We all know John Coltrane’s Giant Steps as the jazz milestone that turned every music school practice room into a proving ground. But behind the legend are lesser-known details that make the album even more extraordinary. From abandoned sessions to explosive breakthroughs, here are 5 facts about Giant Steps that will make you hear it with new ears.
1. The Original Version of Giant Steps Wasn’t the First Attempt—It Was the Second Draft John Coltrane wasn’t satisfied with the initial Giant Steps sessions recorded in March 1959. He had pianist Cedar Walton and drummer Lex Humphries in the studio—but the magic just didn’t land. Coltrane shelved the takes, and those early versions didn’t see the light of day until much later on archival releases. What we now consider one of the most definitive statements in modern jazz only happened after Coltrane regrouped with a different band and a clearer vision two months later.
2. Pianist Tommy Flanagan Struggled—Live—With the Now-Famous Changes The “Coltrane changes” that define Giant Steps are so harmonically challenging that even an experienced pianist like Tommy Flanagan appeared to falter during the first take. He hadn’t seen the music before the session and took a start-stop solo that felt cautious and unsure. Flanagan later re-recorded the song on his own terms for a tribute album—proof that even jazz giants sometimes need a second shot to conquer a monster.
3. The Album’s Title Track Was Named After Its Bass Line, Not Its Harmonies Although “Giant Steps” is synonymous with its infamous chord progression, Coltrane actually named it after the motion of the bass line. “It goes from minor thirds to fourths,” he said—creating what he called a “lop-sided pattern.” That quirky, bouncing bass motion was the foundation of the tune’s name and rhythm, emphasizing that groove came first—even in a song known for melting musicians’ brains.
4. Coltrane Rehearsed the Tunes with Cedar Walton at His Apartment Before recording the final version of Giant Steps, Coltrane gave pianist Cedar Walton early access to the music. They even rehearsed together at Coltrane’s own apartment. But when it came time to record the master take, Walton was absent. Whether it was due to scheduling or Coltrane’s evolving lineup choices is unclear, but the result was Flanagan in the hot seat with no prep time—adding a very human element to an otherwise cosmic session.
5. “Mr. P.C.” Might Have Been Inspired by a Gospel Tune Called “Shadrack” “Mr. P.C.” is often celebrated as a gritty tribute to bassist Paul Chambers, but Coltrane biographer Lewis Porter found a fascinating melodic connection: it echoes the 1931 gospel hit “Shadrack” by Robert MacGimsey. That tune was recorded by Sonny Rollins and sung by Louis Armstrong in a 1951 film. Whether conscious or subconscious, Coltrane’s nod to gospel traditions links his music to the deep roots of African American spiritual expression—making Giant Steps not just modern, but timeless.
So the next time you listen to Giant Steps, don’t just marvel at the tempo or the technical brilliance. Listen for the rough drafts, the quiet struggles, the gospel roots, and the unshakable feeling of a musician determined to break every boundary—one step at a time.
Tha Alkaholiks have released a bunch of singles from their forthcoming new album Daaam! – new versions of old favorites “The Next Level,” “Make Room,” “Only When I’m Drunk” and more.
Now brace yourself for “At It Again,” a brand new composition and performance that totally sums up the new album. For the notoriously spirited, hard partyin’ West Coast rappers really are “at it again” – back together in the studio for the first time in 10 years, and “at it again” as they revisit their back catalog alongside the new material.
With appearances from special guests Planet Asia and spookybands, Daaam! is both an intoxicating dose of 90s rap nostalgia, and an astonishing step into the future – and sometimes both, simultaneously.
Check out the new versions of Likwidation favorite “Hip Hop Drunkies,” or 21 & Over’s “Only When I’m Drunk,” and the years will just crumble away. But then spin “Hands 2 The Ceiling” or “MJ pt 2,” as well as “At It Again,” of course, and it’s the hiatus that never happened.
A lot of people have hung on for a very long time for a new album from Tha Alkaholiks, but Daaam! was worth the wait. “At It Again” proves they’re at it again, and they’re as too hot to handle (to quote “Hip Hop Drunkies”) as they ever were.
