Matty Bannond, Author at Jazz Journal

Reviewed: Sharel Cassity | Nicole Johänntgen | Rachel Therrien

Matty Bannond — Thu, 22 May 2025 10:30:21 +0000

Sharel Cassity: Gratitude (Sunnyside Records) As a youngster in Oklahoma, Sharel Cassity’s heart and soul got captured by bassist Christian McBride’s debut studio album Gettin’ To It (Verve Records, 1995). She later earned the chance to play with each of the three musicians from the rhythm section on that record. Now, the alto saxophonist reunites […]

The post Reviewed: Sharel Cassity | Nicole Johänntgen | Rachel Therrien appeared first on Jazz Journal.

Reviewed: Artemis | Sasha Berliner | Matt Carmichael

Matty Bannond — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:56:41 +0000

Artemis: Arboresque (Blue Note Records) Nature and environmental beauty inspired this third Blue Note release from all-female quintet Artemis. The title means “tree-like”. The album features eight five-minute tracks, with one written by each musician and three borrowed from outside. The group has won a shelf-full of awards since its debut in 2016 – and […]

The post Reviewed: Artemis | Sasha Berliner | Matt Carmichael appeared first on Jazz Journal.

Ralph Moore, Dave Kikoski, Markus Schieferdecker and Joris Dudli in Cologne

Matty Bannond — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:34:29 +0000

One friendly patron jabs a finger at evidence of this street-level club’s raunchy past – red lightbulbs, wall-length mirrors and glittery golden frills hung around the ceiling. Legend has it King Georg is a former table-dancing spot. It’s not true, but the place lives up to the myth anyway. It hosted a night of saucy […]

The post Ralph Moore, Dave Kikoski, Markus Schieferdecker and Joris Dudli in Cologne appeared first on Jazz Journal.

Reviewed: Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield | Julia Hülsmann Quartet | Nicola Miller

Matty Bannond — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:29:33 +0000

Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield: Speaking In Tongues (Adhyâropa Records) Religious and scientific mysteries inspired this duo release from pianist Rachel Eckroth and percussionist John Hadfield. The two musicians met during their university days. They study big questions about life, death and the universe via 10 original compositions on Speaking In Tongues. Even with just […]

The post Reviewed: Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield | Julia Hülsmann Quartet | Nicola Miller appeared first on Jazz Journal.

Reviewed: Ambrose Akinmusire | Nicole McCabe | Marta Warelis, Toma Gouband and Sakina Abdou

Matty Bannond — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:22 +0000

Ambrose Akinmusire: Honey From A Winter Stone (Nonesuch 0075597905984) Heart-rending low tones and soul-splitting high notes characterise Ambrose Akinmusire’s trumpet voice. But you don’t get much brass for your buck on his recent records. This ninth release as leader continues Akinmusire’s gradual disappearance from his own music. His writing is tonally and texturally rich, flooded […]

The post Reviewed: Ambrose Akinmusire | Nicole McCabe | Marta Warelis, Toma Gouband and Sakina Abdou appeared first on Jazz Journal.

Caroline Davis: ‘I think it’s important to build an altar for people we’ve lost’

Matty Bannond — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 19:55:52 +0000

Milky smoke from an incense stick is pirouetting around a dozen porcelain cats and one bowl of dry-roasted peanuts. Alto saxophonist Caroline Davis lights a candle. Then she opens a copy of Before The Trees Turn Gray. It’s a collection of poetry written by her English grandmother, Joan Anson-Weber, who passed away in 2010. “I […]

The post Caroline Davis: ‘I think it’s important to build an altar for people we’ve lost’ appeared first on Jazz Journal.

Kate Kortum and the Juilliard All Stars at Chris’ Jazz Café, Philadelphia

Matty Bannond — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:48:34 +0000

Kate Kortum’s band is rattling the wood-panelled walls of this L-shaped venue – but the singer is nowhere to be seen. Her four college buddies are playing Resignation, composed by the group’s tenor saxophonist Aidan McKeon. Kortum is hovering backstage in a fancy frock, waiting to make a big entrance. It’s an old showbiz trick. […]

The post Kate Kortum and the Juilliard All Stars at Chris’ Jazz Café, Philadelphia appeared first on Jazz Journal.

Christian McBride Quartet at the Village Vanguard, NYC

Matty Bannond — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 11:00:34 +0000

Christian McBride’s left hand is lolling on the shoulder of his double bass. It stirs only to push chunky-framed spectacles higher up his nose. The eight-time Grammy winner has released more than 20 albums and appeared on over 300 records as a sideman. He has played in almost every genre, with almost every star musician. […]

The post Christian McBride Quartet at the Village Vanguard, NYC appeared first on Jazz Journal.

Reviewed: DD Jackson | Christopher Parnis | Naomi Moon Siegel

Matty Bannond — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:59:18 +0000

DD Jackson: Poetry Project (ddjackson.com) Who among us did not launch an eccentric project during lockdown? DD Jackson certainly did. When poet George Elliott Clarke popped up in Jackson’s inbox asking him to set one of his texts to music, the award-winning pianist opted to give it a go. Clarke then chucked a dozen more […]

The post Reviewed: DD Jackson | Christopher Parnis | Naomi Moon Siegel appeared first on Jazz Journal.

Kaisa’s Machine at LOCH in Wuppertal

Matty Bannond — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 18:03:24 +0000

As evening blurs into night, technicoloured lettering slithers around the concrete bulk of LOCH in Wuppertal. A sandwich board crouches in the shadow of the club’s graffitied façade. “Seid bitte leise.” Please be quiet. It’s a call for discretion from the venue’s visitors on 26 October. Inside, band Kaisa’s Machine is delivering 90 minutes of […]

The post Kaisa’s Machine at LOCH in Wuppertal appeared first on Jazz Journal.