Pianist Fred Hersch had recently arisen from a two-month coma, and had spent the better part of a year ravaged by AIDS-related illnesses, when he recorded Whirl, a trio album featuring bassist John Hebert and drummer Eric McPherson. Despite Hersch's medical setbacks, there's nothing weak or infirm about Whirl. With original compositions and a smattering of standards, the album taps directly into a well of sonic consistency and emotional variety...Read More

Image Courtesy of Palmetto Records

Dawn of Midi is a trio that plays freely improvised music with a sparse, meticulous approach. Consisting of bassist Aakaash Israni, drummer Qasim Naqvi, and pianist Amino Belyamani, the group creates broad scenes with the minimal amount of tools. Their album First (Accretions, 2010), features pieces whose focal points are timbre and character... Read More

Also, check out Dawn of Midi at the Iridium on July 23rd.

Image Courtesy of Accretions Records

On June 29th, 2010, jazz writer Will Layman wrote an article entitled "Jazz Ain't Dead, But Charlie Parker Is -- So Let's Move On, Shall We?" Layman suggests that jazz will not survive unless it finds its way back into the "culture," by which he seems to mean "popular culture."

Layman is wrong to assert that the health of jazz is declining, and also that it in order for jazz to "get back on track," it needs to get "off the tracks of jazz." He's correct in noticing that young jazz musicians all over the world are making great music, but he is on the wrong track himself if he thinks that the current state of jazz needs a cure.

Read my assessment, and post your comments under this blog post.

Today, June 26th, 2010, is the 54th anniversary of trumpeter Clifford Brown's death.

Brown was 25 years old when he was killed in a car accident on the way to a gig in 1956. However, during the four years of his recording career, he put out some of the most famous jazz recordings of all time. His technical agility, combined with heartfelt expression, made his the defining sound of the style known as hard bop.

Read Clifford Brown's biography.

Image Courtesy of Emarcy Records