World Saxophone Quartet

November 18, 2009 I'm no critic, so I'm in no position to declare anything an "Album of the Year." I would simply direct your attention to Vijay Iyer 's Historicity , and let you deduce what jazz can still achieve. Read More

It's a meeting of two of the most influential regional collectives in free jazz history — both born of the relatively barren Midwest — when these two join forces. Read More

Chuck Prophet has never been tempted by the easy path, his music always taking serpentine turns, spinning out in unusual directions. Read More

Folksy, fedora-wearing Langhorne Slim puts a slight twist on the troubadour tradition, mostly sticking to gentle folk picking but occasionally breaking into a reedy, punk-infused shout. Read More

On the new album "The Devil Tried to Kill Me" (Justin Time) by David Murray and the Gwo Ka Masters featuring Taj Mahal, we find Mr. Murray, the saxophonist and composer, returning to Guadeloupe for his third recording with Klod Kiavué and François Ladrezeau, who play gwo ka hand drums that help define the island's indigenous folk music. Read More

Willard Jenkins continues his series on grassroots jazz organizations in the US with a look at a remarkable success story in Burlington Vermont . Read More