Flea : Honora

Flea(aka Michael Balzary) has been a permanent fixture in the world of alternative rock for over 40 years, ever since the Red Hot Chili Peppers dropped their self-titled debut album in 1984. Flea has always been a standout in the band, taking slap bass straight into punk rock aggressiveness. But as the years moved on […]

Joel Ross : Gospel Music

In vibraphonist Joel Ross’ relatively short time making forward-thinking jazz records, he’s racked up an extremely impressive discography. Still only in his early 30s, Ross released his debut album Kingmaker in 2019 and has not slowed down since. With 5 albums under his belt(including his newest Gospel Music), Joel Ross has also become the go-to […]

‘Emergency!’ : The Tony Williams Lifetime

Tony Williams was my first jazz drummer hero. I discovered him on Miles Davis’ Nefertiti, which was the first Miles Davis album I bought. I loved his nuanced playing; intricate and informed while still having a lot of power behind the set. When Nefertiti was released in 1967 Tony Williams was all of 22 years […]

Complex Distractions Presesnts : Favorite Albums Of 2025 – Jazz/Ambient/Experimental

I’m kind of at a loss for words regarding the fact we’re about 2 weeks away from the beginning of 2026. It feels like we’ve traveled through an entire year; ups, downs, outs, ins, and everything in-between leaving plenty of emotional, mental, and even physical scars along the way. But to actually say “2026” out […]

SML : How You Been

SML is a supergroup of sorts. A supergroup for those in-the-know. Comprised of Anna Buttress(bass), Josh Johnson(saxophone), Jeremiah Chiu(synths, electronics), Gregory Uhlmann(guitar, sampler, electronics) and Booker Stardrum(drums), all of these amazing musicians orbit the worlds of modern jazz, experimental, electronic, and underground music. And all have recorded with each other in different projects associated with […]

Kronstad 23 : Sommermørket

Norway’s Kronstad 23 make music with a toolbox full of influences, vibes, and moods. Songs ranging from “Electric Miles” vibes to the hard-hitting grooves of Fela Kuti to the expanse of post-rock. The four-piece -which consists of Øyvind Vie Berg (keyboards), Aleksander Tøsdal Tveit(guitar), Eirik Rømcke(bass) and Hans Christian Dalgaard (drums)- make songs that feel […]

Makaya McCraven : Off The Record

For me, jazz drummer/composer/bandleader Makaya McCraven is one of the most exciting jazz artists(or any genre for that matter) making music today. Starting with his breakthrough record In The Moment from 2015, McCraven pushed jazz forward by recording improvisational live shows, then taking those recordings and cutting/pasting them into studio works. Essentially taking the raw […]

Ann Arbor…Live Music…Long Way Home

Nothing better than a three-day weekend. Well, except a 4-day weekend but I’m not getting stingy here. A three-day weekend was just what the doctor ordered. What doc? Umm…Doctor Detroit? My wife and I took Friday off and headed up north three hours to the great Michigan college town known as Ann Arbor, or “the […]

Nate Mercereau, Josh Johnson, Carlos Niño : Openness Trio

The sound of Openness Trio is the sound of futurism, experimentation, and of a band re-writing what a jazz trio can be. Guitarist/producer Nate Mercereau, saxophonist Josh Johnson, and percussionist Carlos Niño are no strangers to the worlds of jazz and experimentalism. They are among a small but powerful group of “new” jazz players that […]

Instrumental

Music has always been my escape. It’s been a soundtrack to life, both in good and bad times. It’s helped define for me who I am and what I want to spend my free time within. It was the thing that gave me purpose, and something to help me connect to others when my introverted […]