On The Cover:
JOHN CLAYTON
(by Jeff Cebulski)
To begin to understand the presence and significance of John Clayton, the celebrated bassist and arranger, one should ponder his matter-of-fact view of life after the tragic, paradoxical experience the night of January 8, 2025. While he was in NYC to receive the prestigious 2025 Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award at a ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Clayton received word from his daughter that the horrendous wildfire in Altadena, CA, had consumed her home, not far from his own…
Interview:
ALLEN LOWE
(by Jim Motavalli)
Allen Lowe, a saxophonist based in Hamden, CT, is, at age 71 and despite horrific health challenges, among the more prolific artists in jazz, as both a recording artist and as a music historian of wide reach. He’s also a contrarian, an iconoclast, not afraid to challenge accepted wisdom…
Artist Feature:
DOYEON KIM
(by Adam Davidson)
For Korean-born DoYeon Kim, music is a way of channeling complex emotions and experiences into art with the potential to change a listener’s perception of the world. Before moving to America in 2014 to study at Boston’s New England Conservatory, she felt constrained by the musical language of traditional Korean music and felt unable to express herself fully…
Encore:
GENE PERLA
(by Daniel A. Brown)
Talk about jazz cred: Gene Perla played extensively with legendary drummer Elvin Jones and been name-checked by the Beastie Boys. The bassist played a crucial role in Jones’ early ’70s ensembles. And for the Beastie Boys’ “Root Down” (1995), they offered an on the-mic shout-out to the tune “Sweetie Pie” by Stone Alliance, the trio that Perla co-founded with percussionist Don Alias and saxophonist Steve Grossman…
Lest We Forget:
SUSAN ALCORN
(by Laurence Donohue-Greene)
The pedal steel guitar is an instrument with a comparatively recent history in jazz, especially within free-improvising circles and experimental-leaning music. When the news of pedal steel guitar virtuoso Susan Alcorn’s Jan. 31 passing (just a few months shy of turning 72) spread through the music community, it brought to many a certain level of shock and sadness, given that her contributions as a leader and valued collaborator had played such a significant part in the pedal steel’s newly expanded role…
VOXNews
(by Tessa Souter)
This month VOXNews highlights three strikingly different albums by lyricists…
LABEL SPOTLIGHT:
BEAD RECORDS
London-based Bead celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, moving into middle age but still thriving. Over the years Bead has recorded numerous innovators and is releasing albums by musicians who have a similar vision and commitment to that of its founders, including violinist Philipp Wachsmann…
New York @Night
Album Reviews
In Print, On Screen, Boxed Set, Drop The Needle Reviews, Globe Unity…
