14 Jan
Live In New York, Magenta by Tsuyoshi Furuhashi
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Tenor saxophonist, flutist and composer Tsuyoshi Furuhashi was born in Mitocity, Japan. His background includes study with Takeru Muraoka and winning an award at the Mai…
12 Jan
Project Trio by Project Trio
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
PROJECT TRIO the third CD by the chamber ensemble from Brooklyn, NY is a glorious celebration of the music of our time. I say this in part because it is young m…
11 Jan
Mercy by Bill McBirnie Duo/Quartet (featuring Robi Botos)
Monday, 11 January 2010
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Toronto-based Flautist Bill McBirnie presents a handful of jazz and Latin classics in a whirlwind tour of everything from a cha cha version of Hubert Laws’ dynamic "Ball…
08 Jan
I'll See You In Cuba by Pablo Menéndez and Mezcla
Friday, 08 January 2010
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
"I'll See You In C.U.B.A." is the latest release from Pablo Menendez and Mezcla. It features a large cast of musicians and some very special guests. The one thing I can …
06 Jan
Lost In A Dream by Paul Motian
Wednesday, 06 January 2010
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Drumming legend Paul Motian is no stranger to trio sessions, given his historic work with legendary pianist Bill Evans, and bass-less endeavors with guitarist Bill Frise…
06 May
San Juan Collective by San Juan Collective
Wednesday, 06 May 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Even though the members of San Juan Collective are young musicians, they play with the maturity and music knowledge of veteran Jazz players. One can tell their jazz voca…
06 May
Le it Be...atles by Giampaolo Ascolese
Wednesday, 06 May 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Let it Be...atles is an interesting CD and DVD homage to the legendary British group The Beatles. Part of what makes this project different to other homages is the…
29 Apr
Elision by Ross Garren
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Pianist and composer Ross Garren currently lives in the Los Angeles area. A student of classical composition and jazz piano at USC’s Thornton School of Music, his accola…
24 Apr
Le it Be...atles by Giampaolo Ascolese
Friday, 24 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Let it Be...atles is an interesting CD and DVD homage to the legendary British group The Beatles. Part of what makes this project different to other homages is the reproduc…
23 Apr
Sunday Morning Santa Monica by Wen Mew
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Wen Mews Sunday Morning Santa Monica is a fabulous collection of Jazz and Bossa Nova tunes, all written by Wen Mew.Wen and partner Michael Parlett have the feel…
21 Apr
Dick Hymans Century of Jazz Piano by Dick Hyman
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
A painstakingly-accurate performance by a jazz repertory orchestra can leave you with the feeling that something is missing. A fact-filled chronological presentation of jaz…
21 Apr
Druidh Lacunae by Noertker's Moxie
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
According to the press release, contrabassist Bill Noertker "paints musical portraits of the natural and supernatural world." Essentially, this notion comes to fruition …
20 Apr
Twelve Pieces by Mike Mainieri and Marnix Busstra Quartet
Monday, 20 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
At the age of 72, Mike Mainieri isn’t the household name among the jazz public that he should be. He played his first professional gig on vibes when he was 14 as part of…
17 Apr
Say It Plain by Scotty Barnhart
Friday, 17 April 2009
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Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
The first sound from Scotty Barnhart's debut release, Say It Plain, a parade whistle, will make you sit up and take notice. Your attention is justified. Barnhart is …
16 Apr
First Day by Massimo Sammi
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
The Italian-born, Boston-based guitarist Massimo Sammi is currently a composition student at the New England Conservatory, where he's won the praise of giants such as Ran B…
15 Apr
Morpho by Gunhild Seim & Time Jungle
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
A morpho is a brightly colored butterfly found in tropical forests-an apt name for this CD by Gunhild Seim & Time Jungle. In fact,like a butterfly, this music has a free fl…
13 Apr
Moonlit Solace by Rick Washbrook
Monday, 13 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
