"Musicians describe their instruments as having 'personality' and painters talk about how different brushes 'feel' in their hands. These artists are picking up on something real, their materials actually do respond to specific vibrational inputs."

On today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast, saxophonist Donny McCaslin joins us to discuss his new album, 'Lullaby for the Lost,' how influences from Neil Young to Nine Inch Nails influence his sound, and his ongoing Blackstar Symphony project … #jazzsky

Lebanese sextet SANAM's 'Sametou Sawtan' transforms 12th-century poetry and contemporary texts into experimental rock that captures the intensity of their cult-like recording sessions and the existential weight of living under constant threat. Borrowed Voices, Borrowed Time — SANAM's Infinite Fire:

On today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast, Matt Piucci of Rain Parade joins host Lawrence Peryer to discuss the deluxe reissue of 'Crashing Dream,' what it's like to revisit one's musical past, and the profundity of sustaining musical partnerships across multiple decades. …

Jon Fadem's album 'Thankful' strips away vocals from songs he'd been singing for years, trusting his guitar to convey emotions and concepts learned from listening deeply to Miles Davis and Jerry Garcia. Speaking in Tongues — Jon Fadem's Guitar Language:

Sometimes the most practical tools come from the most unexpected places...

I hate to see the old girl go, but it's time. Are you in? bringatrailer.com/listing/1992...

Canadian composer Andrew Staniland discusses how his JADE technology transforms EEG data into sound, turning six dancers into living instruments for his spatial audio album 'The Laws of Nature.' Dancing to Brainwaves — Andrew Staniland's Mind Music:

Please do this. It takes but a click or two. www.congressweb.com/GRAMMY/100/

In today's new episode of Spotlight On, author Larry Tye discusses his latest book, The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America. Tye tells the story of how three jazz legends became unlikely civil rights pioneers, soundtracking for social change in America …

Juilliard-trained dancer Adam Weinert discusses his new role as executive director of the 170-year-old venue, which stands tall as the Hudson Valley's community anchor and an international performance destination. Adam Weinert Choreographs a New Chapter at Hudson Hall:

This piece was inspired by a recent on-mic discussion I had with a longtime friend and colleague...

For the latest episode of The Buzz, JJA president Howard Mandel hosts a discussion on political activism in jazz with Terri Lyne Carrington, Orbert Davis and Marc Ribot. Timely and well worth a listen.

Rabbit Radio is a youth development program funded by Moonrabbit Consolidated Industries, and listeners like you.

On today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast, tenor saxophonist Rico Jones joins us to discuss his debut album 'BloodLines,' recorded live with guitarist Max Light, bassist Joe Martin, and drummer Nasheet Waits … #jazzsky

My recent interview with Chicago drummer Charlie Werber went way beyond music into other topics I have long had interest in...

My latest essay and playlist on the relationship between music and mysticism.

Today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast features Aqeel Aadam, a synthesist + plug-in designer who has carved a unique path in music technology. In this chat, we explore his philosophy of democratizing modular synthesis and his thoughts on generative music that goes beyond mere randomness …

I hope all of my PNW friends and colleagues will come out for this mini jazz festival that we are putting on as the finale of Normandy Park's 2025 Music in the Park series. Sunday, August 24 from 3 - 7pm. Three great bands AND drum circles between each set! Help us go out with a BANG.

With his trio Cardume, Grammy-winning Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Boccato strips away the familiar structures of jazz to create something more elemental—three musicians moving like a school of fish through uncharted sonic waters. Rogerio Boccato's Cardume Swims Against the Jazz Current:

On their 30th (!) anniversary, it is fun to be featured in All About Jazz's "Meet the Staff" section. This brief little interview managed to capture a lot of my attitudes and philosophy.

Today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast features a chat with guitarist Rez Abbasi about his latest album, Sound Remains, with his acoustic quintet RAAQ. Rez opens up about how meditation and the acceptance of impermanence shape both his music + his practice letting go of ego in performance …

Saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom's album 'Songs in Space' brings together her pioneering approach to surround sound jazz, a vision of music in zero gravity, and a belief that silence gives the brain time to process music moving through dimensions. We Are Floating in Space — Jane Ira Bloom's Jazz Odyssey:

In today's new episode of Spotlight On, Lawrence Peryer joins Creative Leadership host Jeremy Sirota for an off-the-cuff chat about artistic integrity versus commercial success, the importance of curiosity, and the future of music culture. Listen in! ✨: www.spotlightonpodcast.com/jeremy-sirot...

KOMARA, the progressive trio of Pat Mastelotto, David Kollar, and Paolo Raineri, constructed their second album from a rejected mafia film score. The result trades their debut's density for space and accessibility. A Monster With Three Heads — KOMARA Battles Expectations:

Jazz is well into its second century as America's premier art form. The discussion below shows how those involved with it continue to probe the ideas and issues around the music. It's a grand tradition. I hope you check this one out. It will be of interest to anyone involved in art and creativity.

