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Jim Witzel
Jim Witzel Quartet: Very Early (Remembering Bill Evans)
by Jack Bowers
Very Early, a warmhearted tribute to the late great pianist Bill Evans, is led not by a pianist but by a guitarist, San Francisco-based Jim Witzel, an Evans admirer since his introduction to the pianist's singular music on Evans' 1961 album, Live at the Village Vanguard. There is a pianist on this tasteful quartet date, namely Phil Aaron, who does not try to emulate Evans, instead using his own strong and distinctive voice to enhance his musical point ...
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by Pierre Giroux
Guitarist Jim Witzel's Very Early (Remembering Bill Evans) serves as both a heartfelt homage and a poetic reinterpretation of the pianist's timeless work. Joined by pianist Phil Aaron, bassist Dan Feiszli, and drummer Jason Lewis, Witzel approaches this project with the qualities that define Evans' artistry: lyricism, subtle interplay, and harmonic sophistication, all while maintaining his own voice at the forefront. The nine-track selection presents a carefully curated program of compositions closely linked to Evans' career development, including two original ...
Continue ReadingJim Witzel Quartet: Very Early (Remembering Bill Evans)
by Troy Dostert
While tributes to pianist Bill Evans have certainly not been in short supply over the years, he has unsurprisingly been given far more attention by pianists than from other instrumentalists. Efforts from guitarists have been particularly rare. There are some noteworthy exceptions: John McLaughlin took a stab at it in 1993 with Time Remembered (Verve) alongside three other guitarists, for example, and John Abercrombie worked with pianist Andy LaVerne on Timeline (Steeplechase, 2003) in an homage to Undercurrent (Blue Note, ...
Continue ReadingJim Witzel Quartet: Breaking Through Gently
by Pierre Giroux
Offering a refined exploration of jazz guitar, Jim Witzel's release Breaking Through Gently balances accessibility with a modern, lyrical edge. Accompanied by a seasoned trio of pianist Phil Aaron, bassist Dan Feiszli and drummer Jason Lewis, Witzel presents a collection consisting primarily of his original works, along with some by Aaron and a reimagining of a Paul Simon tune. The result is a captivating yet understated journey into contemporary jazz. The session opens with a Witzel composition, “My ...
Continue ReadingJim Witzel Trio & Quartet: Feelin' It
by Jack Bowers
Feelin' It, guitarist Jim Witzel's second album as leader, features his trio (Brian Ho, Hammond B3 organ; Jason Lewis, drums) on five of eight numbers, with tenor saxophonist Dann Zinn added on a trio of Witzel's original compositions. Although Witzel has recorded only twice in the past thirty years, that is basically because his successful career as an educator and in- demand sideman and leader has kept him from returning to the studio. As Witzel shows on ...
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