Dec 17, 2018 9:00 AM
Eric Dolphy: The ‘Prophet’ of Freedom
Whether he was wielding his alto saxophone, flute or bass clarinet, Eric Dolphy was a godsend to the cadre of musicians…
Part of what’s remarkable about the contemporary London jazz scene is how the genre’s breadth is on display, filtered through disparate styles and cultural backgrounds.
“There’s so much in the word ‘jazz’ that it’s hard to define,” drummer Moses Boyd says in We Out Here: A LDN Jazz Story, a short documentary that details the city’s jazz scene, now available for streaming. It’s a story that tracks a number of British performers—including Boyd, Shabaka Hutchings, Joe Armon-Jones and scores of others—who have made significant inroads.
“There’s a constant pushing and desire to say something new, but also fully appreciate and take in what has been said before,” says Nubya Garcia amid the frank discussion of London’s music ecosystem, its longtail development, influences and how the music’s been perpetuated. The sheer number of people interviewed for the We Out Here movie—as well as the folks who recorded a companion compilation of the same name—should give viewers pause; there seems to be enough talent in London to propel the music for decades.
For more information about the documentary, as well as the compilation, visit the We Out Here website. DB
Recordings that make up Musical Prophet: The Expanded 1963 New York Studio Sessions sat in a Long Island home, untouched, for decades.
Dec 17, 2018 9:00 AM
Whether he was wielding his alto saxophone, flute or bass clarinet, Eric Dolphy was a godsend to the cadre of musicians…
Ambrose Akinmusire and Kris Davis perform in New York at Vision Festival, which ran May 23–28. Akinmusire’s Origami Harvest earned a 5-star rating in DownBeat during 2018.
Dec 28, 2018 9:00 AM
The list below is a round-up of the 5-star, 4.5-star and 4-star reviews that ran in print editions of DownBeat during…
Josh Johnson (left), Alex Boneham, Jay Bellerose and Jeff Parker perform at ETA in L.A.’s Highland Park neighborhood.
Dec 20, 2018 9:00 AM
When bassist Anna Butterss moved to Los Angeles in 2014, her plan was to stay for no more than a year. Her main draw to…
Reedist Ingrid Laubrock said she relishes the freedom that comes with recording for independent labels like Relative Pitch and Germany’s Intakt, but remains skeptical of the music industry’s digital shift.
Jan 3, 2019 9:00 AM
Less and less, you dole out a buck per cut, $10 per album; more and more, you access a streaming service for a nominal…
Richmond, Virginia-based drummer Corey Fonville is set for a spate of March tour dates in France with trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah.
Jan 7, 2019 9:00 AM
More than a percussionist, Corey Fonville is a conjurer. When he plays, Fonville channels the spirit of his ancestors…