Kevin Whitehead

Kevin Whitehead is the jazz critic on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Widely written on American and improvised musics, Whitehead's articles have appeared in publications such as the Chicago Sun-Times, Village Voice, and Down Beat. He is the author of Why Jazz: A Concise Guide (2010) and New Dutch Swing (1998), and the jazz columnist for eMusic.com. His essays have appeared in numerous anthologies including Da Capo Best Music Writing 2006, Jazz: The First Century and The Cartoon Music Book.

Whitehead taught at the University of Kansas and Goucher College. He lives outside of Austin, Texas.

Ron Miles Finds Wide-Open Spaces On 'Quiver'

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Credit John Spiral

For Ron Miles, the better he knows how a tune works, the less he has to play to put it across.

Credit

cover for Quiver

By Kevin Whitehead

Originally published on Thu October 11, 2012 12:19 pm

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Teaching jazz history got trumpeter Ron Miles deep into the pleasures of early jazz, with its clarity of form and emphasis on melodic improvising that doesn't wander far from the tune.

9:59 am

Wed September 26, 2012

After 26 Years, The Sam Rivers Trio Resurfaces

Credit Ken Weiss / Courtesy of the artist

Sam Rivers' trio with Dave Holland and Barry Altschul (not pictured) recently released its 2007 reunion show on CD.

By Kevin Whitehead

Originally published on Wed September 26, 2012 11:12 am

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Jazz multi-instrumentalist Sam Rivers, who died at 88 in December 2011, recorded with many trios in the 1970s. But his most celebrated trio was barely recorded at all. In 2007, it played a reunion concert — its first in 26 years.

6:48 am

Fri September 21, 2012

Vince Guaraldi Didn't Just Play For 'Peanuts'

Credit Courtesy of the artist

Vince Guaraldi had range, as well as an instrumental hit right when jazz was vanishing from AM radio.

By Kevin Whitehead

Originally published on Fri September 21, 2012 9:57 am

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There must have been times in 1963, when Vince Guaraldi was riding high on his surprise hit "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," when he thought, "This is what I'll be remembered for." Not that he minded. He said taking requests for the tune was like signing the back of a check. The song's got a great hook tied to a poppy, uplifting chord sequence.

10:00 am

Tue September 18, 2012

Brad Mehldau: (Unlikely) Songs By Other People

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Credit Michael Wilson / Courtesy of the artist

Brad Mehldau's latest covers project, Where Do You Start, came out Tuesday.

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cover for Where Do You Start

By Kevin Whitehead

Originally published on Tue September 18, 2012 4:23 pm

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At this point, there's nothing special about jazz musicians playing post-Beatles pop: It's just the new normal. But one of the trendsetters on that score was pianist Brad Mehldau and his versions of Radiohead and Nick Drake tunes. Now, Mehldau's trio has a new covers album out.

9:03 am

Mon September 3, 2012

Miguel Zenon And Laurent Coq Play 'Hopscotch'

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Credit Courtesy of the artist

Miguel Zenon.

Credit Courtesy of the artist

Laurent Coq.

By Kevin Whitehead

Originally published on Mon September 3, 2012 11:57 am

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The new quartet album by alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón and pianist Laurent Coq is called Rayuela, which means "hopscotch." It's named for Julio Cortázar's novel, the fragmented tale of a wandering bohemian and his social circles in Parisian exile, as well as back home in Buenos Aires.

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9:47 am

Thu October 11, 2012