Djo – the musical project of actor / producer / songwriter Joe Keery known for his work in blockbuster projects as Stranger Things and Fargo – will release his highly anticipated new album The Crux this Friday, April 4th.
Before the album drops, he shares one final preview of the record with ‘Potion.’ Showcasing a different side of the record to the BBC Radio 1 playlisted single ‘Basic Being Basic’, and its Hottest Record In The World follow-up ‘Delete Ya,’ ‘Potion’ finds Djo in Laurel Canyon. “‘Potion’ is like your favorite pair of blue jeans,” says Keery. “I’d been working on Travis picking when I wrote this song, so it’s kind of like if Harry Nilsson and Lindsey Buckingham had a baby.”
Keery performed the majority of the songs on the entire record himself, but on this acoustic and falsetto-led track he is particularly front and centre, tackling vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, percussion and Mellotron.
Djo had a massive 2024 with the viral hit ‘End of Beginning,’ Spotify’s #6 most streamed song of the entire year, and 2025 is shaping up to be even bigger. He recently performed ‘Basic Being Basic’ on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he was also the couch guest, and will perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 14th. His massive world tour kicks off this Thursday with a fully sold-out North American run, and includes his festival debuts at both Coachella and Glastonbury, as well as a return to Chicago for Lollapalooza, and more. He will also play a few shows in EU/UK alongside Noah Kahan.
Djo – Back On You world tour 2025
*All North American, UK and EU tour dates w/ Post Animal
April 03 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall **SOLD OUT
April 04 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall **SOLD OUT
April 05 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall **SOLD OUT
April 07 – Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum *LOW TICKET WARNING
April 08 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre **SOLD OUT
April 10 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater **SOLD OUT
April 11 – Indio, CA – Coachella
April 15 – Pomona, CA – Fox Theater Pomona **SOLD OUT
April 16 – Del Mar, CA – The Sound at Del Mar **SOLD OUT
April 18 – Indio, CA – Coachella
April 19 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren **SOLD OUT
April 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rockwell at the Complex **SOLD OUT
April 23 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom **SOLD OUT
April 25 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee **SOLD OUT
April 26 – Saint Paul, MN – Palace Theatre **SOLD OUT
April 28 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre **SOLD OUT
April 29 – Toronto, ON – History **SOLD OUT
May 01 – Washington, DC – The Anthem **SOLD OUT
May 02 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner **SOLD OUT
May 03 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall **SOLD OUT
May 05 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel **SOLD OUT
May 06 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel **SOLD OUT
May 07 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel **SOLD OUT
June 01 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Olympia **SOLD OUT
June 02 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy **SOLD OUT
June 03 – Manchester, UK – O2 Victoria Warehouse **SOLD OUT
June 05 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town **SOLD OUT
June 06 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town **SOLD OUT
June 07 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town **SOLD OUT
June 10 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Poolen **LOW TICKET WARNING
June 11 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene **LOW TICKET WARNING
June 13 – Stockholm, Sweden – Annexet **LOW TICKET WARNING
June 15 – Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands – Best Kept Secret Festival
June 16 – Cologne, Germany – E-Werk ***SOLD OUT
June 17 – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys **SOLD OUT
June 18 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja **LOW TICKET WARNING
June 20 – Scheebel, Germany – Hurricane Festival
June 21 – Tuttlingen, Germany – Southside Festival
June 23 – Paris, France – Elysee Montmartre **SOLD OUT
June 24 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso **SOLD OUT
June 25 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso **SOLD OUT
June 27 – Cardiff, Wales – Blackweir Fields (w/ Noah Kahan)
June 29 – Pilton, UK – Glastonbury Festival
July 01 – Dublin, IE – Marlay Park (w/ Noah Kahan)
August 01 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza Festival
September 29 – Bridgeport, CT – Soundside Music Festival
The Beaches announce their third studio album, No Hard Feelings, out everywhere August 29th via AWAL. Furthermore, they treat fans to an early taste of what they can expect from the record with the single “Last Girls at the Party.”
