Bill Milkowski
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DownBeat, author of "JACO: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius" and “0de to a Tenor Titan: The Life and Times and Music of Michael Brecker”
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Articles by Bill Milkowski
Simon Moullier: Ceiba
A A A The French vibraphonist-composer continues to impress with his captivating sixth release overall and third with his superb working quartet of pianist Lex Korten, bassist Rick Rosato, and drummer Jongkuk Kim.
Dr. John on the fight that nearly killed his guitar-playing dreams: “I looked down and saw the second finger of my left hand dangling by a thread”
He was a link in a chain of New Orleans pianists that includes Professor Longhair, Huey “Piano” Smith, Allen Toussaint and James Booker. But the late Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack started out as a guitar player in the early 1950s, intent on playing country blues until he was dissuaded from the idea.
Dr. John on the fight that nearly killed his guitar-playing dreams: “I looked down and saw the second finger of my left hand dangling by a thread”
Airbnb 11 hours ago ‘Beloved’ Mom, 25, Found Dead by Cleaner in Airbnb During Vacation. Her 2-Year-Old Daughter Was Discovered Alive Beside Her People - Toria Sheffield • 11h A mother on vacation with her toddler was found dead by a cleaner in their Airbnb. Ferne King, of Fife, Scotland, was found dead in an apartment in Durrës, Albania, a popular tourist city along the Adriatic Sea, on the afternoon of Oct. 8, according to Metro.co.uk and Albanian news outlets Report TV …
Helen Sung Big Band: Oracles
A A A Originally a classical piano student, Helen Sung discovered jazz in college. She’s released nine superb small group recordings before tackling this adventurous big band project. Her gift for arranging for this 17-piece ensemble is evident from the opening track, the up-tempo burner “Convergence,” which is brimming with intricate, contrapuntal lines and bristling with stellar solos from trumpeter Alex Norris, tenor saxophonist John Ellis, and the leader herself.
Mike Clark: Kuon Ganjo
A A A Drummer Clark tends to downplay the funky side of his playing, in spite of the fact that his signature inside-outside linear groove on Herbie Hancock’s “Actual Proof” (from 1974’s Thrust) revolutionized funk drumming. On Kuon Ganjo, his 24th as a leader or co-leader, he comes out of the gate swinging hard on Sonny Rollins’ “East Broadway Rundown” and maintains that loosely interactive, highly syncopated pulse throughout much of this superb all-star session.
A John Coltrane Centennial
Interview, From the Magazine, John Coltrane By Bill Milkowski I Sep. 22, 2026 “It was just that suddenly … I could hear it,” Ravi Coltrane said of an epiphany he experienced during his late teens regarding his father’s music. “And it was almost like a calling, like something saying, ‘Hey, man, come on. It’s time to get serious.’ And the first time you really tune in and dial in and focus like that, it can be very life-changing.” (Photo: Joe Alper) Editor’s Note: Tomorrow, Sept.
Chris Potter: Alive With Ghosts Today
A A A Regarded as one of the most influential tenor sax players of his generation, Chris Potter is perhaps at the apex of technical proficiency on his instrument. This suite, inspired by the story of abolitionist John Brown, is as ambitious as anything Potter has done since 2015’s Underground Orchestra project, Imaginary Cities.
Seamus Blake’s Electrified Tribute to Eddie Harris
Interview, From the Magazine, Seamus Blake By Bill Milkowski I Aug. 25, 2026 Seamus Blake has taken a deep dive into the music of Eddie Harris. “The more that I listened to him, the more I appreciated and recognized the diversity of his kind of talent.” (Photo: Kate Izor) The London-born, Vancouver-raised Seamus Blake, a role model for a generation of aspiring tenor sax players in Canada, recalls the moment he first plugged in.
In Memoriam: Rodney Holmes, 1966–2026
By Bill Milkowski I Jul. 22, 2026 A drummer’s drummer, Rodney Holmes gigged with everyone from Joe Zawinul and Carlos Santana to Steve Kimock and the Brecker Brothers. (Photo: Courtesy Meinl) Drummer Rodney Holmes, a powerful presence behind the kit who emerged as an in-demand player on the New York scene during the 1990s, died of cancer on July 11. He was just six weeks years away from his 60th birthday. The Bronx-born Holmes studied music in grade school while growing up in nearby Westchester.
