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James Finn Quartet: Great Spirit
by Jeff Stockton
What should instantly grab the attention of James Finn fans is that this is his first quartet recording. His previous efforts (on Cadence, CIMP and Clean Feed, plus five on his own Gingko Leaf label) were all trios, matching his tenor and flute with drums and bass or two drummers. Finn kicks up enough dust that it takes a few listens to Great Spirit for it to settle--and to take in Deanna Witkowski's role, since the saxophonist's playing has so ...
read moreJames Finn: Plaza De Toros
by AAJ Staff
Plaza De Toros is a portrait of a bullfight rendered in free jazz terms. That description may sound almost absurd, but the music itself, with its power and its use of idiomatic Spanish harmonic material, carries the passion of its subject matter in direct fashion.
James Finn plays the tenor saxophone, and he plays it very well. His tone is full and robust, with a heft and vibrato inspired by Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, and the sheer ...
read moreJames Finn: Plaza de Toros
by Mark Corroto
I heard a voice, or thought I heard a voice, say something in my ear as I dreamed during the first spin of saxophonist James Finn's new recording. There is plenty room in my father's house, announced the jazz prophet. You see improvisation, 'true improvisation' makes room for one more voice calling out into the night.
Whether your particular jazz prophet is John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, or Joe McPhee, the music of this new (to many) saxophonist ...
read moreJames Finn Trio: Plaza de Toros
by Jeff Stockton
Last year, after a stint in Ben Harper's band, tenor man James Finn sprang onto the jazz scene at the age of nearly forty as a fully-formed free improviser, with a trio completed by bassist Dominic Duval and drummer Whit Dickey. Opening the Gates (Cadence Records) was quickly followed by Faith in a Seed (CIMP), the drum chair now filled by veteran Warren Smith. These recordings picked up where late-period Coltrane left off, and Finn's playing is characterized by nearly ...
read moreJames Finn: Faith in a Seed
by Michael Holman
Somewhat of a late bloomer as a leader, James Finn seems to be making up for lost time. After the release last year of his debut, Opening the Gates (Cadence Jazz), Finn promptly returned to the studio with his trio featuring bassist Dominic Duval and drummer Warren Smith to make this record--and Plaza de Toros, with the same group, which is already slated for release next month. Arranged as a suite, Faith in a Seed is a musical ...
read moreJames Finn: Faith in a Seed
by Michael Holman
Somewhat of a late bloomer as a leader, James Finn seems to be making up for lost time. After the release last year of his debut, Opening the Gates, on Cadence Records, Finn promptly returned to the studio with his trio, featuring Dominic Duval on bass and Warren Smith on drums, to make this record--and Plaza de Toros, with the same group, is already slated for release next month.
Arranged as a suite, Faith in a Seed is ...
read moreJames Finn: Opening the Gates
by Jerry D'Souza
It was to be the perfect setup even though they did not know it at the time. James Finn, Whit Dickey and Dominic Duval recorded some tracks in Finn's house that grew out of the moment's inspiration. Duval, who has recorded for Cadence, suggested that Finn send the music there. Cadence wanted more, and so this record came to be. Fate dealt its hand and the gates to Finn's debut were opened.
Finn has a Coltranesque sound with ...
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