“While you’re sleeping, we’re not leaving,” taunts the infectious chorus of “Last Girls at the Party,” lead single off the Beaches’ latest, No Hard Feelings. Frontperson and bassist Jordan Miller explains it’s a true nod to the band’s late nights: “We’re four crazy girls who like to have fun together, and are literally always the last to leave,” she laughs. But the sunny anthem also mirrors their careers in music: they’re outlasters, forever pushing toward adventure, riding the ebbs and flows of rock band life like certified rippers. What’s the hurry to head home before sunrise when the party’s this good?
Spanning 11 tracks, No Hard Feelings sees The Beaches at their most fine-tuned and brightest. From the bold and bright anthemic riffs of “Touch Myself” to the indie melancholy of “Lesbian of the Year,” the album is set to solidify the group as one of the driving forces of alt-rock today. Exploring the highs of nights out and lows of losing someone you love, No Hard Feelings is rife with the band’s signature witty lyricism, grungey tones, and unapologetic boldness.
“Last Girls at the Party” is a true party anthem, perfect for the warmer weather. Lead by a bright guitar hook and steady drums, singer Jordan Miller’s powerful vocals layered with her bandmates create the perfect soundtrack for a girls night out. The true standout of the track is the bridge, while Miller laments, “I don’t want to go home,” while the hook builds back into the catchy chorus, making it another stellar hit from the group. The Beaches will be hosting a series of DJ sets in celebration of new music, these private events are invite-only to those who pre-save the record.
Last Girls at the Party DJ Set Dates:
April 16 – Los Angeles
May 17 – London, UK
May 20 – Amsterdam
May 21 – Brussels
May 23 – Berlin
June 7 – NYC
August 2 – Montréal
THE BEACHES LIVE DATES
April 13 – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – Indio, CA
April 20 – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – Indio, CA
May 10 – The Pavilion at Toyota Music – Irving, TX
June 6 – The Governer’s Ball Festival – New York, NY
July 20 – Minnesota Yacht Club – Saint Paul, MN
July 29 – Churchill Park Music Festival – St. John’s, NL
July 31 – Kee to Bala – Muskoka, ON
August 3 – Osheaga Festival, Montreal, QC
August 7 – Sziget Festival – Budapest, Hungary
August 9 – Schanze Open Air – Hamburg, Germany
August 17 – Pukkelpop Festival – Hasselt, Belgium
September 20 – Shaky Knees Festival – Atlanta, GA
Multi Grammy-nominated vocal powerhouse Ryan Shaw and acclaimed pianist/composer/arranger Ray Angry (The Roots) have teamed up for OFF BROADWAY, a new studio album featuring R&B, soul, as well as jazz, rock, reggae, house and classical-inspired takes on classic Broadway hits.
With material spanning over 70 years, OFF BROADWAY is due out on May 2nd from Eusonia Records/FORM Records/Mister Goldfinger Music Group/Center Stage Records and is produced by Grammy Award-winner Scott Jacoby (John Legend, Coldplay, Aloe Blacc) along with Shaw and Angry. Angry and Shaw arranged the music, and Jacoby recorded and mixed the album.
Of OFF BROADWAY, Ryan Shaw comments, “OFF BROADWAY was the record I always wanted to make but didn’t know I wanted to make it. The whole process was a whirlwind of inspiration and incredible musicianship. I haven’t been this excited about music in a long time. Thank you, Scott, for seeing what was right in front of me.” Ray Angry adds, “OFF BROADWAY was an unforgettable recording experience. Everyone brought their ‘A game.’ What an honor to have the opportunity to work with such brilliant and kind human beings.”
Scott Jacoby avows, “This album is an explosion of two prodigious talents. Ryan and Ray are unparallelled in their virtuosity and unlimited in their ability. The project started as a “what if…,” inspired by witnessing Ray and Ryan perform together, and ended with something which no one could have predicted: a deep and adventurous album of Broadway gems, reimagined in a cornucopia of musical styles. OFF BROADWAY emerged from the energy that connects us all to music. I’m proud to have played a role in this innovative album.”
Center Stage Records President Van Dean states, “We are so pleased to partner with Ryan Shaw and Ray Angry on this bold reimagining of Broadway classics. What Ryan and Ray have created is so central to the mission of Center Stage Records, and we can’t wait to share OFF BROADWAY with the world.”
