Tag Archives: Jazz
Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge – Gary Bartz JID006
Spaced out jazzy jams featuring the one and only saxophone legend Gary Bartz. Layered production from Younge and Muhammad and intricate grooves from Greg Paul create a lush soundscape for Bartz’s improvisation, which takes up the majority of the record. Track Picks: 1, 3, 6 FCC: Clean RIYL: Return to Forever, DOMi and JD BECK, […]
Bayou
A mix of classical/jazz/folk, some with voice–for piano, drums, clarinet, voice. Quiet and slow, mostly. Exploratory music by Stronen, Tanaka & Lee, the performers.
Ferenc Snetburger–Titok
Contemporary, gracious, jazz pieces for guitar, double bass and drums. Play!
Kind of Jazz
“Classical” Jazz as composed and popularized by Gershwin, especially, and Horovitz, Schulhoff, Bernstein and others, for clarinet and piano. PLay!
Ben Monder–Amorphae
Ambient works for electric guitar, drums and synthesizer, both Classical/avant-garde and Jazz/avant-garde. Play!
covered
Robert Glasper and his trio cover rock songs in their jazz vibe on COVERED. FCC: None PLAY: 3, 7, 8 RIYL: Ben Williams
Lenny Pickett with the UMO Jazz Orchestra (Random Act) “The Prescription”
Lenny’s back !!! From the monster sax soloing with the 1970’s edition of the band Tower of Power to the years on tv’s SNL band, this soul drippin’, B&B infused saxophone master of the altissimo register can play notes only dogs can hear. Here he’s testifying with Finland’s UMO (founded 1975) doing 8 of his […]
Gregory Porter/ Donald Smith/ Mansur Scott (PAO) “Great Voices of Harlem”
From the deep cultural well that is way uptown NYC come three stirring voices. Grammy star Porter can bring to mind BB King or Marvin Gaye but he is his own soulful self. The 2 elders here, Mr. Smith and Mansur may be less ‘marketable’ in today’s music biz but they are the real roots […]
People (Telegraph Harp) ” 3x A Woman “
Where does this belong…?? Never mind, we’ll give it a home in Jazzville even though tracks #1 and #6 sound like a Chamber Brass ensemble. The brass also make appearances on two of the songs (2 and 4). Songs run the gamut from Dada to Art/ alt./ punk rock and beyond. #13 is a […]
Trio Amalgamate (Composers Concordance) “Trio Amalgamate”
With more than 400 compositions spanning many genres and projects, boundary dissolving guitarist Pritsker and cohorts bring many moods/colors to this electric guitar / elec. 7 string bass / drums session. Wide Net Fusion. Compositions by all three players with help from Mozart (yeah, that one) on #3 which also features the disc’s only vocal […]
John Zorn (Tzadik) “In the Hall of Mirrors”
Music composed by the prolific Mr. Zorn for piano trio, here expertly rendered by a protean threesome of players. Beauty, mystery, dark rumblings…. An intriguing and rewarding listen if you leave your preconceptions at the door.
Many Arms (Tzadik) “Suspended Definition”
Philly/ NY based power trio here joined by saxist Colin Fisher (tenor & baritone). Metallic Punk meets Ayleresque free jazz fury. This amazing CD features music that can peel paint. It will certainly take you to a new place. Track #4 is probably the least jarring for those not familiar with these sonic territories.
