back, forward

Via Doug Ramsey's blog Rifftides, trumpeter Malachi Thompson is dead at age 56. A peer of Lester Bowie's, Thompson's music is a wonderful reminder that so much great jazz embraces tradition and innovation at once. I only heard him once live, with one of Dave Douglas' trumpet ensemble projects, but his playing was riveting. Thankfully, he leaves a deep catalog of recordings. Gone far too soon.

Thankfully still working, Ornette Coleman's new album drops 9/12, and Destination Out has remarkably high-quality excerpts from the recent, soon to be legendary Carnegie Hall concerts. Worth the hype, and then some.

Both Rifftides and Destination Out join the blogroll today.