Ray Angry adds, “OFF BROADWAY was an unforgettable recording experience. Everyone brought their ‘A game.’ What an honor to have the opportunity to work with such brilliant and kind human beings.”
Center Stage Records President Van Dean states,“We are so pleased to partner with Ryan Shaw and Ray Angry on this bold reimagining of Broadway classics. What Ryan and Ray have created is so central to the mission of Center Stage Records, and we can’t wait to share OFF BROADWAY with the world.”
Shaw and Angry will again join forces for a very special New York City album release live performance event at 54 Below on Tuesday, May 6th.
Ryan Shaw/Ray Angry OFF BROADWAY track listing:
1. My Way – from Sinatra: The Musical
2. On Broadway – used in Smokey Joe’s Café
3. Surprise – from A Chorus Line
4. Gethsemane – from Jesus Christ Superstar
5. She Used To Be Mine – from Waitress
6. On The Street Where You Live – from My Fair Lady
7. Without You – from Rent
8. Waving Through A Window – from Dear Evan Hansen
9. Send In The Clowns – from A Little Night Music
Susanna Hoffs has released a new recording of “Eternal Flame,” the hit song she co-wrote in 1988 with Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. It was first released on the Bangles third album, Everything.
“I was inspired to sing it again!” says Hoffs. “As I stood before the microphone, I fought back tears of gratitude-for the opportunity to sing a song I have loved and cherished my entire adult life. We’ve grown up together!”
“I’ve been touched time and again by stories from friends and strangers alike who’ve expressed how much “Eternal Flame” has meant to them, whether the song played as they walked down the aisle at their wedding, or brought consolation. I still wake up each morning, motivated to sing, to write, to make art, and to find ways to connect. I’m still that same girl with that same emotion-older, and hopefully wiser.”
On April 9, Susanna will release a version of “Eternal Flame” with the chamber ensemble, yMusic. Her new solo album will be out this fall.
In an extraordinary resurgence, 90-year-old entertainment icon and philanthropist Pat Boone has returned to the music charts. The most recent in an ongoing release of singles and albums, “One – Voices For Tanzania,” debuts at No. 28 on the A/C Adult Contemporary chart, marking his first Top 30 hit in decades.
Boone’s last major chart success was in 1997 with In A Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy, which landed at No. 125 on the Billboard 200. The song is also receiving airplay on country radio, further broadening its reach and impact.
This accomplishment highlights not only Boone’s lasting influence in the music industry but also his unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts. “One – Voices For Tanzania” is more than a song-it’s a call to action supporting essential water projects in Tanzania, transforming Boone’s musical triumph into a dynamic force for global change.
The proceeds from the song aid in funding clean water initiatives and providing essential services such as food, health care, and education for the Tanzanian people. Thanks to a generous WorldServe donor, all contributions will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of each donation. Donations can be made at One for Tanzania.
If there’s one thing we know about Max Kerman—frontman of Arkells, champion of community spirit, and eternal optimist—it’s that he tries. Like, really tries. And he succeeds. And starting April 22, 2025, he’s inviting the rest of us to do the same with his debut book, TRY HARD, published by Penguin Random House Canada.
Funny, candid, and packed with lessons for anyone who’s ever wanted to start—a song, a side hustle, a new chapter—TRY HARD isn’t a rockstar memoir. It’s a creative guide from the guy who’s turned effort into an art form.
“I’m going to try stuff. So please come try stuff with me,” Max says of his release week events—and he means it. From a high school auditorium in Toronto to a neighbourhood bar in Hamilton, Max is turning traditional book launches into full-on communal experiments in curiosity and creativity. Each stop is a little different, but one thing’s certain: this isn’t your average Q&A. It’s a celebration of effort, energy, and the beauty of showing up.
TRY HARD Release Week Appearances
April 22 – Toronto, ON – Max’s High School Auditorium
April 24 – Calgary, AB – Calgary Word Fest, Central Library
April 25 – Winnipeg, MB – McNally Robinson Booksellers
April 27 – Hamilton, ON – ODDS Bar – Book Club Sessions
Max is giving us a look behind the curtain, and he’s pulling up a chair and saying, “Ask me anything.” From songwriting to show-prepping to building a band that lasts, TRY HARD is a conversation with your most enthusiastic friend. The one who reminds you it’s OK not to have all the answers, as long as you care enough to ask the questions.
The best part? None of it’s about talent. It’s about effort. Effort that builds careers, songs, relationships, and communities.
So if you’ve ever stared at a blank page, a guitar string, or a new idea and thought, “Can I really do this?”—Max Kerman has an answer for you: try hard.
Pre-order TRY HARD now at penguinrandomhouse.ca, and check out maxkerman.com for event tickets and info.
Because trying hard? That might just be the coolest thing you can do.
North Mississippi Allstars return with Still Shakin’ on June 6, 2025 via New West Records. The 11-track album was produced by Luther & Cody Dickinson. Still Shakin’ follows their acclaimed 2022 album Set Sail, which No Depression said was “their most soulful, funky creation to date.”
To make their twelfth album, the North Mississippi Allstars went back to the beginning—namely, their 2000 debut, Shake Hands with Shorty. Luther Dickinson says, “Still Shakin’ is a celebration of our life-changing first album, which we released 25 years ago, and a love letter of appreciation to everyone who supported us and kept us in the game all these years. Touring this album cycle into 2026 will mark thirty years since we started North Mississippi Allstars, and we couldn’t resist commemorating those anniversaries with a new record. In the spirit of our debut, we recorded Mississippi classics that despite inspiring us to start the band in 1996, we have yet to record. We also wanted to feature our fantastic band mates Joey Williams and Rayfield “Ray Ray” Hollman who inspire us to no end. Their contributions elevate NMA to new heights.” Still Shakin’ is a daringly inventive expansion of that album, showing how much the Dickinson Brothers have grown in the last 25 years.
The point wasn’t to re-create the sound of Shake Hands with Shorty, but to recapture that spirit of invention and excitement. Back in the day, the Allstars came up with the phrase Modern Mississippi Music to describe their collision of styles and attitudes: an obsession with Mississippi Hill Country and Sacred Steel cross-bred with their stoner/punk/psychedelic jams. Still Shakin’ embodies that idea with every note and incorporates wild explorations, weird experiments, and unexpected influences into their sound.
Today, Relix premiered the video for the album’s title track, which was shot at the family’s beloved Zebra Ranch Studio, Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studio, at the Boulder Theater, and features footage supplied by North Mississippi Allstars fans. Of the song, Luther Dickinson said “Still Shakin’” is a testament to our chemistry and collaboration with bandmates, Joey and Ray Ray. The music came together easily, improvising in the studio and I began recording the lyrics as they came to me, day after day, out on the road, in hotel rooms, using my kid’s plastic karaoke mic. The song is filled with inside jokes from the last 30 years and gratitude to our fans for keeping us in the game.”
SHARE NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS’ “STILL SHAKIN’” VIDEO
A collective of musicians by design, the North Mississippi Allstars have never had a set-in-stone lineup. Instead, as their name suggests, they’ve always welcomed anyone who might push the music in new directions. Still Shakin’ includes a new generation of North Mississippi musicians: Robert Kimbrough, son of Junior Kimbrough, and Duwayne Burnside, son of R.L. Burnside. It also features Kashia Hunter on steel guitar, Grahame Lesh, son of Grateful Dead founding member Phil Lesh (whom Still Shakin’ is dedicated to), as well as the current Allstars touring lineup: Joey Williams (the Blind Boys of Alabama), and Rayfield “Ray Ray” Holloman (Eminem, Ne- Yo). Luther adds, “We are proud to represent the Memphis Music Underground, the Community of North Mississippi musicians and be a part of the modern-day touring culture. We always keep one eye on the road ahead, in the moment at hand, while anticipating the future. The other eye is on the rear-view mirror, reflecting the elders and their repertoire night after night. Our music evokes home, which is nice, since we travel so much. The locations change but music itself is our constant. We look forward to the next 25 years of North Mississippi World Boogie.”
