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John Stein: Serendipity
by Jack Bowers
Guitarist John Stein's Massachusetts-based trio strides in with charm and confidence on Serendipity, a frame of mind that prevails throughout an album whose name was inspired by a concert-that-wasn't but eventually was, thanks to live-streaming, during a massive and deadly global pandemic. That concert, planned for an outdoor venue in New Bedford, was derailed by Covid-19 but later moved indoors to the city's Art Museum, where the trio performed for an audience of one, sound engineer John Farrell, who taped ...
read moreJohn Stein: Watershed
by Chris M. Slawecki
As his eleventh release on the label, Watershed continues the elegant and blissful creative marriage between guitarist John Stein and Whaling City Sound. A good marriage is based in compromise, in accommodating give-and-take, and Stein's give-and-take with this rhythm section of bassist Frank Herzberg, drummer Zé Eduardo Nazario and pianist Daniel Grajew creates beautiful, delightful music. Stein pours out Bobby Scott's “A Taste of Honey" with all the natural sweetness of its title for six luscious minutes. His ...
read moreJohn Stein: Watershed
by Edward Blanco
Jazz guitarist John Stein has produced many recordings throughout his career. Watershed is his fifteenth album and a special one at that, marking his retirement from academics and the beginning of a new chapter in his life. A former professor at Berklee College of Music (his alma mater), Stein is now fully engaged in producing the deep grooves and rhythm-based and breezy-styled melodies that make this album such a wonder to listen to, repeatedly. Recorded while on tour ...
read moreJohn Stein: Color Tones
by Jack Bowers
On Color Tones, his ninth album for Boston's Whaling City Sound label, Kanas City-bred guitarist John Stein has chosen a quintet whose front line includes trumpeter Phil Grenadier and flute specialist Fernando Brandao. All tones considered, it's a splendid idea, as Grenadier and Brandao blend well with Stein's lucent, well-groomed guitar, while bassist John Lockwood and drummer Ze Eduardo Nazario comprise a snug and unflappable rhythm section. Even though everyone in the ensemble is a talented soloist, ...
read moreJohn Stein: Hi Fly
by Edward Blanco
With HI Fly, renowned jazz guitarist John Stein takes flight, leading his high-flying quartet on another top-flight set. The album is a follow-up to his recent Raising The Roof (Whaling City Sound, 2010), and features new band mate, pianist Jake Sherman, replacing keyboardist Koichi Sato, who appeared on the Stein's last two recordings. Sherman is a student at the Berklee College of Music, where the Stein is an Associate Professor.On this album, Stein navigates the band through five ...
read moreJohn Stein: Raising the Roof
by Matthew Warnock
Raising the Roof is a hard-swinging and thoroughly enjoyable album by Boston-based guitarist John Stein. Featuring an all-star quartet, with keyboardist Koichi Sato, bassist John Lockwood and drummer Zé Eduardo Nazario, the group plays together with a sense of cohesion that borders on the realm of ESP. While this level of communication and familiarity is to be expected by world-class jazz musicians such as these, what is surprising is that they were able to play in this fashion with such ...
read moreJohn Stein: Encounterpoint
by Matthew Warnock
Guitarist John Stein has brought together an all-star ensemble for the album Encounterpoint and these world-class musicians deliver on every tune. The ensemble cast of Koichi Sate, keyboards, John Lockwood, bass, and Ze Eduardo Nazario on drums and percussion are always on top of their game. Whether it be a funk groove, hard swinger or relaxing bossa-nova tune, the energy and interaction are always solid throughout. With a band of this caliber it would hard for anyone to sound less ...
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