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Continue reading →: Hendrik Meurkens: Samba TontoCELLAR MUSIC (RELEASED MARCH 20, 2026) After reviewing several recordings with strong personal agendas (Willy Rodriguez’s reflections on grief, Brian Landrus’ thoughts on the unexpected nature of life and Javier Nero’s dive into his diasporic roots), it’s refreshing to enjoy a recording with a simple and uplifting agenda. As Hendrik…
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Continue reading →: Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra: AlkebulanOUTSIDE IN MUSIC (RELEASED MARCH 20, 2026) Alkebulan is nothing like Alkebulan. Let me explain. In 1972, Strata-East Records released Alkebulan, Land of the Blacks, a recording that featured musicians such pianist Stanley Cowell, percussionist Mtume, saxophonist Gary Bartz and others. Now comes Javier Nero’s Jazz Orchestra with Alkebulan and…
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Continue reading →: Brian Landrus: Just When You Think You KnowBLUELAND RECORDS 2026) RELEASED MARCH 20, 2026 Don’t expect saxophonist Brian Landrus to continue exploring the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn on his latest release. If you’re waiting for Landrus to return to the post-bop recordings of Everlasting and Deep Below, it’s not happening either. And don’t hold…
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Continue reading →: Bernie Senensky: DuosCELLAR MUSIC (RELEASED MARCH 13, 2026) Remember your eighth-grade chemistry class? Chances are, you were asked to combine two elements and document how they interacted. Well, that’s the basic principle behind Canadian pianist Bernie Senensky’s latest release. Duos combines Senensky’s bebop-infused playing with eight top saxophonists (six from Canada and…
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Continue reading →: Willy Rodriguez: In the Unknown (I Will Find You)SUNNYSIDE (RELEASED MARCH 13, 2026) Rather than recording an homage to his late mother, who he lost to cancer, drummer Willy Rodriguez opted to reflect musically on his grief and healing. Like his first recording, Seeing Sounds, Rodriguez’s genre-defying approach is even more pronounced on In The Unknown (I Will…
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Continue reading →: Daniel Carter/Steve Hirsh: ConvocationMAHAKALA RECORDS (RELEASED MARCH 6, 2026) The new release from multi-instrumentalist Daniel Carter and drummer Steve Hirsh is indeed a Convocation — an assembly of people called together for a meeting. In this case, Mahakala founder Chad Fowler called these two musicians together to explore what happens when you combine…
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Continue reading →: Michael Baird: No Dogmas AllowedSWP RECORDS (RELEASED OCTOBER 2025) (NOTE: This release just made its way to me and deserves a review.)When asked how to describe the music on his most recent release, drummer Michael Baird answered, “modern music.” He could have simply used the title of the release by saying, “It’s No Dogmas…
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Continue reading →: Carl Clements: RetrospectiveGREYDISC 3599 (RELEASED MARCH 1, 2026) Saxophonist and educator Carl Clements is an explorer. He has explored the music of India, Latin America and other genres throughout the world. On Retrospective, Clements and what he refers to as the Real Jazz Trio (pianist Jean Yves Jung, bassist Johannes Schaedlich and…
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Continue reading →: Ingrid Jensen: LandingsNEWVELLE (RELEASED FEBRUARY 27, 2026) In 2002, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen teamed up with pianist/organist Gary Versace and drummer Jon Wikan on her Project One: Now As Then release. Twenty-three years later, Versace and Wikan (who has recorded extensively with Jensen during the intervening years) return to the studio along with…
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Continue reading →: Adonis Rose/Phillip Manuel: Unusual SuspectsSELF PRODUCED (RELEASED FEBRUARY 27, 2026) Drummer Adonis Rose and vocalist Phillip Manuel have crossed paths several times intheir hometown of New Orleans. Manuel has been featured with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (directed by Rose) and Rose has appeared on Manuel’s two recordings. Unusual Suspects brings them together on…
Hello,
Welcome to Papatamus Redux
I started reading Cadence in the early 1980s. Since that time, I have come to respect editor and jazz critic Robert Rusch for his intelligent, succinct and unbiased reviews. Over the past twenty years, it has been my pleasure to get to know Robert and his family, making frequent trips from our home in Iowa to New York’s North Country. Several years ago, I was honored to be asked to help edit Robert’s Papatamus column.
I was equally honored to be asked by his family to keep Robert’s legacy of intelligent, succinct and unbiased jazz reviews alive with Papatamus Redux. You can view older editions of Papatamus at papatamus.com.
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