Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
Astral Project, one of New Orleans’ top modern jazz groups, released its first full-length
recording in three years, Big Shot on April 1. The album of 11 original tunes will be available on the Internet, at select record stores and at concerts starting April 1.
Big Shot finds Astral Project indulging more than ever before in the playful grooves of the Crescent City. The tunes “Spherical” and “Retroactive” illustrate saxophonist Tony Dagradi’s command of the blues. “Magic Lantern” and “Pandemonium” are from the ever-inventive pen of bassis t James Singleton. Guitarist Steve Masakowski contributed the funky opening and closing cuts. Meanwhile, drummer John Vidacovich propels the entire project with streetwise drive.
But the record also reflects the band’s thoughtful side with the song “Vigil (for Sept. 11)” and its companion piece, “Vengeance.” Both were written by Steve Masakowski in the days immediately after the terrorist attacks of last autumn. Extensive liner notes by James Singleton provide details of those emotional days.
Big Shot is Astral Project’s first release following the departure last year of longtime pianist David Torkanowsky. These arrangements—fine-tuned on the road—showcase a quartet brimming with spontaneous communication and focused intensity.
The CD was recorded “live in the studio” at Word of Mouth in the Algiers Point section of New Orleans. Most of the takes were selected from a briskly-paced set the band played on the last day of a three-day session. Astral Project and friend/collaborator Michael Pellera produced the disc to capture the most natural sounds and vibes.
“It felt great as we were laying it down,” says Tony Dagradi, who founded Astral Project in 1978 from the cream of the New Orleans modern jazz scene. “And I love the way it came out. It’s definitely our best record yet.”
For more information, and to order the CD, go to www.astralproject.com.
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Lettuce, from left: Eric Coomes, Adam Deitch, Ryan Zoidis, Eric Bloom, Adam Smirnoff and Nigel Hall
Feb 17, 2026 11:05 AM
They were Berklee misfits. Neither jazzy enough for the straightahead crowd at Boston’s highly prestigious College of…
New Orleans Trad Jazz Camp
Feb 19, 2026 10:39 AM
Jazz camps have exploded around the globe as a summertime tradition for working on your chops and making new friends.…
Lovers of the big band experience, clockwise from top left, John Clayton, Leigh Pilzer, Ted Nash, David Pietro and Christine Jensen.
Feb 10, 2026 11:00 AM
The popularity of big band music might have peaked in the 1930s and ’40s, but despite the many changes on the jazz…
