Inside Alden Hellmuth's Tethered Galaxy
Saxophonist and composer Alden Hellmuth discusses growing up in Hartford's Jackie McLean tradition, her mentorship under Herbie Hancock, and the double-bass lineup behind her new album, 'Tether.'
Saxophonists
Heaven in a Semicircle — Ben Wendel and the New Mallet Generation
Placing himself in the middle of four distinct mallet improvisers, Wendel discusses how 'BaRcoDe' turned the trance-inducing logic of bars, effects pedals, and extended technique into music he describes as living "in its own little universe."
Into Entropy, Together — Dunkelman and Koketsu's 'Veins of Rain'
'Veins of Rain' was recorded the day percussionist Nava Dunkelman and alto saxophonist Masayo Koketsu first met, and their conversation about the album's friction, negative space, and a surprise session with Tim Berne reveals a shared indifference to scenes, lineage, and the past.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk's Bright Moments — Shining New Light on the Multi-Horn Prophet
Through the archival efforts of Zev Feldman, two lost recordings surface: 'Vibrations in the Village', taped at New York's Village Gate in 1963, and 'Seek & Listen', captured at Seattle's Penthouse four years later, both documenting Kirk's ability to loop jazz history into one great sphere.
Ned Rothenberg and the Indigenous Sound of Nowhere
The saxophonist and woodwind specialist discusses his first solo album in over a decade, 'Looms & Legends,' which alternates between pieces that create sonic fabrics through extended techniques and those that tell linear stories through melodic narrative.
From San Juan to Seventh Avenue — Miguel Zenón's Vanguard Moment
After two decades together, Miguel Zenón's quartet documents their chemistry on 'Vanguardia Subterránea,' a live recording from the Village Vanguard that brings together family tributes, geographical coordinates, and the deep musical connection between New York and Puerto Rico.
Harrison Argatoff Wrestles with the Spirit of the Saxophone
The Toronto saxophonist spent five years unlearning his technique, studying contemporary dance, and writing music for Valley Voice that balances chamber precision with jazz's requirement for breathing room—all of which led to 'Stars, Engines', his debut album as band leader.
Have Saxophone, Will Travel — Donny McCaslin Follows His Own Map
The saxophonist discusses his latest album 'Lullaby for the Lost,' the ongoing evolution of the Blackstar Symphony, and why he's stopped listening to the voice that once told him his music wasn't "hip enough" for the jazz crowd.
Patrick Shiroishi's Sonic Resistance to Erasing the Past
After years of touring with Godspeed You! Black Emperor and SUMAC, Patrick Shiroishi unveils his two-suite composition 'Forgetting is Violent,' his saxophone tones carrying the weight of Japanese American internment camps and contemporary racist violence.
Sacred Music, Secular Spaces — The Spiritual Jazz of Rico Jones
The saxophonist's debut album 'BloodLines' draws from Indigenous, Hispanic, and African American traditions to create a suite that follows the arc of a hero's journey.
We Are Floating in Space — Jane Ira Bloom's Jazz Odyssey
Saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom's album 'Songs in Space' brings together her pioneering approach to surround sound jazz, a vision of music in zero gravity, and a belief that silence gives the brain time to process music moving through dimensions.
Sean Imboden Finds Community Beyond the Big Band
The saxophonist and composer left Broadway's steady income to lead a seventeen-piece ensemble in Indianapolis. His latest album, 'Communal Heart,' proves that creative independence can flourish outside traditional industry expectations.