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Jim McNeely/Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Rituals
by Jack Bowers
The first thirty-three minutes or so of Rituals, the latest album by the excellent Frankfurt Radio (hr) Big Band, is an homage to Igor Stravinsky's symphonic suite The Rite of Spring, which premiered in Paris in 1913, reimagined “in the Stravinsky spirit" by the group's director, Jim McNeely, in a big-band framework and featuring the acclaimed American tenor saxophonist Chris Potter. The first three movements are designated “Adoration," the next two “Sacrifice," and McNeely has added a sixth, “Rituals Rebirth," ...
read moreThomas Kolarczyk Ensemble: Halbtraume
by Glenn Astarita
Germany-based Double Moon Records' long-running series, “JazzThing: The Next Generation" places a spotlight on young European talent attempting to break into the modern jazz rank and file. Indeed, there have been some gems in this series of albums. Here, bassist Thomas Kolarczyk's Ensemble, comprised of German and Polish jazz artists, marks the 72nd volume, and is undeniably one of the top outings culled from this ongoing series. With a four-woodwind attack, sans the chordal component, Kolarczyk looms as a nascent ...
read moreKarl Latham / Ryan Carniaux / Mark Egan: Constellations
by Fiona Ord-Shrimpton
If you happened to be in vitro fed Isao Tomita during your pre-personage, you're going to recognise Karl Latham's Constellations electronica subliminally--regardless any jazz/Bjork connections. 70's Japanese synth/horn, space music trembling has that tendency to unhinge a certain primeval magic. Space music in the 21st Century has less artefacts than the 70s first steppers, and more of the technician's space time feel of Miles Davis' electric purview. Karl Latham suggests that fundamentally there is an air of Miles ...
read moreChristy Doran's New Bag: Mesmerized
by Glenn Astarita
Celebrated Swiss guitarist Christy Doran assets pertain to his indefatigable creative sparks, evidenced by his work in jazz-rock, avant-garde jazz improvisation or when tackling world music. And from a fundamental shedding perspective, he could hold his own with most if not all of the present guitar heroes. New Bag was created in 1997, but Swiss vocalist Sarah Buechi joined the ranks in 2012. Her presence is somewhat multifaceted as she harmonizes, scats, and often steers the melodies in ...
read moreGeoff Goodman: Jazz + Haiku
by Chris Mosey
On the face of it jazz and haiku wouldn't seem to have a great deal in common: jazz, born in the brothels of New Orleans at the close of the 19th century; haiku, an offshoot of age-old Japanese Zen Buddhism, seeking answers to the meaning of life in the quiet life and a pithy observation of nature. Yet, as he lurched from one dive to another in Storyville, might not Jelly Roll Morton, on occasion, have gazed ...
read moreChristy Doran: Mesmerized
by Ian Patterson
Guitarist Christy Doran's New Bag has negotiated its share of rough waters during its sixteen-year journey. While the ship was severely rocked by the death of drummer Fabian Kuratli in 2008 and the departure of vocalist Bruno Amstad after 12 years in 2011, Doran has soldiered on. His compositions ultimately define New Bag's personality, rather than the individuals in it at a given time dominating. The dynamic Amstad was a hard act to follow, but on the band's eighth recording ...
read moreMatthieu Marthouret Organ Quartet: Upbeats
by Dan Bilawsky
Necessity is not only the mother of invention, but also of direction. French pianist Matthieu Marthouret initially took on the task of mastering the organ because of problems finding bass players for rehearsals, but he found his own voice on the instrument and discovered a world of possibilities in the process. The debut album from his organ quartet--Playground (MuSt, 2009)--served as a launching pad for his explorations in this arena, but the group is in full flight throughout Upbeats.
read moreGary Burton: For Hamp, Red, Bags, and Cal
by David Adler
Gary Burton’s new release is a tribute record with a four-pronged twist, and with four different lineups. The vibraphonist’s honorees are Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Milt Jackson, and Cal Tjader — a grouping that provides a convenient historical survey of the vibraphone in jazz. While the result may not be a creative watershed, it definitely swings.Three of the five Red Norvo dedications are a deliberate re-creation of Norvo’s classic 1950s trio. Russell Malone and Christian McBride play the ...
read moreGary Burton: For Hamp, Red, Bags, And Cal
by AAJ Staff
After he broadened the possibilities of the vibraphone by exploring the music of Argentinean bandoneon genius Astor Piazzolla, Gary Burton now is looking back over the instrument’s relatively brief tradition in the year that he considers to be its seventy-fifth anniversary. The actual invention of the vibraphone remains a mystery, enhancements such as the vibrato and sustain pedal added incrementally. It seems that the vibes didn’t arrive fully developed at a single moment in time.Perhaps more versatile than ...
read moreGary Burton: Like Minds
by Jack Bowers
When like minds get together, the results can be unpredictable. Will empathy lead to a spirit of freedom and adventure, or will the parallel thought processes translate instead into blandness? Adventure clearly wins the day on Like Minds, vibraphonist Gary Burton’s third release as leader for Concord Jazz. Even with Metheny’s guitar added and Corea’s piano hardly as spare as John Lewis’, the session manifests a beguiling MJQ–like ambiance at slower tempos but shifts easily into high gear to swing ...
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