instrumental Archive

30 Days Out, August 2022 #1: Local Punk Showcase, Fireside Collective, Man or Astro-Man?, Thundercat

Two show showcasing local talent of of very (very) different character, some super-quirky original rock, and one of today’s hottest tickets: those are among the highlights of live music in […]

Album Review: Albare & Co. — Freedom

One of the great things about jazz is its expansiveness. While there are certainly artists working within the idiom who take an insular approach to their creativity, at its best […]

30 Days Out, July 2022 #2: The Deslondes, The Aristocrats, Rebekah Todd, L.A. Witch

One act with local ties, a supergroup, an emerging artist to watch and some no-holds-barred west coast rock are among the highlights of live music in Asheville over the coming […]

Album Review: Allan Holdsworth — Jarasum International Jazz Festival 2014

“In the moment.” That’s one of the phrases bassist Jimmy Haslip employs in his brief liner note essay for this, the latest in the ongoing series of archival live Allan […]

EP Review: Stick Men — Tentacles

Considering the degree to which each of its members is known for other projects, it’s remarkable that Stick Men even exists. Drummer extraordinaire Pat Mastelotto has been on every King […]

Album Review: Bill Evans – You Must Believe in Spring

Bill Evans was a prolific as he was gifted. In the course of his short life, Evans released more than 50 albums, and contributed his piano talents to at least […]

Album Review: Dave Brubeck Trio – Live from Vienna 1967

The latest in posthumous recordings courtesy of the Brubeck Editions series, Live from Vienna 1967 is a thrilling, you-are-there live recording featuring the pianist and superb sidemen Joe Morello on […]

Hundred-word Reviews for April 2022, Part 2

Picking up where I left off yesterday, here are five more brief capsule reviews of new albums. This is a remarkably eclectic assortment. Speedfossil – No Anesthesia If you like […]

Hundred-word Reviews for April 2022, Part 1

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a set of hundred-word reviews. Content slowed to a trickle during the worst of the pandemic. But now things seem to be headed toward […]

30 Days Out, April 2022 #2: Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Karla Bonoff, Victor Wooten, Brian Jonestown Massacre

Steel-pan jazz, classic singer-songwriter, visionary funk/jam/beyond, and real rock ‘n’ roll. Those are merely the highlights of what’s featured in and around Asheville live-music-wise in the next 30 days. Artist: […]