By Bob Blumenthal Joshua Redman acknowledges that the title of his new Blue Note album, Words Fall Short, could be viewed ironically. His previous and widely acclaimed where are we was his first to pair a vocalist with one of his many monumental Quartets; yet Words Fall Short is anything but a comment on the saxophonist’s last triumph. More accurately, his latest offering is an organic next step, a collection... read more

By Nia June For The Love Of It All is more than trumpeter and composer Brandon Woody’s recording debut; it is a manifesto, a ritual, a hymn to the enduring power of love. Joined by his band Upendo — Troy Long (piano, organ, Rhodes, keyboards), Quincy Phillips (drums), and Michael Saunders (bass) with special guests Imani-Grace (vocals), Vittorio Stropoli (aux synth) — Woody extends an invitation into... read more

By Evan Haga Ones & Twos, the new Blue Note album from pianist and composer Gerald Clayton, is a project of rare ingenuity comprising many layers, all of them fascinating. And while the music is engaging on a purely visceral level, to truly appreciate the imagination at play throughout the album takes a bit of unpacking. Clayton’s new album is a collection of deftly written, groove-minded,... read more

By Bob Blumenthal Branford Marsalis, one of the world’s most preeminent saxophonists, is now being recognized as a musician whose talent knows no boundaries. A peerless instrumentalist and bandleader in the jazz world, recent years have found him performing as a classical soloist with symphony orchestras, composing scores for major motion pictures and Broadway shows, composing a symphony for a full classical... read more