Some singers interpret the Great American Songbook, while others restore it—grain, patina, and all. Recorded at the Appel Room, “Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center” finds Catherine Russell doing the latter in real time, backed by a band that treats history as a living language rather than a museum artifact. This isn’t nostalgia; it’s transmission. […]
Principle isn’t just a title, it’s a thesis. Dennis Atlas builds this record from the inside out: instinct vs. intention, control vs. surrender. The songs were born in hotel rooms, finished in studios, and sharpened by a cast that only appears when the music demands it—not before. The result? A solo album that plays like a band statement […]
Some reissues polish history, and then there are reissues that remind you that the future already happened. Vámonos pa’l monteis the latter. Rereleased by Craft Recordings on high-quality, heavy vinyl—and marking the first such rerelease of an Eddie Palmieri album, it was originally cut in 1971, but still argues that tomorrow. This remastered all-analog edition […]
By the time Home By Dawn arrived in 1984, J.D. Souther had already cemented his reputation as one of the architects of the Southern California songwriting sound. Produced by David Malloy, the album threads together country, rock, and roots influences with a Nashville session polish. Souther even handles drums on the record, while elite players—including […]
In this exclusive interview, guitarist Alex Wintz discusses the making of his new album Collage, recorded live in a single day at Octaven Studios. Wintz opens up about the personal life changes that shaped the music, his evolving approach to guitar, and the balance between composition and spontaneity. He also details collaborations with Victor Gould, […]
Singer Solitaire Miles has impressive jazz credentials forged by many nights in the most prestigious jazz clubs in Chicago and New York. It is in New Work in the mid ’90s, while working with trumpeter Doc Cheatham that she leaned even more toward swing. Given Miles’ musical education, her Susie Blue persona may come as […]
Fernando Perdomo is a musician with many layers. He’s a sought-after side-man, brilliant guitarist, and go-to producer. Perdomo’s epic ‘Waves’ album series was a highlight of 2025, and his 2026, ’10 album ‘Clouds’ series is promising to be just as epic. How this talented musician can find time for other projects is beyond me, yet […]
Six years after Live to Tape, guitarist and composer Alex Wintz returns with Collage, an album that lives up to its title. The record stitches together travel memories, family milestones, pandemic reflections, and musical influences from across the jazz diaspora. Recorded live in a single day with bassist Matt Penman, drummer Jimmy MacBride, and pianist […]
Jazz guitarist, composer, and educator Alex Wintz joined Preston Frazier to discuss his just-released trio album, Live to Tape, choosing just the right cover song, what Idris Muhammad’s death meant to him, and how the pandemic has impacted his plans. PRESTON FRAZIER: Tell me how your new project came about?ALEX WINTZ: This was not my original plan. Yet, I like how […]
Alex Wintz’s Live to Tape was a compelling display of the guitarist, composer and educator’s chops, taste, and improvisational powers. Working with bassist Dave Baron and drummer Jimmy Macbride, Wintz went a more direct route than his formidable 2017 debut as a leader, LifeCycle. “Idris” opened this Best of 2020 Jazz entry with Wintz’s warm, evocative tone and […]
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