from his album Camp Meeting (Legacy Recordings, 2007) album with Jack DeJohnette and Christian McBride to confirm he is a musician's musician, regardless of context. All that said Bruce, we'd ...
Continue ReadingWolfgang Muthspiel Sextet: Dance (4 Prince)
by Mike Jacobs
As an avid mixtaper from way back, I subjected (read: introduced) my younger drummer brother to many an unsolicited, 90-minute collection of artists and tunes. Happily, these reportedly did turn him on to a lot of new musical avenues and expanded his horizons. But alas, to reciprocate, I fear he had the much more daunting task of finding music his older brother was unfamiliar with (and was impressed by). This Wolfgang Muthspiel burner from 1992 was a memorable “mission accomplished." ...
Continue ReadingChris Thile: Club G.R.O.S.S.
by Mike Jacobs
The then-20-year-old mandolinist and future MacArthur Genius Award winner takes a thrilling and decisive jazz romp with saxophonist Jeff Coffin and bassist Byron House that shows his genius to know no stylistic bounds. From the album Not All Who Wander Are Lost (Sugar Hill, 2001). ...
Continue ReadingChris Tarry: Rest Of The Story
by Mike Jacobs
Canadian bassist Chris Tarry released his last album, Rest of the Story (Nineteen Eight, 2011) as a CD / book hybrid before effectively exiting music to become a full-time writer. As the title track shows, he is an uncommonly talented composer as well as a fine bassist. Hopefully it won't be the last musical endeavor heard from Mr. Tarry. Featuring Pete McCann, Dan Weiss, Henry Hey and Kelly Jefferson. ...
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