Articles by William Carey
Matthew Shipp: Elastic Aspects
by William Carey
There is a moment fairly early on in pianist Matthew Shipp's Elastic Aspects, when the solo piano that has been hypnotizing for several minutes ends and is replaced by a rather angry and anxious sounding bass, bowed fervently by trio mate Michael Bisio. It is startling, and is soon replaced by the feathery light drumming of Whit Dickey, with Shipp pecking intermittently. Bisio then rejoins his partners, sounding nimble and agile, pizzicato now, and the three roll along happily for ...
read moreSunna Gunnlaugs: Long Pair Bond
by William Carey
Several songs on Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs' Long Pair Bond, including the ballad Elsabella," are lilting and beautiful enough to have an almost hypnotic effect. The interplay between Gunnlaugs and bassist Þorgrímur Jónsson is clearly borne out of a great deal of time spent working together. Along with drummer Scott McLemore, who contributed three compositions to this session, the group plays with an empathy for which jazz ensembles strive, especially important in trios such as this.Gunnlaugs has a ...
read moreAdam Cruz: Milestone
by William Carey
Inevitably, with the release of any recording done under a drummer's leadership, there is discussion over whether it is a drummer's record or not--understandable in that drummers are the great unsung heroes of most recordings and it is always exciting to have the opportunity to give the drummer some," in the words of the great Maceo Parker. What this means however, is far from clear. Is it that the drummer has written the tunes or takes a lot of solo ...
read moreAmy Cervini: Digging Me Digging You
by William Carey
It's funny hearing such signature Blossom Dearie songs as Dear John" and the Schoolhouse Rock classic Figure Eight" without that oh-so-identifiable voice and delivery. Funny, but Amy Cervini is a talented enough vocalist that it isn't the slightest bit distracting to not have that adorably individual style and delivery that is unmistakably Blossom Dearie. Cervini claims to be paying homage, not so much to her predecessor's specific work as a pianist or a vocalist, but to the choices ...
read moreFerit Odman: Autumn in New York
by William Carey
Autumn in New York comes via Turkish drummer Ferit Odman--who leads this session featuring an all-American band playing straight-ahead tunes--but this is a far cry from a drummer's date." Both members of the frontline--trumpeter Terell Stafford and alto saxophonist Vincent Herring--were referred to as young lions" early in their careers, and sound very much at home throughout the set, their ensemble playing a testament that, by this point, they are clear mainstays of the scene. Stafford's tone is warm and ...
read moreIra Sullivan and Stu Katz: A Family Affair
by William Carey
Some numbers to ponder. Saxophonist/trumpeter Ira Sullivan is 80 years old; vibraphonist Stu Katz is 74. 57 years. That is how long Ira Sullivan and Stu Katz have been making music together. 64 years. The number of years that Joe Segal's the Jazz Showcase has been featuring great jazz. In 1954, the year Bill Haley and the Comets recorded Rock Around the Clock," two fine young jazz musicians first got together in their adopted hometown of Chicago. Fast forward 57 ...
read moreJon Crowley: At the Edge
by William Carey
It's a shame that the word fusion" has gone out of vogue. More than that, it seems to carry a bit of a negative connotation to many people nowadays. This seems odd, since so much of what is going on in jazz at the moment is firmly in the tradition of that once proud genre. So many players, such as drummer Brian Blade and bassist Drew Gress, not only adopt more of a rock approach in having a band, but ...
read moreDick Griffin: Time Will Tell
by William Carey
This set of eight original tunes, all penned by trombonist/leader Dick Griffin is a testament to the old KISS adage: keep it simple, stupid. Get some good players together, write some straightforward melodies, and blow, and Griffin has assembled some good players Could It Be the Blues" strikes the perfect mood to open this record. Few instruments lend themselves to a blues as well as a trombone. Naturally plaintive, in the hands of a player like Griffin, ...
read moreBryan and the Haggards: Pretend It's The End of the World
by William Carey
Is it too late for a best of 2010" list? This 2010 release, by Bryan and the Haggards, has made several of these lists; while it would be easy to approach these jazz renditions of Merle Haggard tunes as some sort of novelty, that couldn't be farther from what tenor saxophonist Bryan Murray and his quintet have accomplished with this set of country ditties. The band's namesake, singer/songwriter Merle Haggard, remains a fascinating character in the history ...
read morePeter Bernstein: Live at Smalls
by William Carey
A live recording from an intimate venue--in this case, the well-respected Greenwich Village club, Smalls--is like comfort food.. Live at Smalls, from guitarist Peter Bernstein, doesn't disappoint, starting off with a blues to welcome everyone in, with solid solo turns from all members of the quartet, also including pianist Richard Wyands, bassist John Webber and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Yes, Jimmy Cobb on drums. Not your average, everyday sideman. These performances come from two nights in 2008 (December ...
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