I figured a good way to end this little series would be to review one of the albums that started it all. Although "The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady" was my first actual jazz album, it didn't click with me ... read more
Here I am to review another Art Blakey record. I just can't get enough of this man, his drumming is so infectious. He holds such a presence in a recording, you always know that he is there. If you can turn on the title track and not be absorbed within the first 20 seconds, I commend you - but I also don't ... read more
The reason I start my reviews with quotes from the musician is to give the reader some insight into their mind, as with releases ... read more
With an album title as bold as "The Shape of Jazz To Come" you would expect a very strong, influential, and unique sound - which is exactly what you will get. This album is often credited as being the first free jazz record, a genre title Coleman himself would come up with only a couple of years later with the 1961 release of "Free Jazz" (also an incredible album I ... read more
Lee Morgan was a prodigy. By the age of 20 he was releasing his own records and had already performed in multiple classics, such as "Blue Train" by John Coltrane and "Moanin" by Art Blakey. He didn't just perform in these records though, he was one of the key components of them. He was a young mind with fresh ideas. In fact, when Benny Golson exited the Jazz Messengers, ... read more
The Olatunji Concert is truly fascinating. Recorded in 1967, shortly before Coltrane's untimely passing, the Olatunji Concert contains two tracks roughly half an hour long. Babatunde Olatunji (an African percussionist) and his wife had ... read more
Adderley sure was hip - hip as can be. Recorded not long after meeting Miles Davis, Somethin' Else was a big deal for both musicians. This album is almost as much of a Miles Davis record as it is Cannonball Adderley's, as he selected most of the material for the album and takes a massive presence. Though his playing is very infectious and beautiful, Adderley still takes center stage, which isn't exactly easy ... read more
Art Blakey is a powerful name in the world of jazz.
Anyone who knows a decent bit about the genre will likely know the name well. Blakey was a leader, an innovator, and a legend. One of the most important figures in jazz as a whole, and without a doubt one of the greatest percussionists to ever live. Co-founding The Jazz Messengers in the mid-50s with Horace Silver (another hard ... read more
Blue Train, recorded in 1957, is often considered John Coltrane's first masterpiece. It is truly astonishing how much Coltrane was able to progress from the 40s to the ... read more
When I write a review, I always sit down and listen to the recording in question. This often prompts a flood of related ideas and topics, allowing me to note my thoughts in the form of an evaluation. However, this is almost impossible with "America" by John Fahey, as each time I listen I find myself completely lost and adrift in ... read more
"Peace and Love" by acclaimed Jamaican musician Ras Michael, also known as Dadawah, is about just that: peace and love. He was present during the earlier years of Reggae (early '60s) and produced one of the few Nyahbinghi releases available to the world. This special genre is very traditional and important, especially to the Rastafarian community. ... read more
I'm not all that familiar with Sweet Trip's work and was not expecting their newest record to sound how it does at all. I was aware of their "masterpiece" Velocity : Design : Comfort, which I heard was largely electronic and IDM influenced, but their newest record sounds like it ... read more