Articles by Dave Nathan

Jazz Comes to New Bern

by Dave Nathan
March 8, 2004

The 13th edition of New Bern's Annual Jazz Showcase sponsored by the Craven Arts Council took place on Sunday, February at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Marina. “Thirteen" was not unlucky for the jazz fans of this eastern North Carolina community who showed up for either the afternoon or evening session. They were treated to almost three hours of jam session, ear catching jazz performed by an outstanding front line of Ed Polcer on cornet and Jeffery Blain on tenor. ...

George Evans: Eyes for You

by Dave Nathan
January 20, 2003

Vocalist George Evans is getting the message. In a day and age where male balladeers come few and far between, Evans has been building up a body of vocal work relying on the tunes turned out by some of the top contributors to the Great American Songbook: Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn, Cole Porter and Ray Noble. As usual, joining him are some of the best Canadian rhythm artists on today's scene.. This time its Reg Schwager on guitar, Mark ...

Albert Burbank: Burgundy Street Blues

by Dave Nathan
January 2, 2003

Typically my reviews of Big Bill Bissonnette's releases on his Jazz Crusade label have been positive and affirmative. But on Burgundy Street Blues, Albert Burbank and his fellow players somehow get off track on several of the tracks. Despite the fluid clarinet playing of the leader and some fine individual efforts by some of the soloists, e.g. George Edward Stevenson (trombone) and Jack Fine (trumpet), the music seems to lose some of its juice by the time you get to ...

Gerald Kuhn: The Rat on My Piano

by Dave Nathan
January 2, 2003

For The Rat On My Piano, Gerald Kuhn has gathered an assembly of musicians curiously termed the Eclectrophonics Jazz Ensemble. These players have applied their varied styles and talents to music played in the manner of the 1950's and thereafter, from swing to pop to funk. This disc was recorded in California with tons of overdubbing, including the imaginative, melodic trombone of Kuhn laid down behind the syncopated beat of the leader and his cohorts. The upshot of it all ...

Kelly Harland: Twelve Times Romance

by Dave Nathan
January 2, 2003

Who says that good arrangements can't make or break an album? Especially on the initial outing from Kelly Harland, a fine fledgling vocalist from the active, burgeoning Northwest jazz scene getting her feet wet on her first record. The CD's opener, "Too Close for Comfort," is the beneficiary of an innovative, ear catching chart by pianist Ted Brancato, who plays his own model of counterpoint on this well known classic, giving it a special and rarely heard interpretation. In fact, ...

Cecil Hill: Swings His Thing

by Dave Nathan
December 13, 2002

Back in the heyday of the big band, critics, reviewers, jazz journalists, etc., spent a lot of time, mostly unnecessarily, categorizing most bands into two groups: smooth sounding aggregations, and the killer diller outfits who blew the roof off the house every time they took the floor. Of course, I'm talking about those bands (and this means most of them) which never quite made it to the to the level of Miller, Barnet, James, Ellington, Dorsey, Basie and those others ...

Peg La Centra: Peg La Centra - The Complete Recordings 1934 -1937

by Dave Nathan
December 13, 2002

In early 1930's and up to the 1950's, with the enormous popularity of the big band style of jazz, especially those bands which catered to romantic ballads, there was plenty of work for big band singers. While the outcome was generally very pretty and sanguine, there was a certain parallel to the music being played with the previous tune and the one that was to follow, e.g., the clarinet lead in on "Moon Face" was not an uncommon practice at ...

Jodi Stevens: Girl Talk

by Dave Nathan
December 2, 2002

Pull together a play list of well-established standards, sung by one of the top jazz cocktail performers from the Broadway circuit and backed by some of jazz's most imaginative and talented jazz masters from the Great White Way; add witty, clever and romantic arrangements; and the result is a CD that will catch and keep most listeners' attention. As added fillips, tack on inspirational sensations engendered by the 2002 Richard Rodgers Centennial, and the outcome is a CD that - ...

Barbara Carroll: One Morning in May

by Dave Nathan
December 2, 2002

There must be something in the water and soil of New York City which explains why that one discrete location can be the mainspring for the planting and harvesting of the many stylish, sophisticated and elegant pianists heard on Barbara Carroll's latest release, One Morning in May.

There has been a long line of these sophisticated, stylish, elegant producers of piano music - including Buddy Weed, Cy Coleman, Jimmy Rowels, George Shearing and Bobby Short - holding ...

Jesse Green: Sylvan Treasure

by Dave Nathan
December 2, 2002

More and more jazz CDs these days are being released with a track listing dominated by original works of the principal performer. Jesse Green has followed this path with his latest offering. The pianist augments his regular group with bassist Frank Hauch and drummer Bruce Cox, adding some of the most entertaining and technically dominating veteran jazz artists working in contemporary jazz these days. Guesting with Green is an assembly of extraordinary musicians who are responsible for a significant share ...