Today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast features Indianapolis-based saxophonist and composer Sean Imboden. Sean discusses the challenges and rewards of leading a 17-piece big band ensemble, his compositional process, and how he built a musical community around his debut album Communal Heart.

On 'Cursed Month,' composer Lingyuan Yang uses microtonal intervals to create intensity without relying on volume or overdrive. As Yang explains, "Heaviness comes from the playing itself, not just the sound." Heavy Tonal — Lingyuan Yang's Harmonic Friction:

Today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast finds acclaimed clarinetist Glenn Dickson and electronic musician Bob Familiar discussing their remarkable collaboration on the album All the Light of Our Sphere—a unique fusion of acoustic clarinet and cutting-edge synthesizers …

Electronic composer Aho Ssan and cellist Resina discuss their album 'Ego Death,' the art of creative surrender, and how their partnership is centered on creative dissolution rather than individual expression. Aho Ssan and Resina Learn to Disappear Completely:

Thank you to Sounds for the Soul Records for once again including a track from my project Burning Dervish on one of their compilations.

Today's new episode of Spotlight On features Chicago-based drummer, composer, and activist Gustavo Cortiñas. He joins us to discuss his powerful new album, The Crisis Knows No Borders, which addresses climate change and global interconnectedness through urgent, dynamic jazz compositions …

On the album Worlds in Collision, mathematician-turned-musician Stephan Thelen fragments voices and field recordings according to the same geometric principles that govern his guitar compositions. Stephan Thelen Warms Up to Musical Mathematics: @fractalguitar.bsky.social

On today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast, guitarist Kim Perlak joins us to discuss her debut duo album Spaces with percussionist Francisco Mela, exploring how natural environments inspire musical composition and the beauty of classical guitar training combined with improvisational music…

What a joy to connect with this icon of the Montreal experimental music community.

In this episode of The Buzz, Bob Blumenthal speaks with two 2025 JJA Book Award winners: Jonathan Grasse (Jazz Revolutionary: The Life and Music of Eric Dolphy) and Elijah Wald (Jelly Roll Blues: Censored Songs and Hidden Histories). Have a listen.

Tonight was the opening concert of the 2025 Music in the Park concert series in Normandy Park, WA, with Brazilian artist Eduardo Mendonça. Have a listen. See you next Sunday.

Today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast features Terence Hannum, the multi-disciplinary artist behind experimental drone-metal trio Locrian. The conversation takes place as Locrian celebrates the anniversary reissue of their landmark album The Crystal World … @locrianofficial.bsky.social

I contributed three picks to All About Jazz's mid-year look at the best albums of 2025 (so far).

Using hardware store materials and spiritual guidance, Amina Hocine built an organ that breathes, complains, and refuses to be controlled. Her album 'ātamōn' captures each pipe's distinct personality in the reverberant depths of an abandoned iron mine. Constructing Amina Hocine's Breathing Machine:

I was asked by Latin Jazz Network to expand my March 2025 interview with Alex ‘Apolo' Ayala into a narrative piece talking about the connections between Jazz, Latin Music and Africa. So I did. I hope you will have a look and let me know what you think.

On today's new episode of the Spotlight On podcast, veteran guitarist Knox Chandler joins Lawrence Peryer to discuss his remarkable journey from New York's post-punk scene to Berlin's experimental music community, and now back to the Connecticut shoreline where he's creating his most personal work.

I have been playing with some ideas over the course of a couple of short essays. I am not done refining what I am trying to get across but this is the second and latest version. Have a look.

ESP-Disk label manager Steve Holtje found liberation from classical composition anxiety through distorted trombone and Phantom Honeymoon, his noise duo with theremin player Alexandra Beneski. Buzzing with Zen — Steve Holtje's Improvisational Honeymoon:

On today's episode of the Spotlight On podcast, John Andrew Fredrick, the prolific songwriter behind indie rock band The Black Watch, joins us to discuss his creative process, literary influences, and the energy behind his 25th (!) album, For All The World …

A technical failure erased the interview, but the spiritual dimensions of Armageddon Flower, Matthew Shipp and Ivo Perelman's forty-sixth collaboration together, prove more durable than digital memory Fragments of Revelation — A Lost Conversation with Matthew Shipp & Ivo Perelman: #jazzsky

I joined Sara Jayne Crow and Lawrence Peryer, fellow writers at The Tonearm, in paying tribute to Brian Wilson and the extraordinary worlds he imagined and then realized putting this one together was a bit of an emotional ride — I hope you like it @straypoodle.bsky.social | @lawrenceperyer.com

On today's new episode of Spotlight On, saxophonist and composer Ingrid Laubrock joins us to discuss her ambitious new album "Purposing the Air," which sets sixty brief poems by Erica Hunt to music across four distinctive vocal-instrumental duos … @ingridlaubrock.bsky.social | #jazzsky

Kevin J. Hayes's book 'Understanding Hunter S. Thompson' challenges the romantic narrative surrounding the Gonzo pioneer, revealing uncomfortable truths about talent squandered and assignments abandoned. Going Gonzo — The Complicated Work of Hunter S. Thompson: