jazz Archive
25 Aug 2023
Album Review: Chuck Owen and the WDR Big Band – Renderings
It’s more than a bit remarkable that the big band format has sustained into the 21st century, no less into 2023. But indeed it has, and much of the credit […]
23 Aug 2023
Album Review: Soft Machine – Other Doors
A different set of “rules” apply to jazz than to rock. In rock – especially of the so-called classic variety – there’s endless contention as to what constitutes a “real” […]
21 Aug 2023
Album Review: John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy – Evenings at the Village Gate
Across three days in October 1960, John Coltrane and three associates recorded session that yielded My Favorite Things, one of his most celebrated releases. Hitting shelves in March ‘61, the […]
01 Aug 2023
30 Days Out, August 2023 #1: Circles Around the Sun, Hearts Gone South, Matisyahu, BJ & BJ
Two local-based legends, one other excellent WNC-based artist, and two very popular touring acts: Those are just some of the highlights of live music in and around Asheville in the […]
14 May 2023
Hundred Word Reviews, May 2023 Part 3
Jason Blake – Subsequent Ruins Seeing the 7D Media logo on this CD meant that Subsequent Ruins went straight onto the must-hear pile. Y’see, that’s the New Mexico-based label that’s […]
13 May 2023
Hundred Word Reviews, May 2023 Part 2
Hey hey – it’s time for some more succinct surveys of superb sounds. Hundred-word stylee. Here we go. Ransom and the Subset – Perfect Crimes It’s been nearly a decade […]
11 May 2023
Album Review: Taj Mahal — Savoy
Taj Mahal is music royalty. A prime exponent of both Americana and so-called “world music” long before either of those labels came into widespread use, he’s a bluesman at his […]
08 May 2023
Hundred Word Reviews, May 2023: Vinyl!
Me, I dig vinyl. I’m happy to sidestep arguments concerning sound quality versus their digital counterparts; while CDs and even streaming have their place, I prefer the tactile, participatory experience […]
07 May 2023
A Quick Chat with Virginia & the Slims
Virginia and the Slims is a high energy swing/jump blues band that makes music designed to get crowds out on the dance floor. I last checked in with the band […]
25 Apr 2023
Album Review: Electric Beethoven – Hear No Evil
The musical compositions of Ludwig von Beethoven are among the most durable works in the history of music. Long before the pop music term hook came into use, Beethoven was […]