Charles Lloyd New Quartet – Passin’ Thru

Though the Charles Lloyd New Quartet has been together for a decade, they haven’t recorded as a group since 2011’s Athens Concert, when the saxophonist was still signed to ECM. […]

Cautious Clay – Karpeh

On Cautious Clay’s deeply personal Blue Note debut KARPEH, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer takes an artistic leap forward with an ambitious yet introspective [...]

Roland Kirk – Introducing Roland Kirk

This title is part of GRP’s new Chessmates series, which culls from Chess, Argo, Cadet, Coral, Dot, Decca and associated label analog source materials from the ’50s and ’60s. [...]

Charles Mingus – The Clown

The Clown was Charles Mingus’ second masterpiece in a row, upping the already intense emotional commitment of Pithecanthropus Erectus and burning with righteous anger and frustration. With [...]

John Coltrane – Blue Train

Although never formally signed, an oral agreement between John Coltrane and Blue Note Records founder Alfred Lion was indeed honored on Blue Train — Coltrane’s only collection of [...]

Frederick Knight – I’ve Been Lonely For So Long

The Bessemer, AL native has his finest hour with this, his first and only album for Stax Records. The title track, co-written by his wife Posie, was his biggest hit […]

Keith Jarrett – Facing You

Facing You is one of the most important recordings in contemporary jazz for several reasons, aside from being beautifully conceived and executed by pianist Keith Jarrett. It is a hallmark […]

Yusef Lateef – The Gentle Giant

Yusef Lateef’s music from the early ’70s commands large doses of both appeal and skepticism. At a time when funk and fusion were merging with the intensely volatile and distrustful [...]

John Coltrane – Olé Coltrane

The complicated rhythm patterns and diverse sonic textures on Olé Coltrane are evidence that John Coltrane was once again charting his own course. His sheer ability as a maverick — […]

John Coltrane & Don Cherry – The Avant-Garde

This album is rightfully co-credited to Don Cherry (trumpet), who ably trades blows with John Coltrane (tenor/soprano sax) throughout. The Avant-Garde also boasts the debut studio recording of [...]

Duke Ellington – The Feeling Of Jazz

This is a nice all-around set by the 1962 Duke Ellington Orchestra. Whether it be the lightweight but fun “Taffy Twist,” “I’m Gonna Go Fishin'” (the theme from [...]

The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Brubeck Plays Bernstein

John Coltrane – A Love Supreme

One of the most important records ever made, John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme was his pinnacle studio outing, that at once compiled all of the innovations from his past, spoke […]

John Coltrane – My Favorite Things

Although seemingly impossible to comprehend, this landmark jazz date made in 1960 was recorded in less than three days. All the more remarkable is that the same sessions which yielded […]

Decent set featuring the highly stylized, often erratic vocalist Lorez Alexandria doing conventional jazz and jazz-centered pop tunes and standards. She’s backed by a capable band, and [...]

Steve Tibbetts – Northern Song

With percussionist Anderson, Tibbetts explores urban landscape, especially on “Nine Doors/Breathing Space.” Tibbetts is reminiscent of Ralph Towner. Northern Song Review by Michael G. [...]