Michael Formanek Thriving in his New Digs
Photo courtesy of Newvelle Records Since COVID, there has been a steady trickle of jazz musicians emigrating from the United States to Portugal. Alto saxophonist John O’Gallagher was one of the first American musicians to make the move to Lisbon in 2021. Brooklyn-born, Grammy-winning keyboardist-composer-producer and ’80s Miles Davis collaborator Jason Miles followed in November 2022. Pianist Aaron Parks moved with his family to Lisbon at the beginning of 2024.
“Jaco made a great contribution, but what came after was all these idiots trying to sound like him. That's why bass players today are so lame”: Bill Laswell gives his unfiltered verdict on modern bassists
Channelling jazz, dub, punk, and hip hop influences, Laswell remains an enigma of bass-playing history and has blazed a trail in creating his own unique style. “All I ever wanted was for a good drummer to say, ‘He’s bad. I wanna play with him,’” said Laswell in a rare Bass Player interview from January 1992. “There are guys beating up the bass and getting a bunch of notes out of it, but no one really plays great basslines anymore.
“Jaco made a great contribution, but what came after was all these idiots trying to sound like him. That's why bass players today are so lame”: Bill Laswell gives his unfiltered verdict on modern bassists
Roasted maple necks on a $185 S-style? Harley Benton’s refreshed and relaunched ST-Modern HH goes all-in on value Few things are certain in this world. But we all know the sun will rise in the east, tides will rise and fall, and if you wait around long enough, …
“I looked down and saw the second finger of my left hand dangling by a thread.” Dr. John on the fight that nearly killed his guitar-playing dreams — and set him on a new path to music immortality
He was a link in a chain of New Orleans pianists that includes Professor Longhair, Huey “Piano” Smith, Allen Toussaint and James Booker. But the late Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack started out as a guitar player in the early 1950s, intent on playing country blues until he was dissuaded from the idea.
Dr. John on the fight that nearly killed his guitar-playing dreams — and set him on a new path to music immortality
Bill Milkowski Fri, May 29, 2026 at 3:53 PM UTC 3 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Dr. John performs at Montreux Jazz in July 1973. He was enjoying success with his hit song “Right Place, Wrong Time,” which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 that summer..
A Taste of New Orleans with Adonis Rose & Phillip Manuel
News, From the Magazine, Adonis Rose, Phillip Manuel By Bill Milkowski I May. 12, 2026 “You cannot quit,” drummer Adonis Rose, right, told vocalist Phillip Manuel.
Horace Silver: Silver in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse
A A A Pianist-composer and hard bop pioneer Silver fronts a powerhouse lineup that stretches to the max on this exhilarating live outing. Transferred from the original tapes of a 1965 radio broadcast, Silver in Seattle hits with a kind of raw, visceral ferocity that is difficult to duplicate in the studio.
A Masakowski Family Affair
News, From the Magazine, Steve Masakowski Family & Friends By Bill Milkowski I Apr. 28, 2026 “If we travel to Europe or if we go play gigs around the States, I call it a ‘playcation,’” says guitarist Steve Masakowski, center, of his family band with daughter Sasha, left, and son Martin. (Photo: Noé Cugny) Guitarist, composer and educator Steve Masakowski has racked up an impressive list of credentials in his storied career.
Joe Pass: Portraits of Duke Ellington
A A A Round two of Analogue Productions’ historic Pablo Records vinyl reissues includes another classic by jazz guitar master Joe Pass.
DownBeat Reviews
Alex Skolnick Trio Prove You’re Not A Robot (Flatiron) By Bill Milkowski | Published January 2026 Guitarist Alex Skolnick, a member of the influential Cali thrash/metal band Testament from 1986 to 1992, began flirting with jazz after moving to New York in 1998. He formed his Alex Skolnick Trio in the early 2000s and has explored the organic fusing of jazz and rock over the course of five albums.
