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Jimmy Greene: Mission Statement
by Elliott Simon
Possessing a concise pithy tone on his tenor sax that at times can be reverential, Jimmy Greene also surprises with an ability to translate that same depth to soprano, when making the switch for the odd tune. Greene's quartet consists of pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland, and, while this ensemble fits ...
Brandon Wright: Boiling Point
by Elliott Simon
A talented young saxophonist, Brandon Wright came to NYC from Miami and honed his craft in its intimate uptown and downtown venues, while taking advantage of the Petri dish nature of its musician collegiality. And Wright obviously did more than just show up and play. He had to have listened, learned, practiced and sweated to master ...
Tim Sparks: Little Princess
by Elliott Simon
The Klezmer revival began in earnest in the '80s, when the repertoires of clarinetists Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras were rediscovered by a new generation of jazz, avant-garde and folk musicians. Instrumentalists, primarily violinists and clarinetists, tried to sound like these two giants while also integrating other more rhythmically complex musics. At one point the last ...
Tommy Gumina
by Elliott Simon
It is the rare jazz instrumentalist who gains such a total understanding of their instrument that by technical innovation they change the way the instrument is played to achieve that elusive 'sound in their head.' Jazz accordionist Tommy Gumina is such an artist. When it comes to the accordion, Gumina's modifications and amplification development are on ...
siLENT Z: siLENTZ
by Elliott Simon
Downstairs at the Cornelia Street Café in the Village is one of the more intimate places to see live jazz in the city. The program there is intentionally eclectic and siLENT Z Live, from altoist Pete Robbins, captures his angular group in those comfortable environs. All other things being equal, the make or ...
Reptet: Chicken or Beef?
by Elliott Simon
Remember in the high school band room, how the horn section would goof around like they were part of Parliament Funkadelic or James Brown or the Mothers of Invention? The super cool Mothers, with Napoleon Murphy Brock on sax, flute and vocals. And then the drums, all of them, would join in. Think if that horn ...
Roberto Rodriguez: Timba Talmud
by Elliott Simon
A killer Latin rhythm section combined with soulful Jewish melodies is just one aspect of what makes Timba Talmud, from percussionist Roberto Rodriguez, such an infectious delicacy. Sexteto Rodriguez, as the band is now called, has been the premier vehicle for Rodriguez to showcase his strong compositions that, like a good Cuban sofrito or a tasty ...
Ergo: Multitude, Solitude
by Elliott Simon
During the past two decades, electronic music has solidified its initial uneasy alliance with acoustic jazz. Newer releases such as Ergo's Multitude, Solitude are able to get past that original awkward balance and meld electronics with jazz improvisation and instrumental technique. The result is a trio that interacts like one but also accesses the broader sound ...
Andrea Centazzo: Guitars
by Elliott Simon
Live improvisation is ephemeral yet creative, a fleeting sonic moment in time that is lost as quickly as sound dissipates through space. Paradoxically, a recording of that same performance is eternally uninspired, each playing being identical to the one before it. For three decades, percussionist/electronicist Andrea Centazzo has been among the most successful at blurring that ...
Jeb Patton: New Strides
by Elliott Simon
Jeb Patton has a working association, as does bassist David Wong, with the remaining Heath brothers and drummer Albert Tootie" and saxophonist Jimmy both make guest appearances on the pianist's latest album. Drummer Pete Van Nostrand rounds out this efficient piano trio on the Heath-less tunes and, while it is clear that Patton is definitely in ...