David Adler
Sixth Annual Jazz Critics Poll
Still headed up by Francis Davis, but now residing at Rhapsody instead of The Village Voice. Full results are here.
On Eldar
In the current edition of Philadelphia Weekly: Eldar Djangirov Fri., Jan. 13, 5pm. Free with museum admission. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. and JFK Blvd. 215.763.8100. philamuseum.org Great jazz pianists have emerged from hotbeds like Detroit and Philadelphia—and how about Bishkek, in the seldom-noted former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan? Eldar Djangirov is a young and fearsome player who landed a
On Helena Espvall/Marcia Bassett
I’m back writing previews for Philadelphia Weekly — this week’s entry below… Helena Espvall/Marcia Bassett Duo Sat., Jan. 7, 8pm. $6. With Fursaxa + Zaïmph. Highwire Gallery, 2040 Frankford Ave. museumfire.com This ongoing series, curated by Fire Museum Records, has become a haven for local and visiting avant-gardists. To kick off 2012, the label welcomes Philly cellist/guitarist/vocalist Helena Espvall, whose music
On Ilhan Ersahin
This review appears in the January 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions Night Rider (Nublu) By David R. Adler As founder of the club Nublu, tenor saxophonist Ilhan Ersahin has had a notable impact on live music in New York, increasing the creative traffic between jazz improvisers, beatmakers, world music bands and avant-gardists of
On Herculaneum
This review appears in the January 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Herculaneum UCHŪ (ind.) By David R. Adler On releases such as Orange Blossom, Herculaneum III and Olives and Orchids, the Chicago sextet Herculaneum fashioned a sound full of urgent, percolating rhythm and well-placed dissonance — a horn-heavy aesthetic with echoes of Blue Note’s ’60s avant-garde
New York @ Night: January 2012
In the January 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record: — In a cheerful and loquacious introduction at Bar Next Door (Dec. 4), guitarist Peter Mazza announced his plan for the evening: arrangements of standards, reflecting a passion for rich and intricate harmony. Flanked by Marco Panascia on upright bass and Roggerio Boccato on a scaled-down percussion kit, Mazza
On Michael Feinstein
My feature article on Michael Feinstein, in the December 2011 print issue of JazzTimes, is now online.
Six Picks: January 2012
Happy New Year! To start us off, my monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in The New York City Jazz Record, January 2012: Dan Blake, The Aquarian Suite (BJU) Taylor Ho Bynum Sextet, Apparent Distance (Firehouse 12) Emmet Cohen, In the Element (Bada Beep) Dave Douglas & So Percussion, Bad Mango (Greenleaf) Adam Rudolph’s Go:Organic Orchestra, The Sound of a