By Andrew Perry, eMusic ContributorTo celebrate the new Iggy & The Stooges album Ready To Die, we invited guitarist James Williamson to rifle through eMusic's catalog and talk us through some of his favorite albums. You can read about… more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorThere was always more to Impulse than John Coltrane. As part of the label's 50th anniversary victory lap in 2011, Impulse launched the "2-on-1" reissue series, pairing compatible '60s or '70s LPs, usually on one… more »
By Britt Robson, eMusic ContributorThis enjoyably comfortable disc more specifically celebrates John Coltrane during, and shortly after, his time with Miles Davis in the late '50s and early '60s. There is no material here older than "My One and… more »
By J. Edward Keyes, Editor-in-ChiefI've been back from Austin for about 48 hours, but my body is only just now starting to adjust to things like normal sleep patterns, being stationary for long periods of time, and not drinking beer every day. Soon, I will stop having dreams that I am being chased by a giant, furious side of brisket. I look forward to those days in breathless anticipation. Until they arrive, here's this week's New Arrivals: The Shins, Port of Morrow: I really wanted this to be my Shins review, but then I heard the record and actually kind of liked it, so the joke's on me, as it usually is. The Shins have cleaned up quite a bit since their intoxicating and mysterious Oh, Inverted World. There were cobwebs in the corners of those songs, but Port of Morrow is pure California sun -- even though James Mercer lives in the Pacific Northwest.… more »
By Dave Sumner, eMusic ContributorBy Dave Sumner River Cow Orchestra, Going Softly Into the Good Night: New release from excellent Kansas City based large ensemble. Trumpet that soars atmospherically a la fusion era Miles Davis, melodies that swoon and entrance,… more »
By Charles Farrell, eMusic ContributorTwo things are fairly obvious from the start of this Carnegie Hall performance by the Thelonious Monk Quartet. The first is that, folklorish revisionism notwithstanding, Monk does possess conventional piano technique; he always plays the… more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorNo jazz musician inspires flattering imitators and devoted listeners like saxophonist John Coltrane. One reason is because there's a Coltrane for every taste: the yearning balladeer; the hard bop jackrabbit, scaling intricate improvised lines over… more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorIn May 1956, when Sonny Rollins and guest John Coltrane locked horns on the friendly throwdown "Tenor Madness," Coltrane was 29, and Rollins four years his junior. But at this point in their careers, Sonny… more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorA few years ago, Italian saxophonist Daniele D'Agaro was visiting Chicago, and a critic friend put on a fairly obscure record to stump him. D'Agaro listened for about three seconds, said: "Lucky." Good ears. He knows… more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorAnthony Braxton, the composer, multi-instrumentalist, author and educator, has always been more than a jazz musician. In fact, he's often denied he is a jazz musician, much the same way that Duke Ellington did. Both… more »
By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic ContributorAlbert Ayler (1936-1970), at once the most basic and way-out of '60s free jazz saxophonists, came back in a big way with the release of Revenant's imposing nine-CD box of rarities, treasures and relics, Holy… more »
