Michael Roberts

By Michael Roberts Papo Vázquez is more than four decades into a stellar career that’s earned him a raft of honors, including a master artist designation from the National Endowment for the Arts. But as evidenced by Songs del Yucayeke — the latest recording by his Mighty Pirates Troubadours — the Philadelphia-born, Puerto Rico-raised trombonist

Violinist Ted Falcon flies high with a celebration of the Brazilian musical style known as choro.

By Michael Roberts The title and subtitle of vibraphonist-composer Chien Chien Lu’s latest release seem contradictory. But if Built In System suggests a project that closely conforms to a blueprint, and Live in New York evokes spontaneity, Lu bridges this theoretical gap with brio. On just her second album as a leader (her self-titled debut

By Michael Roberts Sean Mason revels in his roots on The Southern Suite, putting a joyful spin on jazz tradition. Many a budding jazz performer has been schooled in the art form by veteran musicians or family elders. But Sean Mason, whose gifts as a pianist and composer are spotlighted to sparkling effect on The

By Michael Roberts Sean Mason revels in his roots on The Southern Suite, putting a joyful spin on jazz tradition. Many a budding jazz performer has been schooled in the art form by veteran musicians or family elders. But Sean Mason, whose gifts as a pianist and composer are spotlighted to sparkling effect on The

Welcome to the JAZZIZ Podcast. This is our new series of podcast conversations, hosted by JAZZIZ Online Editor Matt Micucci and featuring some of the best artists of today’s jazz and creative music scene. Many of these artists are part of JAZZIZ Vinyl Club, our series of limited-edition color vinyl albums curated by the JAZZIZ Editors, featuring some of the most

Welcome to the JAZZIZ Podcast. This is our new series of podcast conversations, hosted by JAZZIZ Online Editor Matt Micucci and featuring some of the best artists of today’s jazz and creative music scene. Many of these artists are part of JAZZIZ Vinyl Club, our series of limited-edition color vinyl albums curated by the JAZZIZ Editors, featuring some of the most

By Michael Roberts Time Zones, the title of the Esthesis Quartet’s sophomore outing, acknowledges the widely varied locations the group members call home. But musically, drummer Tina Raymond, who resides in Los Angeles; pianist/vocalist Dawn Clement, Denver; bassist Emma Dayhuff, Chicago; and flutist Elsa Nilsson, Brooklyn, come together in a place where technical ability meets

By Michael Roberts Following a 20-year break, and a 30-year career as a teacher, Randolph Noel helms a large ensemble recording once more. Pianist and composer Randolph Noel’s entrancing new album, Elements and Orbits, has been a long time coming. The self-released recording is his first as a leader since 2003’s Hands on the Plow

Exploring the 12-tone technique opened up a plethora of possibilities for Michael Varverakis.

Once upon a time, steel pan recordings accessible to American listeners tended to be split between folkloric explorations captured by preservationists and low-fidelity quickies musicians sold to memento-seeking tourists. Today, however, a fresh generation of artists is proving that the instrument is as versatile as it is evocative. And Joy Lapps, a Toronto-based steel pan

In 1972, Blue Note Records unleashed Two Headed Freap, a debut album by organist-composer Ronnie Foster filled with soulful, swinging music as irresistible as its title. Now, a half-century later, Foster has gone back to the future by way of Reboot, an equally enjoyable showcase for his mastery of the Hammond B3 issued under the

The Esthesis Quartet was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many of its initial sessions had to be conducted over Zoom. That’s hardly ideal for establishing band chemistry — particularly in jazz, which has traditionally been about musicians learning to make magic together while packed into tight spaces, where each movement, gesture or glance can

“I’m really excited about this one,” guitarist-composer Dave Stryker says of As We Are, a gorgeous new release on his Strikezone imprint. “It’s something different from what I’ve done in the past.” Given that As We Are is Stryker’s 34th album as a leader since his 1988 debut, First Strike, coming up with a completely

Every bit as remarkable as the vibrant, passionate music on Desde Lejos (Summit), the latest recording by the Dominican Jazz Project, is the mere fact of its existence. The myriad challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic were daunting enough, especially given that assorted participants lived in…

South African trombonist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Jiyane is best known among American audiences for his graceful piano playing as part of the group SPAZA on UPRIZE!, the stellar soundtrack to the 2017 Soweto student protest documentary of the same name. But he’s a veteran of his home country’s jazz scene, and this experience elevates

There’s never been a project like Relief. The compilation of tracks by Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, Jon Batiste and other stellar artists is a fundraiser for the Jazz Foundation of America. One hundred percent of the net proceeds will go toward the JFA Musicians’ Emergency Fund, created in Ma…

“To listen is to know and to know is to love,” Emma-Jean Thackray intones near the start of her inaugural full-length release, Yellow — and the line neatly sums up the appeal of the exciting music throughout. The youthful British trumpeter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist exudes confidence and panache as she joyously ignores genre boundaries, merging

The phrase “New Orleans pianist” instantly calls to mind keyboard kings such as Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, James Booker and other greats, as well as a rollicking style that has produced good times across myriad genres for generations. And while this geographic label can also be applied to Oscar Rossignoli, he doesn’t settle for merely