Jul 17, 2025 12:44 PM
DownBeat’s 73rd Annual Critics Poll: One for the Record Books
You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
On Feb. 26, two new ECM albums are set to hit the street: John Abercrombie’s Cat ‘N’ Mouse and Invisible Nature: Live In Tampere And Berlin by John Surman and Jack DeJohnette.
Cat ‘N’ Mouse features Abercrombie on guitar, Mark Feldman on violin, Marc Johnson on bass and Joey Baron on drums. Feldman had previously worked with Abercrombie, and the idea for the new ensemble, recorded in December 2000 in New York, was to “continue the relationship with Feldman and develop a music that was still more open-sounding,” Abercrombie said. Keyboards were abandoned for the recording, with an emphasis placed on strings.
Invisible Nature was recorded live at the Berlin Jazz Festival and the Tampere Jazz Happening in November 2000. It’s the follow-up to The Amazing Adventures Of Simon Simon, the 1981 debut by the Surman-DeJohnette duo. The musical relationship between the two men goes back further, however. In 1968, when DeJohnette was in London with the Bill Evans Trio at Ronnie Scott’s Club, he took time out to improvise with local musicians. “Jack instigated a jam session series in the afternoon, and the word got out,” Surman said. “So I was there, along with John McLaughlin, Dave Holland and Tony Oxley.”
James Brandon Lewis earned honors for Artist of the Year and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year. Three of his recordings placed in the Albums of the Year category.
Jul 17, 2025 12:44 PM
You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
Galper was often regarded as an underrated master of his craft.
Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
Chuck Mangione on the cover of the May 8, 1975, edition of DownBeat.
Jul 29, 2025 1:00 PM
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“Hamiet was one of the most underrated musicians ever,” says Whitaker of baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett.
Jul 8, 2025 7:30 AM
At 56, Rodney Whitaker, professor of jazz bass and director of jazz studies at Michigan State University, is equally…
Jul 17, 2025 11:35 AM
The DownBeat Critics Poll provides a wonderful snapshot of the jazz scene today, with much to explore and many great…