Category Archives: Jazz

At WSJ on Rez Abassi’s Django Shift

Posted on December 1, 2020 by jmartin437

‘Django-shift’ by Rez Abbasi Review: Retuning a Guitar Legacy An album from the forward-thinking guitarist offers muscular new renditions of the music of early jazz great Django Reinhardt. Michael Sarin, Rez Abbasi and Neil Alexander PHOTO: KIRAN AHLUWALIA By Martin Johnson Sept. … Continue reading →

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At WSJ on Joshua Redman’s MoodSwing Revival

Posted on August 19, 2020 by jmartin437

MUSIC REVIEW ‘RoundAgain’ by Joshua Redman Review: Playing Through Jazz’s Changes Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Brian Blade join the saxophonist on the four musicians’ first record together since 1994. Joshua Redman Quartet PHOTO: MICHAEL WILSON By Martin Johnson July 13, 2020 … Continue reading →

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Meanwhile…. My Words at Other Venues

Posted on July 20, 2020 by jmartin437

I enthusiastically post my Wall Street Journal work here as soon as I am able (30 days after it posts behind the WSJ paywall).  I’m a little slower to highlight other stuff that I write here.  In the name of … Continue reading →

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At WSJ on Aaron Parks and the duo of Walter Smith and Matthew Stevens: Jazz Comfort Food

Posted on June 11, 2020 by jmartin437

MUSIC REVIEW ‘Little Big II: Dreams of a Mechanical Man’ and ‘In Common 2’ Reviews: Jazz’s Take on Comfort Food Tasty new releases from pianist Aaron Parks and the duo of saxophonist Walter Smith III and guitarist Matthew Stevens are … Continue reading →

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At WSJ on Liberty Ellman’s Last Desert

Posted on June 3, 2020 by jmartin437

MUSIC REVIEW ‘Last Desert’ by Liberty Ellman Review: Moving Out of His Own Shadow The new album from the jazz guitarist might be even more influential than his 2015 record ‘Radiate.’ Jazz guitarist Liberty Ellman PHOTO: ALAN NAHIGIAN By Martin Johnson May … Continue reading →

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At WSJ on Jazz Livestreams

Posted on May 17, 2020 by jmartin437

This was a quick and dirty rundown done in response to the early days of the pandemic. The Staying Inside Guide: Taking Improvisation to a Whole New Level Livestreamed concerts by jazz musicians reinvent the typical performance for times of … Continue reading →

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At WSJ on John McLaughlin’s Excellent Is That So.

Posted on March 28, 2020 by jmartin437

MUSIC REVIEW ‘Is That So?’ by John McLaughlin Review: Meditative Jamming Turning away from technically flashy music, the guitarist revisits Indian fusion on a contemplative record that grew out of improvisational sessions. John McLaughlin in 2016 PHOTO: IMAGO/ZUMA PRESS By Martin … Continue reading →

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Meanwhile, My Words at Other Venues

Posted on February 12, 2020 by jmartin437

I post most of what I write here, but some of it is posted elsewhere first. For one, there’s this piece I did for the National Sawdust Log on the great young composer, saxophonist and flutist Anna Webber.  https://nationalsawdust.org/thelog/2020/02/05/in-review-anna-webber-idiom-vi/ For … Continue reading →

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At WSJ on Roberta Piket’s Domestic Harmony

Posted on February 1, 2020 by jmartin437

MUSIC REVIEW ‘Domestic Harmony: Piket Plays Mintz’ by Roberta Piket Review: Jazz From a Marriage The pianist’s album offers solo renditions of music written by her husband, drummer and composer Billy Mintz. Roberta Piket PHOTO: JOHN ABBOTT By Martin Johnson Dec. 26, … Continue reading →

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Meanwhile at the Other Blogs 01.10.20

Posted on January 10, 2020 by jmartin437

Most of my writing gets posted here but not all of it.  My music blogging and any piece published in the Wall Street Journal, Vine Pair or (soon) Jazz Times gets highlighted here.  However, I also write about gender, middle … Continue reading →

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