The Real Life of Shabaka Hutchings
By Bobby Reed
British saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings exploded onto the jazz scene with that rare gift of getting hips to sway and minds to think. In his first DownBeat cover article, Hutchings talks about Black To The Future, the latest recording by his group Sons of Kemet, as well as a new book and being creative during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Dave Cantor
During decades of recording and work alongside a cast of co-conspirators that could serve as a summation of jazz’s avant-garde wing, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith has mapped his inspiration. And he continues to do so.
By Suzanne Lorge
Jennifer Wharton, a bass trombonist, continues to challenge the prevailing view of her chosen instrument with Not A Novelty, her second Sunnyside album featuring Bonegasm, her trombone quartet with rhythm section. The March release serves as a timely sequel to the group’s self-titled 2019 debut, an uncommon record that landed on the jazz charts within a week of its launch.
Pianist Angelica Sanchez took this month’s Blindfold Test. Here are the selections that were played