In the jazz world, 1959 was a year where titans reigned, where nearly every name you could think of put out recordings that would define their eras, their careers, or in a few lucky cases, their entire field. Along with the likes of alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, pianist Horace Silver and trumpeter Donald Byrd, guitarist Kenny Burrell was one of a host of artists who had emerged in the mid ’50s and would... read more

By John Murph I LOVE LIFE even when I’m hurting, the title of the new album from saxophonist and composer Dave McMurray, is an affirmation of his indomitable spirit. It’s also a celebration of the love that he has for his hometown of Detroit, and for the many musicians with which he’s collaborated. McMurray conceived of the title after having a deep discussion about the death of a friend who had been... read more

By Lauren Du Graf In the spring of 2023, while on tour in Portugal, Aaron Parks had a dream. It concerned an upcoming week of shows at the Village Vanguard, where he was scheduled that July to play alongside the bassist Ben Street and drummer Billy Hart. The trio had been intermittently active since 2012, although the bonds between them ran far deeper than a decade of occasional gigs might suggest. That... read more

By Evan Haga Converse with the saxophonist and flutist Charles Lloyd — a titan of an improviser, still digging deep onstage at age 87 — and you will inevitably arrive at this subject: gratitude. He generously bestows his gratitude in multiple directions: upon his musical heroes, his beloved collaborators, and the spirits that lift him up and guide his breath through his horn. To hear Lloyd describe his... read more

By Shannon J. Effinger For Johnathan Blake, music has always been a family affair. The drummer and bandleader’s previous Blue Note album, Passage (2023), was an homage to his father and chief mentor, the late jazz violinist John Blake Jr. The album cover features a sepia-toned snapshot of father and son, taken by his godfather, Eugene Wood. On his label debut Homeward Bound (2021), Blake honored the memory of... read more