Jazz

Solaliquies

K. Leander Williams

Rising to the dare of Martial Solal's mischievous piano playing.

Chameleon

David Yaffe : Music

On River: The Joni Letters Herbie Hancock and Joni Mitchell make a remarkable collaboration.

Jazz Is?

Franklin J. Bruno : History

A new book on the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians looks at jazz as a power stronger than itself.

Music's Measures

Brian Morton : The Short of It

A jazz writer pays tribute to his longtime collaborator on The Penguin Guide to Jazz.

An Ayler in My House

Nick Stillman : The Short of It

A glossy and ragged musical declaration of love.

Roscoe Mitchell's Wolf Tones

Brian Morton

The subtle sounds of this saxophonist defy definition.

Play It (Over and Over Again)

Travis A. Jackson : Biography

Ben Ratliff's not-quite biography of John Coltrane considers the jazz legend's enduring influence.

Spirit Chaser

David Yaffe

Listening to Sonny Rollins for the first time. Again.

The Art of the Improviser

David Yaffe

Nearly fifty years after Ornette Coleman revolutionized jazz, he is finally being honored with the music world's top awards.

Music of My Mind

David Yaffe

John Gennari's Blowin' Hot and Cool looks at the intimate but fractious relationship between jazz luminaries and their critics.

Brilliant Corners

David Yaffe

To honor Andrew Hill's passing, we are reposting an article about his life's achievements originally posted in July, 2006.

Soul on Ice

David Yaffe

Is jazz really dead--or has it simply moved to a cooler location? Four new books take a scholarly look at a musical genre that is on the wane in America, but finding new life and new audiences in Europe.

The Cool War

Brian Morton : Non-Fiction

The US government employed jazz musicians as ambassadors to the world during the cold war.

The First Lady of Song

Robert Christgau : Biography

Billie Holiday wasn't just adored by her fans but by her friends and colleagues as well.

Quartet for the End of Time

Brian Morton

Stankonia

Brian Morton : Poland

What Bearden Taught Me

Fine Art