Michael Roberts

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

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

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 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 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

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

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

Eldad Tarmu reconfigures the music of Horace Silver for vibraphone trio. By Michael Roberts Vibraphonist Eldad Tarmu isn’t interested in taking the easy way out. His recent trio recording — Silver on Aluminum, a tribute to legendary pianist and composer Horace Silver — is a case in point. While Silver had recorded early on with