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Lauren Deutsch steps down after 21 years as executive director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago

by Peter Margasak on February 27, 2018 at 7:00AM

Robinson, a Chicago native, previously worked for the JIC as education and community coordinator in the early 2000s. Deutsch will retain some ties to the JIC, staying on in the newly created position "director of artistic collaborations."

Atomic’s Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Håvard Wiik explore folk hymns and elastic improvisation on their own albums

by Peter Margasak on February 16, 2018 at 2:22PM

Today's playlist: Lei Liang, Luminous (New World) Earprint, Earprint (Endectomorph Music) Ben Patterson, Early Works (Alga Marghen) Eiko Ishibashi, Car and Freezer (Drag City) Allen Eager, An Ace Face (Giant Steps)

Gertrude Abercrombie's self-portraits show an inner landscape of anxiety, fear, and loneliness

by Dmitry Samarov on February 13, 2018 at 3:14PM

I found it surprising that Abercrombie was so hooked into the jazz scene in Chicago as the mood in her work seems more like chamber music. Do you see any jazz in it?

New York flugelhorn player John Raymond comes to Chicago with his cozily melodic trio

by Peter Margasak on February 9, 2018 at 1:56PM

Though the looping effects often make the arrangements feel a bit more involved this time out, Raymond notes in the press materials that he tried to keep his writing simple. He composed the material for Joy Ride with a piano, on which he's hardly a virtuoso, creating a "handicap to insure the pieces would be more natural."

Swedish trumpeter Emil Strandberg brings lyrical grace to his austere free improvisation

by Peter Margasak on February 2, 2018 at 1:57PM

Today's playlist: Jonas Kullhammar Quartet, Låt Det Vara (Moserobie) Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan, Rachmaninov/Chopin: Cello Sonatas (Decca) Camille, Ouï (Nonesuch/Because) Arnold Dreyblatt & the Orchestra of Excited Strings, Live at the Federal Hall National Memorial, 1981 (Table of the Elements) Peter Lenz, Lithium (Skirl)

Drummer Tomas Fujiwara fuels his writing by recruiting musicians in contrasting pairs

by Peter Margasak on January 26, 2018 at 3:21PM

Today's playlist: Paula Shocron/Germán Lamonega/Pablo Díaz, Tensegridad (Hatology) Tewold Redda, Eritrea's Guitar Pioneer (Domino Sound) Nicola Ratti, The Collection (Room40) Jim Black, Malamute (Intakt) Natalie Clein, Bloch/Dallapiccola/Ligeti (Hyperion)

Bay Area bassist Lisa Mezzacappa emerges as a dynamic bandleader on two recent albums

by Peter Margasak on January 19, 2018 at 8:00AM

Today's playlist: Lusine Grigoryan, Komitas: Seven Songs (ECM) Ty Segall, Fried Shallots (Drag City) MUTA, Yesterday Night You Were Sleeping at My Place (Sofa) Kelly Moran, Bloodroot (Telegraph Harp) Meredith Monk, Key (Tompkins Square/Lovely Music)

Swedish trumpeter Goran Kajfes combines psych, prog, and African music into a vision all his own

by Peter Margasak on January 12, 2018 at 11:38AM

Today's playlist: Víkingur Ólafsson, Philip Glass: Piano Works (Deutsche Grammophon) Tarawangsawelas, Wanci (Morphine) Melia Watras, 26 (Sono Luminus) Golden Retriever, Rotations (Thrill Jockey) Apartment House, Michael Parsons: Patterns of Connection (Huddersfield Contemporary Records)

Norwegian reedist André Roligheten steps up big in 2017

Norwegian reedist André Roligheten stepped up big in 2017

by Peter Margasak on December 29, 2017 at 3:16PM

Today's playlist: Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana/Dennis Russell Davies, Bruno Maderna/Luciano Berio: Now, and Then (ECM) Mette Rasmussen/Tashi Dorji/Tyler Damon, To the Animal Kingdom (Trost) Olivia Block, Olivia Block (Another Timbre) Bill Orcutt, Bill Orcutt (Palilalia) Larry Polanksy, FreeHorn (Cold Blue)

Adventurous jazz guitarist Brandon Seabrook embraces his metal roots

by Peter Margasak on December 22, 2017 at 2:08PM

Today's playlist: Mike Caratti/Rachel Musson/Steve Beresford, Hesitantly Pleasant (Iluso) Martin Arnold, The Spit Veleta (Another Timbre) Will Guthrie, People Pleaser (Black Truffle) Martin Fröst/Lucas Debargue/Janine Jansen/Torleif Thedéen, Messiaen: Quatuor Pour la Fin du Temps (Sony Classical) Brutter, Reveal and Rise (Hubro)

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