Jazz Articles

John Hart: Standards: Green and Blue

by Ken Dryden
November 29, 2006

Guitarist John Hart adds vibraphonist Joe Locke for this valuable studio quartet date that's focused primarily on standards, but with a fresh look.

They transform “Lazy Afternoon from a subtle ballad into a snappy mid-tempo post bop vehicle, with lively soloing by the two players. Bassist Bill Moring's sinewy new bass line and a change to a minor key slightly alter the character of the timeless ballad “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans, while the piece ...

Spike Robinson: The CTS Session

by Samuel Chell
November 8, 2006

As a neglected and final recording session by a neglected, largely unknown tenor saxophonist with a remarkable story, The CTS Session, recorded by Spike Robinson in 1998 but released only recently, could easily become the recipient of overly charitable evaluations on the one hand, or abrupt dismissals on the other. It's neither a grand, triumphant goodbye nor a minor, salvaged leftover but a supremely satisfying encounter between a master musician and a compatible, equally experienced rhythm section (Crow and Williams ...

The John Hart Trio: Indivisible

by John Kelman
December 4, 2004

It's unfortunate that certain guitarists are so pervasive that others are inevitably assessed in comparison. Play with a certain Midwestern sensibility and warm tone and images of Pat Metheny abound. Add a little distortion and some blue notes and John Scofield is almost sure to be cited. Incorporate some quirky Americana leanings and Bill Frisell will certainly be mentioned. Economy and concision yield unavoidable comparisons to Jim Hall. And from a critical perspective, such comparisons aren't necessarily a bad thing--after ...

Jessica Williams: The Real Deal

by John Kelman
September 5, 2004

'04 is a banner year for Jessica Williams, with MaxJazz releasing Live at Yoshi's and Hep Jazz issuing The Real Deal , a solo album that Williams recorded live in the comfort of her own home, in the fall of '00. The two records demonstrate just how far Williams has come in the past four years. While there are some stylistic similarities--a clear penchant for Monk's idiosyncrasies and a firm sense of swing, there is also one major difference. In ...

Jim Mullen: Somewhere in the Hills

by Johnny Wills
January 6, 2003

Jim Mullen has a storied history. Born 1945 in Glasgow, Scotland, he played guitar and bass in the late '60s and '70s with Pete Brown, Brian Auger, Vinegar Joe and Kokomo, among others. Mullen formed Morrissey Mullen with saxophonist Dick Morrissey on sax around 1975, enjoying a 15-year partnership and becoming one of the top jazz-funk club bands of the '80s. Has been involved in solo projects since the '90s. Somewhere In The Hills ...

Gene DiNovi: Souvenir: Gene DiNovi Plays The Music Of Benny Carter

by Mike Neely
November 1, 2001

Souvenir is an elegant solo piano recording that pays tribute to one of the great jazz composers of our time, Benny Carter. The pianist, Gene DiNovi, has chosen ten of Carter’s compositions, ranging from the 1930s to the 1990s, and has woven each in a subtle tapestry of long, graceful lines. DiNovi’s left hand is one of the wonders of modern jazz piano, his is low-key, melodic approach that far surpasses traditional accompaniment. At times, DiNovi seems to be weaving ...

John Hart: Scenes From A Song

by Bill Donaldson
August 1, 2001

You can't keep a good guitarist down for long, in spite of the vagaries of the recording industry. John Hart, who has gained attention for his individualistic approach on a series of Blue Note and Concord releases in the past dozen years, has jumped to the HepJazz label, thereby extending his stream of self-assured and musically mature recordings. As one listens to the progression of Hart's work, it becomes evident that he has grown even as he presents a signature ...