Luther and Cody Dickinson started the North Mississippi Allstars in 1996. They were inspired by their father, the legendary producer & musician Jim Dickinson, as well as their neighbors and elders, such as R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Otha Turner, and Fred McDowell. Luther’s first national tour was playing guitar for Burnside in 1997, when he was touring A Ass Pocket of Whiskey and selling out shows throughout North America. Luther says, “That experience blew my mind. R.L., Kenny Brown, and Cedric Burnside taught me how to tour. Cody and I have been on the road ever since.” Three decades later, the North Mississippi Allstars are still a touring force and will be throughout the US and Europe on the Still Shakin’ tour this year.
Still Shakin’ will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited red color LP edition autographed by the band, as well as a limited autographed CD edition will be available via Independent Retailers. A limited-to-600 yellow color LP autographed by the band will be available via Heady Wax Fiends. An autographed CD edition, as well as an exclusive & very limited silver “25th Anniversary Pressing” autographed by the band, are both available for pre-order NOW directly via NEW WEST RECORDS.
Still Shakin’ Track Listing:
1. Preachin’ Blues
2. Stay All Night (feat. Robert Kimbrough & Joey Williams)
3. My Mind is Ramblin’
4. Pray for Peace (feat. Joey Williams)
5. K.C. Jones (Part II) (feat. Jojo Hermann & Grahame Lesh)
6. Still Shakin’
7. Poor Boy (feat. Duwayne Burnside)
8. Don’t Let the Devil Ride (feat. Joey Williams)
9. Write Me a Few Lines (CD & Digital Only Bonus Track)
10. John Henry
11. Monomyth (Folk Hero’s Last Ride)
North Mississippi Allstars On Tour:
April 4 – Mills River, NC – High Gravity Room at Sierra Nevada Brewery
April 5 – Douglas, GA – The Martin Centre
April 6 – Jacksonville Beach, FL – Springing the Blues Festival
April 10 – St. Petersburg, FL – Tampa Bay Blues Festival
April 11 – St. Petersburg, FL – Tampa Bay Blues Festival
April 24 – Fort Worth, TX – Tulips
April 25 – Houston, TX – Rockefellers
April 26 – Austin TX – Austin Blues Festival
April 27 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
May 1 – Miramar Beach , FL – Sun, Sand and Soul
June 3 – Deventer, Netherlands – Burgerweeshuis
June 4 – Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg
June 5 – Venlo, Netherlands – Grenswerk
June 6 – Oss, Netherlands – Groene Engel
June 7 – Peer, Belgium – Blues Peer
June 12 – Ardmore , PA – Ardmore Music Hall
June 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl NY
June 14- Shirley , MA – The Bull Run Restaurant
June 15 – Fairfield, CT – Sacred Heart University Community Theatre
June 18 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
June 19 – Cincinnati , OH – Ludlow Garage
June 20 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI
June 21 – Evanston, IL – SPACE
June 27 – Waterford, MS – North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic
July 1 – San Sebastian, Spain – Dabadaba
July 2 – Barcelona, Spain – La Nau
July 3 – Valencia, Spain – 16 Toneladas
July 4 – Madrid, Spain – El Sol
July 5 – Cazorla, Spain – Festival Blues Cazorla
July 10 – Lewes, DE – Rocking The Dock Music Series
July 11 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head on Stage
July 12 – Johnstown, PA – Peoples Natural Gas Park
July 23 – Novato, CA – Cookout Concert Series @ HopMonk Tavern Novato
July 24 – Crystal Bay, NV – Gambler’s Run Music Festival After Party
July 26 – Fall River, MA – Narrows Center for the Arts
July 27 – Portsmouth, NH – Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club
July 28 – Big Indian, NY – Roots Rock Revival
July 29 – Big Indian, NY – Roots Rock Revival
July 30 – Big Indian, NY – Roots Rock Revival
July 31 – Big Indian, NY – Roots Rock Revival
August 1 – Big Indian, NY – Roots Rock Revival
August 14 – Austin, TX – Antone’s Nightclub
August 15 – Austin, TX – Antone’s Nightclub
August 16 – Humble, TX – Charles Bender Performing Arts Center
October 11 – Memphis, TN – Country Blues Festival @ Overton Park Shell
October 25 – St. Louis, MO – The Sheldon Hall
New York City is famed as the proving ground for aspiring jazz musicians, but the metropolis boasts unique challenges as well as singular delights for anyone who braves its bustling thoroughfares and soaring high rises. Trombonist Michael Dease and composer Gregg Hill both served their time in the urban jungle, formative years that provide the patchwork of colors and emotions that make up Dease’s latest album of Hill’s compositions, the multi-faceted City Life.
