Emmet Cohen // WBGO Take Five

Emmet Cohen, “Toast to Lo”

Future Stride, the forthcoming album by pianist Emmet Cohen, comes by its title honestly. It’s not just about a refurbishment of the stride piano tradition — though Cohen makes sure to demonstrate that idea. It’s also about striding forward with total assurance, knowing that each step will find traction. Cohen has the right disposition for this message, and he has surrounded himself with the right partners: bassist Russell Hall and drummer Kyle Poole, as well as a front line consisting of saxophonist Melissa Aldana and trumpeter Marquis Hill.

Veronica Swift Does a Number on Your Grandma’s Classics

The Jazz Outsider Looks in with Clear Abandon, and a Beguiling Manner

When Veronica Swift, 27, slips into the comfortably sublime chorus of “The Man I Love” up close and personal, that’s when I fell in love — with her and her new album, This Bitter Earth, out March 19, 2021 on Mack Avenue Records.
If you were born in this Millennium, and you didn’t know better, you wouldn’t know a goddamned thing about the reversal of melodic fortunes of this blessed Gershwin tune, the pop song of its day, circa 1920s. The “Lady, Be Good” musical reject finally appeared in a 1927 government satire, “Strike Up the Band,” was later popularized by Billie Holiday, and embraced by countless young women. Maybe even your mom, when celebrating her golden wedding anniversary by the piano.

Yellowjackets ‘Jackets XL’ Album Review

Thirty-nine years in and still dropping cracking grooves and catchy melodies, Yellowjackets return with their 25th album, which finds the quartet revisiting original material from its past discography.

If you’re like me, you’ve jumped on or off Yellowjackets’ train at various times in their career. Who could resist their eponymous 1981 debut, a blast of fresh L.A. jazz-funk? I personally dove deep during their ’86-’87 period and the burners Shades and Four Corners. Regardless of year, though, they’ve retained an instantly recognizable sound: knotty drum grooves, brain-glued melodies, clever harmonies, and extended, rip-roaring solos.

Harold Lopez-Nussa ‘Te Lo Dije’ Album Review

You can remember him from the Bratislava Jazz Days 2011 festival, where he performed as a 29-year-old super talent! His name is Harold López-Nussa, he is 37 years old (read the exclusive interview here) and he was born into a musical family in Havana. For the first twenty years he devoted himself exclusively to classical music, but his life changed when he won the piano competition of the Montreaux Jazz Festival in 2005. Latin Jazz quickly became his passion! Two years ago he released his latest album, Un Día Cualquiera (Mack Avenue, 2018), which was a mixture of compositions by classical Cuban composers and original compositions by Harold Lopez-Nuss in a beautiful performance by the trio. This time, however, Harold comes in the form of the latest album called Te Lo Dije, which automatically takes you out onto the streets of Havana, where during an evening stroll you will hear music straight from people's homes, sometimes breaking into parties and paladars or a nightclub. Harold López-Nussa, who lives in Havana, captures all these mentioned moments as a combination of jazz and Cuban pop music! The album features Harold's brother and Ruy drummer Adrián López-Nussa, double bass player Julio César González and trumpeter Mayquel González. The album also features some special guests such as African-Cuban superstar Cimafunk, French accordionist Vincent Peirani, famous Cuban reggaeton singer Randy Malcom and singer Kelvis Ochoa and others.

John Beasley: A Jazz Renaissance Man

Jazz Renaissance man John Beasley joins Tim to talk about his multifaceted career and life in jazz music. He’s a jazz pianist, a composer, an arranger, a music director and a producer. And chances are you’ve heard some of his work through film, TV or commercials. In this episode, John talks about his a one-of-a-kind music lineage and how he balances his many music loves.