EL PAÍS

Miles Davis, a century of jazz’s great alchemist

Yahvé M de la Cavada — Tue, 26 May 2026 12:56:06 +0000

The whole history of modern jazz, from bebop to the end of the last century, can be told through his work—something that cannot be said of any other musician. Many artists sparked or led musical revolutions in different periods, but no one did so as often or as decisively as Miles Davis. Styles such as bebop, cool jazz, hard-bop, third stream, modal jazz, post-bop or jazz-rock, as well as various fusions with genres like funk, pop or hip-hop, cannot be understood without Davis’ legacy. Today, on the centennial of his birth, his importance has not diminished in the slightest, and the vast majority of his work—always at the epicenter of the musical earthquakes that drove jazz’s frantic evolution—retains the same freshness it had when it was created.

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John Zorn, the expansive universe of a jazz genius

Yahvé M de la Cavada — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:01:59 +0000

He’s about to turn 71, although you wouldn’t believe it. Whether he’s introducing the musicians who bring his compositions to life on stage, or playing his alto sax in a flamboyant and exuberant manner, John Zorn seems as active and lively as he was decades ago.

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Twisting the six strings: Guitars are once again electrifying jazz

Yahvé M de la Cavada — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 22:37:22 +0000

While swimming through the flood of new recordings currently being released by independent jazz labels, we discovered several projects that are reviving the role of the guitar within the genre, going far beyond its classic status as soloist. The electric guitar continues to be relevant in jazz, not just as the absolute protagonist of outfits going back generations, but also as the catalyst for authentic, high-grade musical moments that revolve around its six strings. Out of all the players in contemporary jazz guitar, we are highlighting three recent projects, each quite different from the others, but that share a series of essential themes in their approach to 21st century jazz: non-conformism, collective creation, harmonic freedom and, perhaps most importantly, the importance of sound: not only that of the guitar itself (as a transversal and intergenerational voice), but of the collective as artistic laboratory.

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Jon Batiste, the musician who beat Taylor Swift at the Grammys: ‘My new album is like ‘The Godfather Part II’

Yahvé M de la Cavada — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 19:07:52 +0000

Fifteen years ago, Jon Batiste visited Spain for the first time with Cassandra Wilson’s band. Back then, he was just a very promising jazz musician: a 21-year-old pianist with an illustrious surname for those familiar with the lineage of the jazz tradition in his native New Orleans. While unknown to most, his immense talent shined through every time he played. Today, Batiste, 36, is much more than a brilliant musician. He has become something that no jazzman, no matter how talented, aspires to be: a superstar.

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