July 2022

BUY THIS ISSUE  |  SUBSCRIBE
Cover

Sean Jones

The Jazz Philosopher

Sean Jones is riding a career high right now. And he’s doing it in a very modern way. In today’s jazz world, those who can play, teach. It’s a large part of what makes the jazz economy and ecosystem work in 2022 and beyond. So, Jones just signed a new 10-year contract with the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Features
  • Ron Carter @ 85

    'Experimenting from Night to Night'
  • Euro Jazz Scene

    New Sounds from Europe
Blindfold Test

Bassist Marc Johnson says, “Rhythmically, a bassist has to perform very secure and confident phrases to really communicate their ideas clearly. That is true of any improvising musician, but especially a bass player.” He’s a veteran who broke into the spotlight with Bill Evans, joining up with him in 1978. His bands included Bass Desires (with Bill Frisell and John Scofield) and Right Brain Patrol. He serves as the anchor for his wife Eliane Elias’s band. And, in 2021, he released an adventurous solo album, Overpass, on ECM, which received 4.5 stars in the December issue of DownBeat. At his home study in East Hampton, New York, Johnson took his very first DownBeat Blindfold Test.

  • Stanley Clarke: “I Mean You” from Standards (Kind of Blue Records, 2006)
  • Gary Peacock: “Only Now” from Just So Happens (Postcards, 1994)
  • Christian McBride Trio: “Ham Hocks and Cabbage” from Out Here (Mack Avenue, 2013)
  • Ron Carter: “Blues Farm” from Blues Farm (CTI/Sony, 2003, recorded 1973)
  • Ben Allison: “Realization” from Peace Pipe (Palmetto, 2002)
  • Dave Holland/Kenny Barron: “The Oracle” from The Art Of Conversation (Impulse, 2014)
  • Charles Mingus: “Serenade In Blue” from Debut Records Story (Debut/Fantasy, 1997, recorded 1955)
  • Charlie Haden/Jim Hall: “In The Moment” from Charlie Haden/Jim Hall (Impulse, 2014)
Also in this Issue
THE BEAT
  • Ezz-thetic Records
  • Review: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
  • Movie Review: Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story
  • Bill Frisell Biography: Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreamer
  • Marco Benevento
  • Etienne Charles's New York Phil Commission
  • Terence Blanchard Opera Debutes in Chicago
  • Bob Stroger: A Country Boy Sings the Blues
THE HOT BOX
  • Joey Alexander, Origin (Mack Avenue)
  • John Scofield, John Scofield (ECM)
  • Mary Halvorson, Amaryllis & Belladonna (Nonesuch)
  • Nduduzo Makhathini, In the Spirit of Ntu (Blue Note)
GUITAR SCHOOL
  • Master Class—Jim Hall's Comping on "Without A Song"
  • Pro Session—Advanced Rhythmic Concepts for Improvisation
  • Transcription—Christone "Kingfish" Ingram's Guitar Solo on "Another Life Goes By"
  • Toolshed—Roger Sadowsky Frank Vignola Archtop, Yamaha SLB300PRO Silent Bass
JAZZ ON CAMPUS
  • Jazz House Kids, by Stephanie Jones


PLUS: Dozens of album reviews, product reviews and much more!