By Dan Ouellette
Philosopher, poet, and shaman of jazz, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter followed up on his 1964 debut for Blue Note, Night Dreamer, with another timeless album, JuJu, recorded a mere three months later on August 3 at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio. After five years as saxophonist and... read more
By Evan Haga
After 27 years and nearly 20 albums, it still bears repeating that Bill Charlap is one of the great jazz piano players, and that his trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington is one of the great working jazz groups of our day. But what does that mean, and why... read more
By Shannon J. Effinger
The prescience of James Baldwin is alive nearly forty years after his passing, a testament to his enduring impact. A prolific writer, his essays, novels, plays, and poetry have assessed and often reproached the human condition. As an activist, his oratory prowess in the... read more
By Dan Ouellette
During his 1960s tenure with Blue Note Records, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson appeared on close to thirty albums as a valuable go-to session sideman. For starters, he contributed to Horace Silver’s Song for My Father, Andrew Hill’s Point of Departure, and Lee Morgan’s... read more
By Evan Haga
Since making his international debut for Blue Note in 2020 with Modes of Communication: Letters From the Underworlds, the South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini has earned widespread acclaim for the genuinely spiritual transcendence of his music. For Makhathini, a... read more
MICHAEL CUSCUNA
September 20, 1948 – April 20, 2024
It is not easy to bid farewell to a best friend, knowing that it’s a final goodbye. Michael Cuscuna was one of the best friends this music has had. It's simply too limiting to call him the leading jazz reissue producer of the past fifty... read more
By Evan Haga
In the trio format he’s favored throughout his career, the guitarist and composer Bill Frisell has always projected an orchestral scope — through his remarkably complete sense of harmony, a unique gift for melodies that remain with you long after a performance, and a keen feel... read more
By Evan Haga
A fascinating paradox defines Echoes Of The Inner Prophet, Melissa Aldana’s follow-up to her acclaimed Blue Note Records debut as a leader, 2022’s 12 Stars. As the GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer explains, her new album reflects her “personal journey, with an... read more