“We all become New Yorkers once we spend some time in the city,” Dease says. “Of course there’s that element of sophistication that we all rise to meet, but no matter how cultured you become, you can’t get away from the grit and the rawness that New York exhibits.”
Available June 20, 2025 via Origin Records, City Life is the third album that Dease and Hill have crafted together – this one staggering double album primarily focused on the compositions of the prolific Mr. Hill. Both feature the stellar rhythm section of bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, a first-time pairing whose bristling chemistry was a keen stroke of intuition on Dease’s part. For the second album they form the core of a remarkable quintet with pianist Geoffrey Keezer and tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover. Special guests include the trombonist’s daughter, Brooklyn Dease, and his former student, bassist Jared Beckstead-Craan.
These collaborators, and the carefully selected repertoire, bring out a different side of the acclaimed trombonist than many listeners might be used to. Dease is revered as one of the most versatile voices of his generation, but he’s best known as a modern-day torchbearer for the jazz tradition. City Life doesn’t deviate from that tradition so much as detour into some of its more adventurous pathways, with Dease displaying a more rough-hewn and fiery approach while maintaining his virtuosic agility.
“This project feels a bit like taking the gloves off,” Dease says. “It’s all based on that unpolished, risky feeling that you encounter in the city. These days I go back with much more money than I had when I lived there, but you still get sideswiped by a car, you still step in a puddle at the curb, you still get told to go to hell. There’s no way to escape that power that New York City possesses.”
Dease spent more than a decade as a New Yorker, though he’s now lived in Michigan, where he’s a professor at Michigan State University, even longer. It’s there that he met Hill, a native of central Michigan whose diverse career paths have led him across the country. The composer turned his attention to writing music relatively late in that eclectic life, but has chalked up an impressive catalogue of tunes in an incredibly short time, partially documented on nine albums between Dease, bassist Rodney Whitaker, and guitarist Randy Napoleon.
In addition to a dozen new Hill compositions, Dease contributed a pair of his own contributions to the mix, both complementing the mood of the session. He also chose a pair of lesser-known pieces by one of his musical idols, J.J. Johnson, one by the late guitarist Emily Remler, another by saxophonist Greg Tardy, and one by his frequent collaborator, composer Sharel Cassity.
A longtime admirer of Watts’ playing, Dease knew that Tain was the perfect drummer for the session; the two had gotten to know one another during the trombonist’s six-year stint in David Sanborn’s band. While he considered a number of veteran bassists who shared proven chemistry with the drummer, he ultimately chose Oh for her profound gifts as well as the element of the unknown that the pairing brought. Dease and Oh met while attending the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program, and the bassist later appeared on Dease’s 2014 big band album Relentless.
“Tain is sort of a musical representation of New York City because the city has so many sides to it. You need somebody that is fully dedicated to their art and open-minded enough to join different musical situations. Linda shares that compatibility, and she’s one of my favorite bass players, with such a deep sound.”
Keezer is another veteran of the Sanborn band, who Dease describes as, “another musical chameleon, who has a vast repository of urban experiences from Tokyo to New York to Los Angeles.” Glover, meanwhile, has rapidly established herself as one of the most vital saxophonists on the contemporary scene, as a leader, as a frequent performer with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and as a member of the supergroup Artemis. “Nicole’s sound and intensity are very commanding,” Dease continues. “She’s one of the leading voices on tenor of our times, and I knew she would capture the musical message of the record.”
That message comes through loud and clear, sophisticated and gritty, hectic and elegant, throughout these two wide-ranging albums. In other words, it vibrantly captures the kaleidoscopic colors and multifarious flavors of City Life.
