Needle Drops
A weekly exploration of essential new music, featuring immigrant stories, ECM piano meditations, and a thirteen-minute psych-rock opus from the heartland.
'The Jazz Omnibus' is Tomorrow's Jazz History, Written Today
From almost 90 contributors and 600 pages emerges 'The Jazz Omnibus,' the most ambitious collection of contemporary jazz journalism and photography assembled this century—rescuing essential perspectives from digital obscurity while documenting how we write about the music today.
Naomi Moon Siegel — A Wind Player Finds Her Ground
Naomi Moon Siegel's trombone compositions merge the musical traditions of urban jazz scenes with lessons learned in rural quiet spaces. Her new album 'Shatter the Glass Sanctuary' captures this musical evolution.
Dancing About Architecture with Caitlin Magee 凱琳
The acclaimed Australian-Taiwanese vocalist joins us to mark the latest release from her innovative jazz collective ZY THE WAY 中庸.
How Christian McBride Keeps the Jazz Engine Running
From his early days with Ray Brown to leading Newport Jazz Festival, the master bassist reflects on jazz education, the power of mentorship, and why being uncomfortable might be the best way to learn.
Live Event: Spotlight On Robert Anton Wilson, with Author Gabriel Kennedy
A live discussion and Q&A with Gabriel Kennedy, author of the book 'Chapel Perilous: The Life and Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson'
Needle Drops
The Tonearm's editors recommend under-the-radar new releases to zoom out of your speakers. Today's most intriguing albums reveal the global scope of contemporary music, from mountain-inspired ambient works to revolutionary jazz interpretations.
Daniel Fortin Finds New Voices on 'Cannon'
From Peterborough's vibrant arts scene to Toronto's jazz world, bassist Daniel Fortin has always followed his musical instincts. His new album reveals what happens when an artist lets go of preconceptions and allows collaborators to help shape the sound.
Dancing About Architecture with Dylan Jack
The percussionist, composer, educator, and organizer join us in advance of the release of the Dylan Jack Quartet's latest, WInter Panes.
How Outlaw Artists Led Erik Davis to America's Hidden History
A masterful investigation of blotter art weaves together tales of DEA agents, underground artists, and Grateful Dead shows. Davis's 'Blotter' examines how a simple delivery method evolved into a democratic art form that continues to elude mainstream acceptance.
Between the Lines of Dan Pitt's 'Horizontal Depths'
Toronto guitarist Dan Pitt returns this fall with Horizontal Depths, an album that pays tribute to Canadian jazz legend Phil Nimmons while charting bold new territory in contemporary jazz.
WORKS — Brooklyn's Most Patient Band Makes Their Second Album
Since 2007, Michel Gentile, Daniel Kelly, and Rob Garcia have done far more than practice. Their new album 'Scouring For The Elements' reveals how life, art, and community shaped their distinctive jazz sound.