Martin Wind Makes His Mark on Both Sides of the Pond
News, From the Magazine, Martin Wind By Bill Milkowski I Mar. 24, 2026 The super group bassist Martin Wind assembled to play on Stars, from left: drummer Matt Wilson, clarinetist Anat Cohen, Wind and pianist Kenny Barron. (Photo: Anna Yatskevich) From his native Flensburg, Germany, where he was born in 1968, to establishing a lasting presence on the New York jazz scene, where he has resided since 1996, bassist and composer Martin Wind has amassed an impressive list of credentials.
Historical Review: Jazz Greats from Every Era
Review, From the Magazine, Oscar Peterson, John McNeil, Tom Harrell, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jaimie Branch By Bill Milkowski I Mar. 10, 2026 Roland Kirk circa 1963 (pre-Rahsaan) (Photo: DownBeat Archive) In DownBeat’s February 2026 issue, we reviewed a fine selection of historical releases from multiple eras of jazz.
Charles Lloyd: Figure in Blue
A A A Lloyd’s 12th Blue Note release, a 2-CD set, finds the 87-year-old jazz master in the company of guitarist Marvin Sewell and longtime collaborator, pianist Jason Moran. It’s the same drum-less trio configuration that he presented on a string of three Blue Note releases in 2022.
Mark Turner: Reflections on: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
Emerging on the New York scene in the early 90s, saxophonist-composer Mark Turner has attained respected elder status to hordes of conservatory students who emulate his postmodernist approach to his horn. He explores that unique language on this magnum opus. Named after the 1912 book by author and Civil Rights activist James Weldon Johnson, this compelling 10-movement suite incorporates Turner’s own narration of Johnson’s text, set in post-Reconstruction America.
Lettuce: Keepers of the Funk
Interview, From the Magazine, Lettuce By Bill Milkowski I Feb. 17, 2026 Lettuce, from left: Eric Coomes, Adam Deitch, Ryan Zoidis, Eric Bloom, Adam Smirnoff and Nigel Hall (Photo: Sam Silkworth) They were Berklee misfits.
“I looked down and saw the second finger of my left hand dangling by a thread.” Dr. John on the fight that nearly killed his guitar-playing dreams - and set him on a new path to music immortality | GuitarPlayer
Add us as a preferred source on Google He was a link in a chain of New Orleans pianists that includes Professor Longhair, Huey “Piano” Smith, Allen Toussaint and James Booker. But the late Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack started out as a guitar player in the early 1950s, intent on playing country blues until he was dissuaded from the idea.
“I looked down and saw the second finger of my left hand dangling by a thread.” Dr. John on the fight that nearly killed his guitar-playing dreams - and set him on a new path to music immortality | Flipboard
5 hours ago Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery to "stabilize" her leg on Sunday, just a few hours after she crashed at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The 41-year-old was airlifted to Ca Foncello hospital in Trevizo, Italy from the mountain in Cortina on Sunday, Feb. 8. "In the afternoon, she …
Shakti: Mind Explosion
A A A This last-ever recording by the East-meets-West ensemble that guitarist John McLaughlin co-founded in 1973 is dedicated to the memory of his late longtime partner, tabla master Zakir Hussain, who died in December 2024. Recorded during their triumphant 50-Year Anniversary tour of 2023, Mind Explosion showcases the members of Shakti stretching on material that appeared on 2023’s Grammy-winning This Moment and elsewhere.
Dave Douglas: Alloy
A A A Douglas’ 60th album as a leader or co-leader finds him in the company of fellow trumpeters Alexandra Ridout and Dace Adewumi, both rising talents on the New York scene. Grounded by bassist Kate Pass and Rudy Royston on drums, this sextet, also featuring acclaimed vibraphonist Patricia Brennan, explores fresh territory on eight Douglas originals. “Announcement: Vigilance” morphs from opening with a trumpet fanfare to some blues-tinged blasts from the leader over a loosely swinging pulse.
Dave McMurray’s Love for Life
Interview, From the Magazine, Dave McMurray By Bill Milkowski I Jan. 13, 2026 “It’s a positive record for me because I was trying to give some inspiration, more so than anything,” says Dave McMurray of his new album. (Photo: Joe Vaughan) Detroit saxophonist Dave McMurray still has deeply felt youthful memories of making the pilgrimage to Baker’s Keyboard Lounge on Livernois Avenue near Eight Mile Road.