There comes a time in everyone’s life when reflection becomes a natural order of things in getting from point "a" to "b." For some of us, it’s looking at old photo album…
10 Apr
Modern Times by Bobby Selvaggio
Friday, 10 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Bobby Selvaggio provides a formidable assortment of musical delicacies on his most current release entitled Modern Times. Selvaggio is a superb saxophonist whose …
08 Apr
Free by Ad Colen Quartet
Wednesday, 08 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Free is the title of the fourth release on the Sweet Briar Music label for the Ad Colen Quartet. Covering a wide-ranging scope of tuneful sound-vistas, this newly…
05 Apr
Skykomish by Craig Buhler
Sunday, 05 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
On Craig Buhler’s most recent release Skykomish, the multitalented reed player has taken a group of wide-ranging popular songs and deftly given them significantly…
01 Apr
The Childrens Suite by Phil Woods
Wednesday, 01 April 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
As a collector of oxymorons and other strange combinations of ideas (my favorite is "clean dirt," followed closely by "military intelligence") even I had never considered t…
26 Mar
A Bunch of Guitars and a Cello by Jeffrey Cashen
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
"The qualities in music which I considered most important -- and still do -- were beauty, simplicity, originality, discrimination, and sincerity." ~ Paul DesmondD…
23 Mar
Historicity by Vijay Iyer Trio
Monday, 23 March 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Pianist Vijay Iyer relates Historicity to "the simple fact of being placed in the stream of history," here, on this 2009 trio date. Holding advanced degrees in phy…
13 Mar
Jazz Icons, 4th Series, 8 DVD Set, Boxed by Jazz Icons 4th Series 8 DVD Set Boxed
Friday, 13 March 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Filmed in Europe between 1962 and 1970, this collection of outstanding DVDs features some of the most dynamic and legendary giants of jazz music in their heyday accompan…
05 Mar
Underdog, And Other Stories... by Ted Kooshian
Thursday, 05 March 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
The concept for most jazz albums usually occurs more conventionally, and as the result of solitary imaginative considerations, than those for Underdog, and Other Stories…
03 Mar
From Where I Stand by Bill Ortiz
Tuesday, 03 March 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Veteran Connecticut-based music critic, Ed Jennings, reviews From Where I Stand, A Diverse Musical Journey from Santana’s Supernatural Trumpeter, Bill Ortiz"Bill Ortiz’s de…
24 Feb
The New Village by Enzo Favata Tentetto
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Sardinian progressive-jazz saxophonist Enzo Favata may not be a familiar name on these American shores, but he’s consistently offered quality work spanning a few decades…
23 Feb
Remembering Weather Report by Miroslav Vitous Group
Monday, 23 February 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
It’s not just another Weather Report tribute. Here, original co-founder and bassist, Miroslav Vitous fronts an all-acoustic ensemble while revisiting the original concep…
23 Feb
From Where I Stand by Bill Ortiz
Monday, 23 February 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Bill Ortiz’s debut CD, From Where I Stand is positioned as "An amazing mix of Neo-Soul, R&B and Nu-Jazz, from the trumpet player of Santana."Listeners are in for a uniqu…
22 Feb
Little Princess by Tim Sparks Plays Naftule Brandwein
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Guitarist extraordinaire Tim Spark fuses a vibrant spin on traditional klezmer music set down by the once heralded "King of the klezmer clarinet" Naftule Brandwein, who …
18 Feb
Self-titled by Jacam Manricks Labyrinth
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
A PhD jazz educator, Australia reared woodwind artist and composer, Jacam Manricks calls New York City home. On this 2009 release, he employees a superior quintet and 40…
17 Feb
Tell It Like It Is by Mark Isaacs
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Beware of unintended consequences. Or, in the case of Mark Isaacs, be grateful for them. The Australian jazz pianist had recorded various trio albums, which included Austra…
01 Feb
Balance by Will Sellenraad
Sunday, 01 February 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Active within New York City’s fertile progressive jazz scene, guitarist Will Sellenraad’s third album featuring his venerable band-mates, imparts a cool, sleek, and guts…
