Articles by Scott Lichtman
Cyrille Aimée And Mathis Picard At The Emelin Theatre
by Scott Lichtman
Cyrille Aimée The Emelin Theatre Mamaroneck, NYApril 18, 2024 Renowned vocalist Cyrille Aimée and pianist extraordinaire Mathis Picard performed a magnetic set at the intimate Emelin Theatre. The duo's musical sensitivity, song selection and chemistry engaged the audience from the opening notes. Pianist Mathis may be lesser known but plays with just as much individuality. In fact, his fluent technique in a blend of styles could have commanded the stage alone for the ...
read moreWonderful now
by Scott Lichtman
What do you get when you combine the high-velocity beats of electronica with the virtuosic proficiency of fusion, the pristine sound quality of an ECM label record and the “goes down easy" catchiness of smooth jazz? When composed and performed at the highest level, it sounds like Anatole Muster's album, Wonderful now. This album gets better with repeated listening. Muster, who is 22 years old, creates nearly every sound on his orchestrations (except for several cameos), composes, writes ...
read moreCyrille Aimée: Music Flows From Within
by Scott Lichtman
Renowned vocalist Cyrille Aimée possesses a wholly unique sound. Certainly, it is based on her voice timbre but also reflects her approach to music. She is equally adept at jazz standards and pop-jazz. She can swing and scat on cue, then shift to high tech sound loops. Songs in English, French and Spanish are delivered with equal expressiveness, the same for Stephen Sondheim and Michael Jackson hits. Most importantly, her songs are joyful, buoyant; even the ballads are uplifting. Aimee's ...
read moreStefano Di Battista: La Vita è Bella
by Scott Lichtman
"La vita è bella" ("life is beautiful" in Italian) is one tune whose title truly captures its essence. Alto saxophonist Stefano Di Battista leads his quintet through this peppy, hummable bebop piece, a remake of the movie theme of the same name. As the drummer's brushwork flies by at 160bpm, Di Battista and trumpeter Matteo Cutello unleash blazing solos that “Charlie and Dizzie" would be proud of. If you're looking for 3 minutes of straight-ahead jazz sunshine, this may make ...
read moreTierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman at the Jazz Forum
by Scott Lichtman
Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman Jazz Forum Tarrytown, NY March 15, 2024 Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman brought an expressive evening of voice and piano to the Jazz Forum in Tarrytown NY, March 15th, 2024. The overarching theme of the performance was “songs about Spring." There's a variety of reasons that every recording Sutton has made in the last decade has been nominated for a “Best Jazz Vocal Album" Grammy. Among these are ...
read moreLyle Mays: Ascent
by Scott Lichtman
In 1986, master keyboardist Lyle Mays--known for his role in the Pat Metheny Group--issued his first solo album, Lyle Mays. It's full of compositions and improvisations that merit close listening, but the most astonishing piece may be “Ascent." The song's extended guitar solo, from Bill Frisell, redefines the sonic territory that an electric guitar can claim. Starting at 3:32, listen to how Frisell's solo patiently builds chorus after chorus. Its phrasing crosses motifs, and the sound effect boxes ...
read moreKeith Jarrett's European Quartet: Innocence
by Scott Lichtman
It just so happens that two of the most poignant jazz ballads--in my opinion--were released in the same year. I'm not talking about throw-back masterpieces, such as Thelonious Monk's “Round Midnight" or Horace Silver's “Lonely Woman." Rather, they are Keith Jarrett's “Innocence" and Egberto Gismonti's “Palhaço," both originally issued in 1980. What makes these pieces stand out are their simple melodies; harmonic progressions with pop, not bebop, sensibilities; unexpected key modulations; and the nuanced musicianship of the supporting bands. Norwegian ...
read moreJohn McLaughlin with the One Truth Band: Guardian Angels
by Scott Lichtman
John McLaughlin's “Guardian Angels" must be on the ultra-short list of “most iconic jazz/fusion songs clocking in under 1 minute." The song takes us back to the time when experimental fusion artists were exploring jazz/rock, classical and world music. “Guardian Angels" is a nugget of shape-shifting guitar arpeggios and time signatures, unified by L. Shankar's entrancing violin melody. It's so catchy that once you hear it, you're likely to remember it for decades--like this reviewer has. Fifty-one seconds is all ...
read moreLouis Cole: Quality Over Opinion
by Scott Lichtman
Louis Cole is a chameleonic genius--merging beats, samples and catchy tunes across styles ranging from “metal-funk-fusion" to “pastoral falsettos." His loose incorporation of jazz traits, including syncopation, funk keys and sophisticated horn arrangements, has yielded new validation with a Grammy 2024 Best Alternative Jazz Album nomination for Quality Over Opinion (originally released in 2022). Cole plays fluid keys, guitar, drums, sings and produces. There are twenty pieces on Quality Over Opinion. Practically every tune--the majority clock-in at under ...
read moreJohn Patitucci Trio At The Jazz Forum
by Scott Lichtman
John Patitucci Trio The Jazz Forum Tarrytown, NY February 9, 2024 Elite bassist John Patitucci brought his trio to Tarrytown, NY, on Friday night. Known for his eclectic work over four plus decades with artists including Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and scores of others, Patitucci, pianist David Virelles and drummer Adam Cruz delivered a tight and uplifting set of originals plus a bebop standard. The performance was held at the Jazz Forum, arguably ...
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