Christian McBride Big Band: Without Further Ado Vol. 1
A A A For Christian McBride’s fourth big band outing, a bevy of guest vocalists assist him in reimagining pop and jazz classics. Fans of the Police will instantly recognize the distinctive voice of Sting on the opener, a 60s-styled big band rendering of the group’s “Murder by Numbers,” with guitarist Andy Summers punctuating with signature slashing chords.
Abstract Logix Celebrates Fusion-Tinged Independence
By Bill Milkowski I Jan. 6, 2026 Souvik Dutta calls Abstract Logix his side hustle, one that allows him to work with some of the greatests fusion artists in the world. (Photo: Courtesy Souvik Dutta) Growing up in Calcutta, Souvik Dutta had the usual exposure to Indian classical music in his home.
Roger Glenn’s Latin Heart
News, From the Magazine, Roger Glenn By Bill Milkowski I Dec. 16, 2025 “I stand on the shoulders of some really great people who contributed to this world, musically, and I am passing it on to the next generation,” says multi-instrumentalist Roger Glenn.
Fred Hersch: The Surrounding Green
A A A With more than 60 recordings as a leader, including three for Manfred Eicher’s label (all recorded in Lugano’s acousticall brilliant Auditorio Stelio Molo), Hersch has by now established himself as one of the preeminent piano voices of his generation. On The Surrounding Green Hersch is joined by stalwart bassist Drew Gress and Joey Baron, one of the most creative and intuitive drummers on the scene for decades, and together the trio achieves a rare and refined groupthink.
Abstract Logix Celebrates Fusion-Tinged Independence
By Bill Milkowski I Dec. 2, 2025 Souvik Dutta calls Abstract Logix his side hustle, one that allows him to work with some of the greatest fusion artists in the world. (Photo: Courtesy Souvik Dutta) Growing up in Calcutta, Souvik Dutta had the usual exposure to Indian classical music in his home.
Gonzalo/Chris/Eric/Larry: First Meeting: Live at Dizzy’s Club
A A A The brainchild of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jason Olaine, who booked the supergroup into Dizzy’s Club in August 2022, this First Meeting between Cuban piano virtuoso Gonzalo Rubalcaba, tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, bassist Larry Grenadier, and drummer Eric Harland is full of fireworks while also showcasing the musicians’ freewheeling chemistry together.
Critic’s Choice: Kurt Rosenwinkel
Each year, JAZZIZ asks its critics, contributors and editors to sift through the recordings they’ve listened to over the previous 12 months (give or take) and come up with a list of their 10 favorites. We also ask them to select one recording that rose above the rest and write a brief explanation of why... You must be a member to access this content. Already a member? Log in here
In Memoriam: Anthony Jackson, 1952-2025
By Bill Milkowski I Oct. 29, 2025 Bassist Anthony Jackson, a consummate accompanist, renowned virtuoso and ubiquitous session player with more than 500 recordings to his credit, died at his home on Staten Island on Oct. 19 from Parkinson’s disease. He was 73.
In Memoriam: Anthony Jackson, 1952-2012
By Bill Milkowski I Oct. 29, 2025 Bassist Anthony Jackson, a consummate accompanist, renowned virtuoso and ubiquitous session player with more than 500 recordings to his credit, died at his home on Staten Island on Oct. 19 from Parkinson’s disease. He was 73.
Jaleel Shaw: Painter of the Invisible
A A A The potent alto saxophonist and longtime member of Roy Haynes’ Fountain of Youth Band opens on a mellifluous note with “Good Morning,” a callback to John Coltrane’s uplifting “Dear Lord.” From there, Shaw and his seasoned crew—pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Ben Street, and dynamic drummer Joe Dyson—go on a journey together, exploring Black life through themes of joy, grief, beauty, social justice, and ancestral wisdom.
Joe Lovano: Homage
Lovano’s second encounter with a Polish trio led by pianist Marcin Wasilewski is far more ethereal and abstract than the bulk of his 20-plus outings for the Blue Note label. In the company of Wasilewski, bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz, and drummer Michal Miskiewicz, Lovano leaves his bebop/hard bop roots behind in order to explore with impunity in an adventurous setting, just as he had done on their 2020 outing together, Arctic Riff.
