Chicago's Sons of Ra Turn Jazz Into Heavy Weather
'Standard Deviation' documents how three musicians learned to arrange around drones, interpret Carla Bley through hardcore tempos, and find lightness in their own gravity.
Jazz
Scott Metzger Gets in the Telepathic Groove with LaMP
From his life-changing encounter with the Ramones to creating accessible instrumental music with longtime collaborators Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton, Metzger discusses how their new album 'One of Us' channels the raw, intuitive energy of three musicians.
RuinsZu — The Precise Collision of Ruins and Zu
Italian bass, Japanese drums, and a rambunctious musical mindset brought together Zu and Tatsuya Yoshida for twenty-three electrifying European shows, culminating in their Jazzisdead Festival performance captured on a new live album.
Noah Preminger and the Saxophone as a Vehicle for Life
The Boston-area tenor saxophonist refuses to let jazz orthodoxy dictate his artistic path. His latest album, 'Ballads,' reveals how moving through different musical territories deepens what happens within the song.
Rolling Bones — Sylvie Courvoisier, Mary Halvorson, and the Art of Risk
Courvoisier and Halvorson unveil 'Bone Bells,' their acclaimed third album, and demonstrate how musical risk yields remarkable rewards. Eight new compositions showcase technical prowess while revealing a partnership where composed frameworks serve as springboards rather than constraints.
Bomba Meets Bebop — The Afro-Puerto Rican Fusion of Alex ‘Apolo' Ayala
After a decade of musical soul-searching in New York, the Puerto Rican bassist found his voice by embracing his cultural roots and the jazz tradition. His sophomore album reveals an artist now "unapologetic" about his musical message.
Sun-Mi Hong's Jazz Rhythm Builds a Nest of Belonging
South Korean drummer Sun-Mi Hong moved from her homeland to Amsterdam in search of artistic freedom. She found not just a vibrant jazz scene but a new identity as a performer and composer.
Where the Wild Things Are — Jenny Scheinman's 'All Species Parade'
The acclaimed violinist and composer returns to California's Lost Coast, crafting a sprawling double album that celebrates biodiversity with help from an all-star ensemble including Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, and Nels Cline.
Mehmet Ali Sanlikol Brings Jazz's Ottoman Roots to the Stage
The Grammy-nominated composer and New England Conservatory faculty member unites Turkish mehter bands with American jazz, revealing centuries-old connections between two musical traditions. Soon, he will present these connections on stage at Boston's Jordan Hall.
Verse Into Music — Jamie Baum's Fluent Jazz
A conversation with the renowned flutist about her latest album, 'What Times Are These,' and the creative process of reimagining verses from Adrienne Rich, Tracy K. Smith, and others through contemporary jazz.
From Boardrooms to Jazz Clubs — Franco Ambrosetti's Business of Bebop
Most musicians choose between art and commerce, but this Swiss trumpeter refused. For six decades, Franco Ambrosetti ran a manufacturing empire while performing alongside jazz legends from Dexter Gordon to Geri Allen.
A Whisper to a Scream — The Clarinet Languages of Anat Cohen
Born in Tel Aviv and shaped by Brazilian choro, Anat Cohen has turned the clarinet into an instrument of possibility. Whether leading her acclaimed Tentet or exploring intimate spaces with Quartetinho, she creates music where different cultures dance together in perfect time.