Jazz Articles

John Bruschini: As You Were

by Scott Andrews
June 11, 2002

New York City guitarist and composer John Bruschini, a long time sideman in Cecil Taylor's touring groups, offers nine original instrumental tracks of varying jazz and soft fusion styles played in a small band setting on his debut CD as a band leader, As You Were, including nylon string classical guitar and light electric jazz.The morose, nylon string guitar title track opens the record with a sluggish feel, despite lightning quick classical guitar passages in the vein of ...

Brasil & Company: Brasil & Company featuring Vera Mara and Paul Meyers

by Dave Hughes
May 1, 2001

For insatiable lovers of Brasilian music, such as myself, it’s always a pleasure to discover a new artist or group which purveys the genuine, unadulterated goods with a fresh new voice.

Brasil & Company offers just such a pleasure. The program on their self-titled debut is a well-chosen blend of the familiar (Jobim’s “Meditation” and “Double Rainbow,” Horta’s “Gershwin”) and several originals by guitarist Paul Meyers and pianist Cidinho Teixeira.  Vera Mara, who sings fluently in both Portuguese and English, ...

Jim Nolet: Arco Vos

by C. Michael Bailey
February 1, 2001

Jim Nolet finds himself in a decidedly Bossa-Nova Mood on this new Cathexis release.

Syzygy, Jim Nolet's previous Cathexis release, was a cyber cross between Nicolo Paganini and John Coltrane (the latter's “Central Park West" and “Countdown" being creatively covered by Nolet and his crack band. It was highly virtuosic and smacked of superb technique and intelligent performance. Part of Syzygy 's intelligence was a powerful internal cohesion that revolved around the near avant-guard realm in Jazz. Nolet infuses this ...

John Bruschini: As You Were

by Joel Roberts
October 1, 2000

Guitarist John Bruschini is perhaps best known for his long tenure with Cecil Taylor, as well as his association with some of New York's top avant gardists. So As You Were , his funky, soul-drenched new release on the Cathexis label, comes as somewhat of a surprise.

There's no questioning Bruschini's chops - he's definitely near the top of the crowded guitar summit. But unlike so many rock-informed electric guitarists, he can do more than just play a lot of ...

John Bruschini: As You Were

by Jim Santella
September 1, 2000

The interfusion of jazz and rock music has long been regarded simply as fusion. The format remains the same as with mainstream jazz: unadorned melodies are followed by improvised variations or creative soloing. The melody is usually repeated at the end. Guitarist John Bruschini’s compositions follow those characteristic guidelines. MP3 sound bites for the title track and three other selections are available through the guitarist’s web site .

The title track, “As You Were," starts the album with a natural, ...

Rez Abbasi: Third Ear

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2000

Third Ear is a reissue of sessions guitarist Rez Abbasi recorded in 1991 & 1992 along with a star studded cast of modern jazz luminaries such as bassist Marc Johnson, drummer Peter Erskine, saxophonist Bob Mintzer and others. Here, Abbasi pursues contemporary jazz with a modern or in some instances hard edge yet not quite as bold or adventurous as his exemplary 1998 showing for “Cathexis Records” titled, Modern Memory. Nevertheless, Abbasi turns in a commendable performance as a sculptor ...

Rez Abbasi: Third Ear

by David Adler
November 1, 1999

Third Ear was recorded in 1991 and 1992 and released on the Ozone label in 1995. It’s been remastered and repackaged for Abbasi’s current label, Cathexis. Despite its slightly dated content, the disc demonstrates that nearly a decade ago, Abbasi was already a player and composer to be reckoned with. He also knew all the right people—saxophonists Billy Drewes and Bob Mintzer; pianists Russ Lossing, Kenny Werner, and Marc Copland; bassists Scott Colley and Marc Johnson; drummers Ben Perowsky and ...

The Scott Lee Quartet / The Jeff Williams Quintet: With Ease / Jazzblues

by C. Michael Bailey
November 1, 1999

Hard Bop/Post Bop. Cathexis records has released two collections of crashing, banging, squealing Hard/Post Bop Jazz. Bassist Scott Lee and Drummer Jeff Williams lead quartet and quintet combos respectively. This is music that owes much to and extends the language created by Miles Davis’ ‘60s quintet. The music on both is thoughtful and controlled without ever being boring or contrived. Percussion is the name of the game and it is fine through out. Music like this displays the importance of ...

Rez Abbasi: Modern Memory

by C. Michael Bailey
November 1, 1999

Fluid Mechanics. Rez Abbasi plays guitar like cold water pouring from a picture. His lines are seamless, swinging with no fear. Originally hailing from Karachi, Pakistan, Abbsabi’s parents soon located to Los Angeles where Rez grew up, he was influenced by Jim Hall and Pat Metheny. He moved to New York in the late 1980’s, graduated from the Manhattan School of Music where he developed his musical identity and he recorded his first disc, Third Ear (Ozone). The current disc ...

Bill Ware and the Y2K Jazz Quartet: Keeping Up With the Jones

by C. Michael Bailey
November 1, 1999

Milt Jackson, RIP. October witnessed the death of Milt Jackson, the preeminent vibraphonist of jazz. As the music progresses toward the 21st Century, Jazz will continue to lose the pioneers of the Bebop Era. Milt Jackson was an urbane guiding light who will be missed.

In Jackson’s shadow, forging their own are two mammoth vibes talents: Stefon Harris and Bill Ware. Harris has been well represented the last few months in these pages and so now it is Ware’s turn. ...