Like this nation of immigrants whose disparate cultures converge to create something new, jazz also constantly evolves, in part by the infusion of hitherto unrelated styles of music. Latin jazz is a prime example of this musical melting pot, beginning with Dizzy Gillespie’s seminal collaborations with percussionist Chano Pozo and trumpeter Mario Bauza in the 1940s. Read more »

Jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis isn’t the kind of artist who panders to an audience. When he ventures onto a stage, what you hear is what you get. And Friday evening at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, that meant an exhilarating, challenging and thoroughly entertaining show. Read more »

One of my lasting memories of the recent London Jazz Festival was the outstanding gig by Miguel Zenón’s Quartet at Ronnie Scott’s playing music from this brand new album. Regrettably Luis Perdomo couldn’t appear because of visa problems, but the French pianist Laurent Coq who deputised at 24 hours notice, sight-reading the most intriquate arrangements imaginable, was excellent. Read more »