All About Jazz Posts on Spinner

Jazz Bassist Michael Formanek Is Back After a Dozen Years Between Albums

Redferns / Getty Images Several years ago, Michael Formanek was in the middle of a bass solo ... Read More »

Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green Lock Horns at the Jazz Standard

One of the great jazz stories of 2009 and 2010 has been the partnership between alto saxophonists Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green. ... Read More »

Trombonist Steve Turre Regales With Tales of Shells and Bones

To look at the résumé of Steve Turre is to see a list of jazz's leading figures of the past 40 years. The trombonist got his start with Rahsaan Roland Kirk in 1970. From there, he quickly moved on to a flurry of people (including Van Morrison) before landing a Ray Charles world tour in 1972. ... Read More »

Panamanian Pianist Danilo Perez Is a Jazzman for All Seasons

But in looking at Panamanian pianist Danilo Perez, you wonder where he finds the energy: His current resume includes Artistic Director of the brand new Berklee Gobal Jazz Institute, founder and president of the Panama Jazz Festival, Global Ambassador for UNICEF and head of the Fundacion Danilo Perez. ... Read More »

Creed Taylor's Landmark CTI Label Offers Up a Treasure Trove of New Jazz Reissues

The concept of music packaging is mostly a thing of the past, as downloads become the medium of choice. ... Read More »

Marc Ribot Taps Into Lyricism for His Solo Guitar Soundtrack to Nonexistent Movies

There are few musicians that have worked in a wider and more creative catalog of material than guitarist Marc Ribot. ... Read More »

Miles Davis' 'Bitches Brew' Turns 40 and Gets the Box Set Treatment

I've gone on record more than once saying I lean more towards John Coltrane than Miles Davis. ... Read More »

The Bad Plus Take a Break From Jazzed-Out Indie Covers With 'Never Stop'

Things are a bit calmer for The Bad Plus these days. The band returns with its eighth album, called 'Never Stop,' ... Read More »

Eden Brent: A Jazz Queen With a Case of the Blues

Jazz grew out of the blues some time in the late-19th or early-20th century in and around New Orleans. While the two styles grew apart as each developed its own lexicon ... Read More »

Kneebody Present a Democratic Collective's Mix of Jazz and Rock

Jazz is traditionally a music of names and hierarchy. This goes back to great bandleaders like Ellington and Basie ... Read More »

Vijay Iyer Has Nowhere to Hide on 'Solo'

It seems that pianist Vijay Iyer has been getting accolades from everywhere since the release of 2009's ‘Historicity.’ ... Read More »

An Educational Conversation With Jazz Trumpeter and Teacher Ralph Alessi

Trumpeter Ralph Alessi has carved out an excellent reputation for himself since moving from California to New York City in 1991. ... Read More »

Either/Orchestra Take a Respite From Ethiopian Sounds to Present Jazz Originals

It's easy to take the Either/Orchestra for granted. The Boston 10-piece has been around for 25 years, putting out consistently excellent albums on it's own Accurate imprint. ... Read More »