The month of May will be devoted to an experiment, or perhaps a mere foolhardy gesture, on this blog. Every day, a review of a new(ish) jazz CD will be posted. Some of these will be releases from small labels like Clean Feed, Rune Grammofon, Ayler and Posi-Tone, but others will be self-released. All the CDs have been chosen precisely for their relatively low profile; artists on Pi, Thirsty Ear, AUM Fidelity and other imprints that already get a decent share of attention from the jazz press are ineligible. This is 100% about bringing to public attention music that would otherwise disappear into the void – the kind of discs jazz critics get in the mail and, almost without exception but frequently with some regret, dump on the discard pile knowing that no editor will accept a review, let alone a feature.
Before the impression that this is some kind of charity effort sinks in too deeply, let me state unequivocally that positive reviews are not guaranteed. This is about a level playing field, not affirmative action.
See you May 1!
