Posts Tagged Piano
Archive
June 1, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Masabumi Kikuchi: Hanamichi
Masabumi Kikuchi Hanamichi Red Hook Records Masabumi Kikuchi was a pianist working across jazz and improvisation. We don’t always get to know aspects of the rich story of the Japanese musicians creating jazz unless we seek it out – although Kikuchi not only created solo piano albums and was the leader of small combos, he […]Archive
May 27, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Stephanie Nilles: I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag – The White Flag
Stephanie Nilles I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag – The White Flag Sunnyside To listen to the compositions of Charles Mingus is to hear aspects of classical, avant-garde, blues, gospel, poetry and soul all within the confines of jazz. Mingus pushed everything through that spectre, viewed everything through that lens. Maybe he was the great […]Archive
May 19, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast # 258: Caitlin Smith
Hello, welcome to episode 258 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T and Yeastie Boys and thanks to you readers and listeners. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it there […]Archive
May 9, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Vincent Herring: Preaching To The Choir
Vincent Herring Preaching To The Choir Smoke Sessions Vincent Herring is a hell of a player – a saxophonist that brings to mind the best of Charlie Parker’s sprightly runs and his way with a melody, just updated for the modern context. And his latest album is not just a celebration of his extraordinary talents […]Archive
April 21, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
John Key’s Jazz Monsters: Dune Dancing
John Key’s Jazz Monsters Dune Dancing Odd Music Productions. Long before there was a dead-eyed monster called John Key roaming this land and ruining healthcare – somehow proud in an aw-shucks way that the people who allegedly liked him in his old job also had a nickname for him as “The Smiling Assassin” – there […]Archive
April 19, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Archie Shepp & Jason Moran: Let My People Go
Archie Shepp & Jason Moran Let My People Go Archieball Archie Shepp is 83, a living legend of jazz, a musical polymath and star of one of the best hip-hop albums of last year too! Jason Moran, some 30+ years younger than Shepp is one of the great modern jazz pianists – steeped in tradition […]Archive
April 18, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Neil Cowley: Hall of Mirrors
Neil Cowley Hall of Mirrors Mote For most of the last decade Neil Cowley was leader of The Neil Cowley Trio. A jazz unit that could turn on a dime, funky and sophisticated, always nodding to tradition but alive and exciting and no chance of nodding off when listening to them – there was hints […]Archive
April 13, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Vijay Iyer Trio: Uneasy
Vijay Iyer Trio Uneasy ECM Records This new version of the Vijay Iyer Trio features players known to each other – and players known for their work out on their own and in various other combos. Iyer (piano) and Tyshawn Sorey (drums) have worked together on and off for 20 years – bassist Linda May […]Archive
April 11, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Mara Rosenbloom Trio: Respiration
Mara Rosenbloom Trio Respiration Fresh Sound New Talent I think the thing I love most about the piano trio format is that it’s always different and always the same. I know that’s been attributed to the music of The Fall – and to a few others no doubt, most of them far removed from jazz […]Archive
April 3, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: Wil Sargisson & Margot Pierard (April 3, Hawke’s Bay)
Wil Sargisson & Margot Pierard: Margot and Wil Time A Part Hygge, Te Awanga; HB Saturday, April 3 I first heard Margot Pierard and Wil Sargisson work together late last year at a house concert in Hawke’s Bay. I was blown away. Here, two world class talents took us on a journey through some of […]Archive
March 29, 2021 by Simon Sweetman