25 Jan
Changes in the Wind by Brian McCree
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Changes in the Wind is the first album as a leader for Boston Jazz veteran Brian McCree. This is an album full of swinging and soulful music. The musicians on Chan…
20 Jan
The Childrens Suite by Phil Woods
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Sometimes a creative notion take a long, frustrating and winding path to completion, but sometimes the end result turns out to be even better than originally anticipated…
20 Jan
Changes in the Wind by Brian McCree
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Changes in the Wind is the first album as a leader for Boston Jazz veteran Brian McCree. This is an album full of swinging and soulful music. The musicians on Changes in th…
12 Jan
Blueprints of Jazz Vol. 1 by Billy Harper
Monday, 12 January 2009
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Talking House Records has issued three volumes of new material under the moniker Blueprints of Jazz, by artists who have made a huge impact, either as first-call ses…
25 Jun
Unsaid, Undone by Mosaic
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Mosaic’s stated goal is to create an original voice, performing in a range of styles; to be unique and experimental yet to remain accessible. In its first CD, Unsaid, Un…
21 Jun
Nocturne For Ava by Bob Sneider & Joe Locke
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Nocturne for Ava is a beautifully conceived and executed album. It adheres to guitarist Bob Sneider and vibraphonist Joe Locke’s idea of thematically producing a tri…
I first became aware of trombonist Samuel Blaser with the advent of his superfine, progressive-jazz date "7th Heaven for the Germany-based, "Between The Lines" record label…
14 Jun
Colter Frazier Quartet by Colter Frazier Quartet
Saturday, 14 June 2008
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
This quartet’s debut release follows two previous releases of Frazier’s and Wallace’s (Colton Frazier/Rob Wallace Duo.) The music is a unique mixture of jazz, classical,…
13 Jun
The Best is yet Come by Pirouet Jazz Compilation
Friday, 13 June 2008
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Tim Hagans - See you again Tim Hagans (trumpet), Marc Copland (piano), Drew Gress (bass), Jochen Ruckert (drums) Tim trumpet playing is powerful and intense, a cascad…
09 Jun
Let It Come To You by Taylor Eigsti
Monday, 09 June 2008
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
So when does a prodigy cross over to fulfill youthful promise and contribute to the progress of an art form? At what point did the precocious, classically trained Herbie Ha…
05 Jun
You Cant Buy Swing by Eli Yamin
Thursday, 05 June 2008
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
One of this reviewer’s joys: A new CD comes in featuring a relative unknown and-from the first listen-I'm elated as to how good it is. Such is Eli Yamin’s You Can’t Buy …
04 Jun
Heartfelt by Christian Howes
Wednesday, 04 June 2008
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Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
Christian Howes’ story is certainly inspirational and gratifying, for it involves a comeback from severe adversity through natural talent and unstoppable perseverance, even…
In Guitars, McCoy Tyner, the great pianist, teams up with five stringed-instrument players, each uniquely different, to produce a diverse, very listenable CD. The co…
21 May
The Pilgrim And The Stars by Enrico Rava
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
This reissue of the 1975 LP on CD format helps launch ECM Records Touchstones Series, comprising forty titles of rereleases all sold at an attractive, under $10 p…
16 May
Lobster Leaps In by The Microscopic Septet
Friday, 16 May 2008
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
As a follow-up to the CD reissues of the band’s four ‘80s released albums titled, Seven Men In Neckties: History of the Micros, Volume One and Surrealistic Swing:…
14 May
Outer Nebula Inner Nebula by David Hurley
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Published in
Various Jazz Styles - CD Reviews
San Diego, CA., resident and percussionist David Hurley’s 2008 release looms as one of my unanticipated favorites within the seemingly ceaseless expanse of experimental …
This new CD, Fade, by vibraphonist Tim Collins reflects a grab bag of styles all the way from contemporary rock to modern classical, including punk, blues and str…