jazz Archive

There’s a trend in recent years: when releasing a film’s companion audio, the CD is sometimes branded as “Music From and Inspired By…” That gives to compiler of the audio document a freer hand to include material that is conceptually relevant even if it didn’t feature in the film itself. Such releases can’t strictly be

The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald was among the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. Her distinctive voice, her seemingly effortless and natural delivery and her winning personality combined to great effect. April 2017 marked the 1200th anniversary of her birth, and to commemorate her life and work, an all-star lineup of musicians

Asheville-based Pimps of Pompe has a unique musical approach. The band takes inspiration from modern hip-hop and rhythm and blues, bending those forms into the style of pre-World War II “hot jazz.” The group’s new self-titled EP showcases that process alongside original songs and selected jazz classics. Songwriter, band leader and mandolinist Cynthia McDermott says

There’s an old joke that has long made the rounds in rock circles: What do you call someone who hangs around with musicians? “A drummer.” Good-natured ribbing aside, few make that joke in the jazz idiom. In the jazz world – more commonly than in rock – drummers are likely as not to be composers

This is the second of three short features on Asheville-based artists releasing new albums in March 2020. As the 21st century enters its third decade, the Firecracker Jazz Band is doubling down on a music style that enjoyed its heyday a century ago. But guitarist and banjo player Jason Krekel believes he knows why 1920s-style