In the summer of 2023 saxophonist Wayne Escoffery found himself in Europe processing changes in his personal life while at the same time nursing a broken finger that prohibited him from playing his horn. He used this time of reflection to compose the music presented on his new record Alone on Smoke Sessions Records, which features pianist Gerald Cl…

On his new recording, Something About Believing tenor saxophonist Tim Armacost is joined by trumpeter Tom Harrell and baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan as well as the outstanding rhythm section of bassist John Patitucci and drummer Al Foster. Listening to the music one is struck by the comfortability of master improvisers doing what they do best, h…

The shoes that grace the cover of Orrin Evans’ new record are special shoes from his childhood that were necessitated by being born with neurofibromatosis. The record is called Walk a Mile in My Shoe, and the shoes are a reminder of his condition and the impact that this neurological disorder has had on him. However, Evans yearns to move past the i…

After several decades of creating music in a manner that was beginning to feel routine, guitarist Miles Okazaki was searching for a fresh way to make music. He examined the processes of artists Ed Ruscha, Sol Lewitt, and Ken Price as templates for creating. In possession of these new ideas gleaned from these artists, he went into the studio with a …

The colors black, white, brown, beige, and blue have all had a prominent place in music, but in the eyes and ears of saxophonist Troy Roberts the color green piqued his interest due to its ambiguity. Not only can the color green convey greed and envy or rot and decay, it can also represent nature and tranquility. Troy embraces green as an impetus t…

Saxophonist Jon Gordon’s new recording, 7th Ave South takes its name from the iconic club owned by the Brecker Brothers that closed its doors in 1987. The title of the album is emblematic of a time that shaped Jon as a musician as a high school student in NYC in the 80s. In this episode of LINER NOTES he pays homage to the people, the musicians, an…

Slow Water is the latest release from bassist and composer Stephan Crump. In this ambitious 67 minute work, Crump explores how society uses water and addresses the question “What does water want?” as proposed by Erica Gies in her 2022 book Water Always Wins. For this project he assembled a new ensemble comprised of musicians with which he had littl…

This month we join in congratulating pianist Luis Perdomo for his recent GRAMMY award for El Arte del Bolero vol. 2 in the category of Best Latin Jazz Album. In this episode of LINER NOTES, Luis recounts the musical journey from his native Venezuela and then coming to New York initially to study before transitioning into one of the most in demand p…

The week of March 5 guitarist Peter Bernstein brings a quartet to the Village Vanguard in New York City that includes pianist Sullivan Fortner, bassist Doug Weiss, and the iconic drummer Al Foster. In this episode of LINER NOTES Peter expresses a genuine gratitude for being able to play music. He also offers insights on how he personally approaches…

As an improviser, trombonist Joe Fiedler describes himself as living half in the inside world and half in the outside world. This is evident in his new recording Will Be Fire. For this project, Fiedler collaborates with guitarist Pete McCann, tuba virtuoso Marcus Rojas, and percussionist Jeff Davis, in an elegant instrumentation that pays homage to…

The last several years have brought about significant change for saxophonist Loren Stillman. A lifelong New Yorker, Loren and his family did a 180, and moved to Montana several years ago. With the time afforded to him by the pandemic, Loren, having made a name for himself as an alto saxophonist focused his energies on the tenor. The fruit of his la…

Holding down the bari chair at Saturday Night Live, performing with musicians like Christian McBride, and teaching at Julliard have saxophonist Ron Blake at full capacity. These time constraints left little time for him to focus on his own music, but fortunately he enlisted the help of his long time friend guitarist Bobby Broom and has recently rel…

Bassist Christian Dillingham’s debut release as a leader, Cascades on Greenleaf Music features ten original compositions written for his Chicago based quartet. In this episode of LINER NOTES he speaks of his desire to capture the moment with this recording both in the recording process and in music that pushes the boundaries of the tradition that h…

Bassist Linda May Han Oh’s recording the The Glass Hours features the front line of vocalist Sara Serpa and tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, while pianist Fabian Almazan and drummer Obed Calvaire join her in the rhythm section. Being a new parent has caused her to reflect on what she does as a musician and in this episode of LINER NOTES she talks abo…

Guitarist Rez Abbasi’s recordings illustrate an artist that is pressing on, going for something new, rather than making alterations to what he has already done. So when sitarist Josh Feinberg approached him about a possible Indian-jazz collaboration he initially declined, as he already had several successful recordings of this nature with pianist V…

Trumpet player Derrick Gardener recently retired from his position at the University of Manitoba in order to move back to Chicago and focus on playing, but instead he found himself as the head of Jazz Studies at Northwestern University. In this episode of LINER NOTES Derrick explains how that happened as well as sharing some of the details about hi…

