Richard Gehr on January 11, 2021
“We are stardust, billion-year-old carbon,” sang Saint Joni, a notion Rob Mazurek and his Exploding Star Orchestra expand upon on Dimensional Stardust (International Anthem/Nonesuch). Mazurek has Sun “Stardust From Tomorrow” Ra much in mind as well: The 13-piece Exploding Star includes Damon Locks’ dry intergalactic narration, a percussion trio’s orbiting rhythms, and twinkling stand-outs like […]
Jeff Tamarkin on January 5, 2021
Sometimes, as every musician knows, making plans is a futile exercise. Chris Potter, whose saxophone playing has been heard—in both sideman and leader configurations—in tandem with Pat Metheny’s guitar, Paul Motian’s drums, Dave Holland’s bass and with dozens of others, surely didn’t think his next album was going to be recorded entirely solo. Yet, here […]
Rudi Greenberg on January 4, 2021
Listening to the work of Jerry Garcia often feels like an act of discovery, no matter how long one’s been doing it. On GarciaLive Vol. 15: Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders, May 21st, 1971, listeners are truly discovering something new. This previously uncirculated recording finds Garcia, keyboardist Merl Saunders and drummer Bill Vitt playing as […]