Steve Lehman Octet (PI Recordings) “Mise en Abime”
Alto saxist / composer Lehman is back again with a pulsating octet. Thickly layered improvised music that showcases the skills of all involved. Wonderfully twisted compositions (7 of the 8 are originals). All soloists shine. Excellent. (DC)
Bobby Hutcherson / David Sanborn / Joey DeFrancesco (Blue Note) “Enjoy the View”
A quartet featuring Billy Hart on drums swings through 7 band member originals. Bobby still plays with youthful vigor that radiates throughout the band. Joey also plays trumpet & Mr. Hart’s drumming is as fluid as ever. (DC)
John Zorn (Tzadik) “Alastor: Book of Angels vol. 21”
Avant-garde composer Zorn and his band Masada take another step into the world of new Jewish music. Influenced by Ornette, this radical and powerful music transports one to the Holyland. It has a classical feel that reveals more with each listen. (DC)
Joshua Redman (Nonesuch) “Trios Live”
Mr. Redman leads 2 different trios on Live dates from 2009 and 2013. Whether on tenor or soprano, his playing is fluid with a constant aggressiveness that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. On all tracks, Gregory Hutchinson (drums) is a fine compliment to Joshua’s wonderful playing. 3 originals and covers of Monk, […]
Bria Skonberg (Random Act) “Into Your Own”
Bria is a trumpeter/ composer / singer steeped in the early New Orleans jazz tradition. She hails from British Columbia and is now based in NYC. Here she adds pop oriented songs that she wrote plus nods to Stevie Wonder (#2), John Lennon (#7) and Jelly Roll Morton’s “Whinin’ Boy”. Her fine trumpet work and […]
Ted Rosenthal Trio (Playscape) “Rhapsody in Gershwin”
Ted’s equal facility in playing Jazz and Classical music puts him in the perfect place for this project. The skillful re-arrangement of “Rhapsody in Blue” includes intriguing sections of stride/ blues/ mambo and the personalized stamp of his improvising. The other 7 pieces are adept ( and at times witty) renditions of some of the […]
Dave Stryker (Strikezone) “Eight Track”
Soulfully swingin’ renditions of 60’s/70’s pop tunes in the style of that era’s guitar/organ jazz combos, with additional improvisational interest provided by Stefon Harris’ Vibes. Nice variety of tempo ….(the slower tracks are #’s 5 and 8)
Lotz of Music (VIA) “Blues For Yemaya”
The quintet ‘Lotz of Music’ , led by German flutist /composer Mark Alban Lotz in collaboration with musicians in Havana, Cuba (mostly percussion & voice) who are deeply connected to the Santeria Tradition. Recorded in Havana in April of 1997. Mucho Ache ! Authentic re-interpretations of prayer-songs from a powerful Afro-Cuban Sacred Tradition.
Signal Problems (pfMentum) “Signal Problems”
Trumpeter / Composer Danny Gouker and 3 mates who started playing together in the Baltimore area a few years ago and have since relocated to Brooklyn N.Y. Very much in this musical moment while taking inspiration from past masters who were not only fine , original players/composers but were able to put together ‘one-of-a-kind’ ensembles […]
The Awakening Orchestra (Innova) “Vol. 1: This Is Not the Answer”
Not your typical Jazz Big Band recording. One moment the rhythm section is up-front with a soloist….various motives bubbling in the other instruments in the background….then the entire ensemble is roaring to a huge climax. The music seems to follow a dramatic arc, almost as if a story line is woven as a connecting thread […]
Jean-Philppe Gregoire (Big Round Records) “Sounds From The Delta”
J-P G.’s Quartet (Paris based, 3 Frenchman, 1 Belgian) plays 8 Gregoire originals & 2 covers (9 & 10). The leader has an attractive guitar sound and uses effects judiciously. As a composer, his pieces are varied in feeling. From uptempo cookers (1 ,3, 5 and 7) to the laid-back…including a solo guitar feature on […]
Joe LoCasio and Woody Witt (Blue Bamboo) “Absinthe”
A paired-down , straight ahead homage to the music of Billy Strayhorn. The duo setting invites focus on the beauty of Strayhorn”s music , while the clarity of these works highlights the talents of these two accomplished Houston, Tx based improvisers.
Project Trio (Project Trio, Harmonyville) “Instrumental”
Brooklyn N.Y. based Chamber Trio whose music exhibits influence from many genres. There’s an attractive feeling of lightness, joy and fun. 2 ‘Classical’ covers (1 & 11) , a Brazilian Choro (6) and the rest are originals by the group members. Patillo (flute) often uses the breathy, vocal-inflected approach (ALA Rahsaan or Ian Anderson […]
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