From Latin to straight-ahead jazz to Cuban dance to free jazz, to pop-like quotes and Art Tatum-like flourishes, Rubalcaba clearly felt at home to play what he felt.
Read MoreThe southern winds were blowing to bring the spring with Steve Sack's Spring Quartet.
Read MoreGleason and group worked through a striking set of energetic takes with a sense of immediacy and deep understanding of how jazz can best be experienced.
Read MoreThe quartet again and again pulled out powerful sounds from the passions and openings of the flow of possibilities.
Read MoreUnder the government of "President" Saito, the quartet took the audience on an electrifying trip to outer space through music.
Read MoreThe two one-hour sets of jazz—with no break, just a constant fluidity--provided gripping moments, gentle minimalism and a constantly improvised approach...
Read MoreBoth guitarists manage to pack in so much awareness of the full range of jazz guitar into their playing, it felt like there were more than two guitarists playing every moment.
Read MoreIn Tom Pierson’s live concert anything can happen, but one thing always happens--great music.
Read MoreWhether playing her own originals or audience-friendly standards, she delivered an accomplished, complete sense of jazz on every tune.
Read MoreA tight sextet with a sense of the classics and their own singular view of how a solid rhythm section can best work with a front line that has punch and energy.
Read MoreSinking into the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim with such talented musicians is a rare treat.
Read MoreUnlike most Japanese groups, he comes out swinging from the first beat.
Read MoreTo hear her together with Lew Tabackin in a duo at B Flat, especially with a packed-in, welcoming audience, is to hear history, but it’s also to hear great jazz.
Read MoreNakagawa’s playing was the center of the evening. His guitar style is his own, but draws on so many of the greats.
Read MoreBanda Caliente Grande is a real pleasure of a big band, whether one dances or not. Even though there were more big band lovers than dancers, that didn’t mean things were not dance-rhythm ready. They were rhythmic and then some!
Read MorePiano singer duos are matches made in jazz heaven. You can’t force them, manufacture them or produce them with demands from record company executives. They just happen magically, naturally, creatively, and humanly. Katz and Hopkins are one such duo.
Read MoreYosuke Yamashita might be one of Japan’s best-known jazz pianists, but he still likes to mix it up.
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Nishiyama studied classical music when she was young, as do many jazz converts, but she secretly loved heavy metal music.
Read MoreTo see just how deeply jazz is rooted in Japan, you need only go to the annual Asagaya Jazz Streets. The area of western Tokyo with a laidback vibe, small yakitori grills and drinking spots opens its streets, and interiors, to jazz once a year for the past two decades.
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