During the course of Larry Coryell’s long and storied career, the jazz-fusion guitarist has ventured into nearly every corner of the musical world. But on his most recent collaboration with The Wide Hive Players, Coryell returns to his roots to deliver his most brilliant work in years. Reminiscent of the...

In addition to creating thoughtful yet bruising instrumental rock, the players in Garage A Trois â€"drummer Stanton Moore, keyboardist Marco Benevento, vibraphonist Mike Dillon and saxophonist Skerik â€"sure know how to title an album. Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil, the name of Garage A Trois’ fourth proper full-length, perfectly...

The sheer electricity of Galactic’s live shows has earned the jazz/jam/funk collective its rightful place in the dizzying tapestry of New Orleans’ music scene. And the quintet’s most recent release, The Other Side of Midnight: Live in New Orleans, chronicles a sold-out show at The Big Easy’s legendary Tipitina’s nightclub...

Bill Frisell rarely follows conventional musical pathways. The guitarist has released albums of Americana, world, blues and classical musicâ€"all with a jazz edge. Improvisation is at the heart of what Frisell does, magically forming loose ideas into compelling and frequently exigent listening experiences. Sign of Life, recorded with the virtuosic...

Guitarist Pat Metheny is probably about as successful as a jazz musician gets to be these days. The winner of multiple Grammy Awards, with scores of recordings under his belt, he’s amassed a huge following for his brand of highly-polished, richly melodic fusion-lite. Ever easy on the ear, his is...

What an enjoyable listen!  Punch Brothers' 2010 release, Antifogmatic, is a shiny diamond in the rough.  Found within a genre one wouldn't typically think to look through as well, bluegrass!  The band is a collection of stringed instruments headed by Chris Thile (mandolin/vocals), with Gabe Witcher (fiddle/violin), and Paul...

Jazz’s most famous son is given godly status for his work in the 50s â€" as in Kind of Blue â€" and the 70s â€" as in Bitches Brew. The 80s remains a dubious period of his discography. Tutu casts doubt on that received wisdom. Although it is still...

Dennis Coffey is a musician of rare pedigree. His recording career actually stretches back to the 1950s, though he is best known for the wah-wah and guitar distortion he brought to Motown’s hit releases of the late 1960s while a member of the Funk Brothers house band, as heard...

Still comprised of the original three members who started the group in 1972, Azymuth are approaching the end of their fourth decade together in a style all their own. Aurora continues the productive association they’ve had since the mid 1990s with London-based Brazilophile label Far Out, whose press release generously refers...

Although credited to Jeff Beck, this tribute to late guitarist and innovator Les Paul finds the world’s greatest guitarist sharing the spotlight with the Imelda May Band, Trombone Shorty, Gary U.S. Bonds and Brian Setzer. The musicians rip through the tunes with the same gusto that Beck showed on 1993’s...