LINER NOTES beings season six with saxophonist and educator Steve Wilson. In this episode of LINER NOTES, Steve highlights his new quartet, The Analog Band, as well as an upcoming commissioning project with Billy Childs featuring Steve with wind symphony, two of the myriad projects that he juggles as one of today’s most in demand leaders and sidema…

Vagabond is the latest release from guitarist Dominic Miller on ECM and features Jacob Karlzon on piano, Nicolas Fiszman on bass, and percussionist Ziv Ravitz. In this episode of LINER NOTES Dominic shares the story behind this music that was conceived during the lockdown and talks about how his own projects fit into the demands of his ongoing thir…

Vibraphonist Simon Moullier’s new recording Isla reflects the raw landscape of the islands off the coast of Brittany that shaped him in his youth. In this episode of LINER NOTES Simon talks about his journey from France to New York as well as his transformation from drummer to vibraphonist.Av David Bixler

Trombonist (and baritone saxophonist) Michael Dease uses his new record, The Other Shoe, as an opportunity to shine the light on those around him. It features the music of the composer Gregg Hill and a young band comprised of clarinetist Virginia MacDonald, pianist Luther Allison, bassist Liany Mateo, and Colleen Clark on drums and cymbals. In this…

In his early twenties, saxophonist Jim Snidero had surrounded himself with the music of the John Coltrane quartet and the Miles Davis quintet, however upon moving to New York City forty years ago and coming face to face with the tradition, he did an about face and dedicated himself to the pursuit of bebop. In the last decade he has used the foundat…

After more that 30 years as an omnipresent side man on the NYC scene, trumpeter John Bailey decided it was time to step out as a leader so in 2018 he recorded his first record, In Real Time. This was followed in 2020 with Can You Imagine, and now, in 2023, he has released Time Bandits, with George Cables, Scott Colley, and Victor Lewis. In this epi…

In Shift Bad Hombre Vol. II drummer and composer Antonio Sanchez takes ownership of the pejoratvie remark made by the former president about Mexicans coming to the United States and hits back with a stunning musical counter-punch that features Dave Matthews, Trent Reznor, Pat Metheny, and many others. In this episode of LINER NOTES Antonio shares h…

On his new record Dedication drummer and composer Dan Weiss presents the listener with sonic portraits of musicians and family members that have figured prominently in his life. He acknowledges the seemingly disparate Elvin Jones and Burt Bacharach as well as honoring his daughter and late grandmother with affectionate tributes. Joining Weiss on th…

After the GRAMMY winning album, Back to the Sunset, and his pandemic sextet project, Transparency, drummer and composer Dafnis Prieto was in search of something new. This journey brought him back to his roots and he again began to compose songs with lyrics as he did in his youth. Collaborating with Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza he has created hi…

Chicago based bassist and band leader Ethan Philion pays tribute to the iconic Charles Mingus with his new recording Meditations on Mingus on Sunnyside Records. In this episode of LINER NOTES Ethan discusses the care with which he approached the musical canon of the iconic Mingus while simultaneously endeavoring to highlight the social justice them…

It was about five years ago that saxophonist David Binney relocated to California after establishing himself as a fixture on the NYC jazz scene. In this episode of LINER NOTES he shares some of his thoughts behind this move and extols the virtues of what he perceives to be a musically transformed Los Angeles that affords musicians like himself time…

Earlier this year, bassist Gerald Cannon brought a septet into Dizzy’s that included a front line of Joe Lovano, Eddie Henderson, Sherman Irby, and Steve Turre, along with pianist Dave Kikokski and the legendary Lenny White. The music features the music of two of Gerald’s former employers, Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner and the performances were captu…

Season five begins with saxophonist Abraham Burton. During the pandemic, photographer and engineer Jimmy Katz produced an informal concert series at the sight of the historically significant Seneca Village in Central Park. One of the concerts that Katz recorded was a trio performance featuring Burton, drummer Eric McPherson, and bassist Dezron Doug…

Saxophonist Todd Williams has a new trio with bassist Yuma Takagi and drummer Robert Rucker he has named the Quartet Trio. I spoke with Todd before he presented the music from their new recording Introducing the Quartet Trio at Smalls Jazz Club in New York City.Av David Bixler

In this episode of LINER NOTES I speak with guitarist, composer, and now lyricist Freddie Bryant about his song cycle Upper West Side Love Story. With the help of vocalist Carla Cook and soloists Regina Carter, Steve Wilson, and Donny McCaslin, Freddie pays homage to his New York City childhood neighborhood and takes the listener on a journey of th…

UK Pianist Kit Downes has released a new recording Vermillion, on ECM Records. In this episode of LINER NOTES Kit delves into how the pandemic and BLM affected the jazz scene in London, and how Brexit ultimately led him to elect to leave the UK.

