The magazine’s jazz critics look back over the past year and highlight their favorites — mainly recordings.
Steve Feeney
Jazz Album Reviews: Andrew Cyrille and Amir ElSaffar — Two Restless Spirits
It might seem a stretch to pair drummer Andrew Cyrille’s disc with composer/trumpeter Amir ElSaffar’s. But both spent time under the tutelage of the redoubtable Cecil Taylor, and it shows.
Jazz Album Reviews: William Parker — Blowing Open the Doors of Perception
William Parker, the 69-year-old composer, multi-instrumentalist, author, and all-around presence on the progressive jazz scene churns out challenging music with prolific abandon.
Jazz Album Reviews: James Brandon Lewis and Vijay Iyer — Discoveries and Searches
New discs from James Brandon Lewis and Vijay Iyer merit serious attention from admirers of improvised music.
Jazz Album Reviews: Pianists Masabumi Kikuchi and Theo Walentiny — Poetic Solo Flights
Two albums, from a late master and a newbie, are notable additions to the current wave of introspective solo piano excursions.
Jazz Album Reviews: Benoît Delbecq and Satoko Fujii — Resilience Made Beautiful
A couple of adventurous pianists decided, as their latest solo releases confirm, to use forced isolation as a spur to inspiration.
Jazz Special Feature: Chick Corea (1941-2021) — Memories and Impressions
Fuse critics pay homage to Chick Corea performances and recordings that they found memorable.
Jazz Album Review: Two Trios — Featuring Harold Mabern and Yoko Miwa
One disc pays expert homage to the late pianist Harold Mabern; pianist Yoko Miwa’s latest album supplies much appreciated exuberance.
Arts Feature: Significant Jazz Experiences, 2020
The magazine’s jazz critics look back over the past year and highlight their favorites — performances, recordings, and books.
Theater Review: “On Beckett / In Screen” — Bill Irwin Honors Samuel Beckett
Bill Irwin’s homage to Samuel Beckett explores what makes the writer so fascinating, even inspiring, for those who appreciate the knockabout beauty of his despair.