Haley Heynderickx I Need To Start A Garden Mama Bird Recording Co [2018] Fire Note Says: A striking debut album from singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx. Album Review: Portland-based singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx seems to have a strong understanding of the power of small details to make (or break) a musical performance. All eight of the songs on … Read more
Roots Magic Last Kind Words Clean Feed Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Roots Magic delivers hard-hitting interpretations of delta blues and free jazz classics. Album Review: Roots Magic is a quartet of Italian musicians: Alberto Popolla on clarinet and bass clarinet, Errico De Fabritiis on alto & baritone saxophone, Gianfranco Tedeschi on bass, and Fabrizio … Read more
Bill MacKay Esker Drag City Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bill MacKay covers a lot of ground on Esker. Album Review: The so-called “American Primitive” genre of solo instrumental steel-string acoustic guitar music generally is traced back to the recordings of John Fahey and other artists released on his Takoma Records label in the 1950s … Read more
The Angelica Sanchez Trio Float The Edge Clean Feed Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The Angelica Sanchez Trio’s 2017 release should not be missed. Album Review: If there is a downside to the abundance of incredible musicians currently working and recording in jazz and improvised music, it’s that it can be hard to keep up. … Read more
The Bad Plus Never Stop II Legbreaker Records [2018] Fire Note Says: The Bad Plus has its first lineup change in 18 years, and doesn’t drop a step. Album Review: With Never Stop II, released just 19 days after original pianist Ethan Iverson’s last performance as a member of the band, The Bad Plus has … Read more
Tomas Fujiwara Triple Double Firehouse 12 Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Tomas Fujiwara’s double trio stands out, even in another great year of recorded jazz and improvised music Album Review: Drummer Tomas Fujiwara has contributed to a number of great recordings in recent years, whether as a sideman or as a member of groups like … Read more