Featured Jazz Articles
You Have to See It to Believe It: The Addictive Eccentricity of Angine de Poitrine
by Kyle Simpler
Normally, whenever someone mentions something we can't unsee, they mean it in the worst possible way. In many cases, this brings to mind an unpleasant or shocking image or moment that lingers longer than we ever wanted it to. Fortunately, this is not always the case. For example, the Canadian duo Angine de Poitrine intentionally shocks audiences with their unusual appearance and sound, but this is a different kind of experience. You can't unsee, and wouldn't want to. There ...
Continue ReadingRaphaël Pannier & Khadim Niang: Sabar Jazz, An Historic Summit
by Ian Patterson
"Once you have made a decision," wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson, “the universe conspires to make it happen." French drummer Raphaël Pannier may concur, though as a footnote he might also stress the amount of sweat sometimes required to realize one's biggest dreams. Live In Saint Louis, Senegal, a collaboration between Raphaël Pannier Quartet and Khadim Niang & Sabar Group--not only ranks as one of the best jazz albums of 2025, but it also stands out as a groundbreaking ...
Continue ReadingHenry Mancini: The Architect of Sound
by Nazareno Bicocchi
Henry Mancini was not merely Hollywood's most celebrated composer; he was the vital bridge between the Golden Age of Big Bands and cinematic modernism. His genius lay in his ability to be a “melodic tailor," capable of dressing every scene with an unprecedented sonic palette. Born to Abruzzese immigrants--his father, Quinto, played the flute in a local steel mill band--Mancini carried within him a Mediterranean lyricism that he masterfully fused with the precision of American jazz. This selection for “Building ...
Continue ReadingCharlie Ballantine Establishes Himself on the East Coast
by Robert Middleton
Jazz guitarist Charlie Ballantine has been on the move for the past decade. In that time, he's released ten albums, with his first official live recording set to arrive later this month--and another new studio album already finished and waiting in the wings. Originally based in jny: Indianapolis, Ballantine moved to jny: Baltimore in 2022 to reestablish himself on the East Coast. His aim was simple: get out there, meet musicians, play more, and build something real. By ...
Continue ReadingBob Graf: A St. Louis Tenor Voice the World Almost Missed
by Melodi Graf McCraine
There is a particular kind of musician who never quite makes it into the history books despite spending a career in the company of greatness. Bob Graf was that kind of musician--a jny: St. Louis tenor saxophonist who played alongside Count Basie, Woody Herman, Chet Baker, Grant Green, and Gerry Mulligan, recorded albums that still sell today, and spent five decades keeping jazz alive in the city that shaped him. He died in 1981 at 54. His story deserves to ...
Continue ReadingJo-Yu Chen: For Taiwanese Pianist Classical Jazz is a Gas
by Dean Nardi
It would be a mistake to say that a classical/jazz hybrid was devoid of interest with its reliance on centuries-old scores. Au contraire. Promise rewards outside of the normal range of expectations. On Rendezvous -Jazz Meets Beethoven, Tchaikovsky & More (Sony, 2025), Taiwanese pianist Jo-Yu Chen begins with a mash-up of two Beethoven classics: “Symphony No. 5" and the “Moonlight Sonata." Together they meet on a grand, increasingly intense scale. “Beethoven was a rock star in his era, with his powerful ...
Continue ReadingThe Sync Director: Eric Meyers
by B.D. Lenz
As an independent jazz artist with more than a dozen releases, I've promoted my recordings in all the usual ways, hoping to spread my music and eventually recoup the money I'd invested. Early on, though, I learned about “music libraries"--companies that house vast catalogs of music, soundscapes, and sound effects for film and television production. I mailed CDs to several of them and largely forgot about it. Years later, checks started arriving in the mail. At first, they ...
Continue ReadingBig 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 ReadingThomas Strønen Time Is A Blind Guide: Off Stillness
by Dean Nardi
During his Time Is A Blind Guide reunion with keyboardist Ayumi Tanaka, cellist Leo Svensson Sander (replacing Lucy Railton), violinist Håkon Aase and double-bassist Ole Morten Vågan on Off Stillness (ECM Records, 2025), Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen lands in a peculiar, improvised pocket. Brushed rhythms, unusual violin counterpoints, verbose bass, pizzicato cello and fractured piano arpeggios lend this taut yet spontaneous brightness to “Memories of Paul," a driftless song powered by the quintet's alluring, polyrhythmic impulses. It is dedicated to not ...
Continue ReadingRecord Store Day 2026 Jazz Releases
by Kyle Simpler
Many vinyl enthusiasts get excited when the Record Store Day lists appear, and understandably so: most of the titles are limited-run pressings that can disappear quickly once the doors open. The only drawback, however, is that the lists can be overwhelming to sort through, often spanning multiple pages and covering releases across a wide range of genres. Record Store Day always features jazz to some degree. Sometimes there are more available titles than at other times, and Record ...
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