Multi-instrumentalist Lou Marini has been visible in American popular music for decades. Woody Herman, Blood Sweat Tears, SNL, The Blues Brothers, and James Taylor are just a few of the iconic names that grace his resume. Throughout his time with these high-profile groups, Lou has remained an artist dedicated to his craft. When his touring schedule…

Fred Hersch’s new recording Breath by Breath, on Palmetto Records features his trio with bassist Drew Gress and drummer Jochen Rueckert along with the Crosby Street String Quartet. In this episode of LINER NOTES Fred talks about the meditation practice that inspired this eclectic music that was created as he was sequestered in North Eastern Pennsyl…

Pianist Craig Taborn’s new recording Shadow Plays on ECM was recorded in 2020 in Vienna while on a solo piano tour in Europe just as the pandemic was blowing up. In this episode of LINER NOTES Craig reflects on the process of improvisation as well as recounting the uncertainty that surrounded getting back home and his transition to life in the shut…

Drummer Jeff Hamilton wants to help you enjoy the Holiday season with his swinging new recording Merry and Bright on Capri Records. The recording features his trio with pianist Tamir Hendelman and bassist Jon Hamar.Av David Bixler

The last eighteen months have affected Tony Malaby’s music and personal life in a drastic manner. An early bout with covid created a necessity for Malaby to retool his saxophone playing from a physical standpoint and at the same time it created the space for him to revisit the music that informed his playing in his earlier years. In this episode of…

The quiet of the last year and a half has given alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw the time to think about his life and the world around him. This solitude manifests itself in his new solo saxophone recording, Echoes, which contains musical ruminations on loss, race, and the pandemic. In this episode of LINER NOTES, Jaleel speaks about the process that p…

The pandemic has given trumpet player and composer Tim Hagans a chance to step away from the physicality of the trumpet and focus on seeking new paths for his music. In this episode of LINER NOTES Tim speaks about preparing for an upcoming gig in Europe after not playing with other musicians for nearly two years, as well as his stunning new recordi…

Brooklyn bred trumpet player Adam O’Farrill is the son of award winning pianist and social activist Arturo O’Farrill, and the grandson of legendary composer and arranger Chico O’Farrill. In this episode of LINER NOTES, Adam ruminates on his realization that his pedigree doesn’t equate success. He speaks about his new recording in which he continues…

2021 has been a busy year for alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon. He released two recordings, El Arte del Bolero with pianist Luis Perdomo, and Law Years, a recording of the music of Ornette Coleman featuring an international quartet. In this episode of LINER NOTES Miguel speaks of the redirection of his artistic pursuits during quarantine. I also want …

Chilean jazz guitarist, singer, and song writer Camila Meza lives in a world of color. She sees the music that she creates in a unique and personal way, inviting the listener to participate with her in the color filled journey. In this episode of LINER NOTES she speaks with an optimistic poignancy on the paralyzing effect that the pandemic has had …

Drummer and composer Rudy Royston has created new music for his band Flatbed Buggy for the In this Moment Concert Series at St. Peter’s Church in NYC which will be streamed May 1st at 2pm EST. The music is loosely programmatic, representing a day in the life of the composer in the time of Covid. In the episode of LINER NOTES, Rudy sheds light on ho…

As an 18 year-old, pianist Geoffrey Keezer wowed audiences as a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with his prodigious technique and improvisations. Describing his own playing, Keezer says that his natural tendency is to “throw in everything but the kitchen sink…all the time.” In this episode of LINER NOTES, Keezer talks about his development a…

Bassist and composer Bob Hurst made an early mark on the jazz community as a member of Wynton Marsalis’ band and later gained notoriety as a member of the Tonight Show band led by Branford Marsalis. In addition to his performance career the Detroit native has been on the faculty at the University of Michigan for a number of years. In this episode o…

The past year has provided musicians with an opportunity to get creative in new ways. Dave Douglas and Ryan Keberle have a new record out called Overcome on Greenleaf Music. The music is inspired by their heightened sense of a call for social justice and with a respect for social distancing was recorded remotely this past summer.…

Guitarist and educator Sheryl Bailey recently moved from New York to Boston to become the assistant chair of the guitar department at The Berklee College of Music. In this episode of LINER NOTES Sheryl talks about the challenges of moving to a new city while overseeing the education of nine hundred guitarists in the time of the Corona virus. We spo…

Composer and percussionist Dafnis Prieto’s new recording Transparency features the front line of saxophonists Román Filiú and Peter Apfelbaum, along with Alex Norris on trumpet. In this episode of LINER NOTES Dafnis speaks about his intentions behind this recording as well the fortunate timing that allowed him to capture the project immediately bef…

High Heart is the latest release from tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel. In this episode of LINER NOTES, Ben discusses the creation of this music as well as the unique position he found himself in when air travel came to a grinding halt in March at the beginning of the pandemic.Av David Bixler

In this time of double pandemic trumpeter Ingrid Jensen looked around and did something for her community by providing nightly concerts in her front yard. In this episode on Liner Notes she talks about her response to these troubled times and how she is balancing family, music, and teaching.Av David Bixler