The Slyly Ambiguous Music of The Wood Brothers
By Bill Milkowski I Sep. 30, 2025 Through nine studio recordings since 2006, along with two live albums, The Wood Brothers — guitarist Oliver and bassist Chris — have established the kind of indelible chemistry that only comes from being siblings. Think the Louvin Brothers, Everly Brothers, Vaughan Brothers, even the Brecker Brothers. The bond that comes from that blood connection is undeniable, often translating to extra-musical results.
Chilling at the Lake George Jazz Festival
By Bill Milkowski I Sep. 23, 2025 It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful setting for an outdoor jazz festival than what Lake George, located in the scenic Adirondacks of upstate New York, has offered for over 40 years. The bandstand, situated at the bottom of a natural amphitheater overlooking the lake in Shepard Park, has no back wall, so audiences see right past the performers to a backdrop of swimmers, kayakers and boaters, all cavorting on the crystal clear waters of Lake George.
Dave Stryker: Stryker with Strings Goes to the Movies
A A A The veteran guitarist joins forces with arranger-conductor Brent Wallarab on this tour through familiar movie themes. Stryker’s core group of pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Jeremy Allen, and drummer McClenty Hunter is augmented by eight horns and a 17-piece string section.
Joe Satriani & Steve Vai: Life, Lessons & Friendship
Interview, From the Magazine, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai By Bill Milkowski I Jul. 15, 2025 They are the offspring of Jimi Hendrix, forever changed by hearing “Purple Haze” and “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” while growing up on Long Island during the ’60s.
Oscar Peterson Quartet: City Lights: Live in Munich, 1994
Recorded while he was still recovering from a stroke the previous year that had rendered his left hand useless, it seems apparent from the outset that piano master Peterson may have lost something off his fast ball on this 1994 concert from Munich. He lays back on the opener, an uptempo rendition of “There Will Be Another You,” allowing guitarist Lorne Lofsky to solo first and dominate the track as he comps lightly and politely behind him.
Robin Nolan’s Gypsy Jazz Spin on George Harrison
News, From the Magazine, Robin Nolan By Bill Milkowski I Jul. 8, 2025 It was through a masterstroke of serendipity that Dutch guitarist Robin Nolan came to meet ex-Beatle George Harrison 30-plus years ago. A devout Djangophile, Nolan was playing gypsy jazz tunes on the streets of Amsterdam back in 1994 and hawking CDs of his trio that he had pressed up just for these busking occasions.
Critic’s Pick: Franco Ambrosetti
Each year, JAZZIZ asks its critics, contributors and editors to sift through the recordings they’ve listened to over the previous 12 months (give or take) and come up with a list of their 10 favorites. We also ask them to select one recording that rose above the rest and write a brief explanation of why... You must be a member to access this content. Already a member? Log in here
Rez Abbasi: Acoustic Dreams
On his 17th album as a leader, the deeply personal Sound Remains, Rez Abassi expands his Acoustic Quartet to a quintet and finds new expression on his steel-string acoustic. By Bill Milkowski During the past 30 years of his remarkably productive career, New York-based guitarist, composer and arranger Rez Abbasi has explored a myriad of... You must be a member to access this content. Already a member? Log in here
Out Of/Into: Motion I
A A A Since being reactivated in 1984, Blue Note Records has from time to time assembled all-star bands featuring artists from its roster. In the mid-80s, it was OTB (Out of the Blue), which introduced alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett. The late 80s saw the formation of Superblue, an octet including saxophonist Bobby Watson, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, and pianist Mulgrew Miller. Other all-star ensembles followed—New Directions in the late 90s, the Blue Note 7 in 2008, and the Blue Note All-Stars in 2014.
Anat Cohen Quartetinho: Bloom
A A A A follow-up to 2022’s alternately engaging, mysterious, joyful, and uplifting Quartetinho, Bloom finds the Israeli clarinet virtuoso Cohen back together with her Brooklyn-based comrades (bassist Tal Mashiach, keyboardist-accordionist Vitor Gonçalves, and vibraphonist-percussionist James Shipp) on a varied program of buoyant originals by each member of the band.
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