Articles by Budd Kopman
Lajos Dudas: Some Great Songs Vol. 2
by Budd Kopman
The predecessor to clarinetist Lajos Dudas' Some Great Songs Vol. 2 appeared some twenty years ago, with his previous release being Radio Days from 2015. Dudas gives no hint of letting up; his playing and arrangements are full of life and also depth. Dudas is one of those players who fills every note with meaning allowing his joy of playing to infuse the listener. The supporting players from the first disc return: guitarist Philipp van Endert and percussionists ...
read moreGreg Poppleton: Back In Your Own Backyard
by Budd Kopman
There is something about early jazz before the Swing Era, especially that of the 1920s. Its infectious happiness, innocence and floating lightness, its close ties to Tin Pan Alley and the Great American Songbook and how much this music was an integral part of the times makes it irresistible to almost anyone even remotely interested in the history of jazz. However, jazz is forever restless, and, even back then, always in search of new means of expression. Those ...
read moreLucerne Jazz Orchestra: Oaktree
by Budd Kopman
Although the Lucerne Jazz Orchestra was formed in 2007 and has had five releases to its credit, it is virtually unknown on this side of the pond, being overshadowed by the NDR Big Band and the WDR Big Band. This state of affairs ought to be corrected with Oaktree, a marvelous release in every aspect. First, the quality of the recording is superb, allowing for the precision of the ensemble, as well as the quality of the arrangements, ...
read moreDavy Mooney: Hope Of Home
by Budd Kopman
For many, if not most musicians, much time is spent on the road performing, with one's “home town" many times just a short stop on the endless tour. It is hard enough to maintain a steady relationship, much less than that with a spouse and possibly family for the “normal" person, than someone who must travel to earn a living.On a larger time scale, guitarist Davy Mooney's latest, very fine release Hope For Home is about the same ...
read moreBillie Davies: On Hollywood Boulevard
by Budd Kopman
There could not be much more of a musical, emotional or just vibe difference than that between drummer Billie Davies' latest album On Hollywood Boulevard and her previous project, Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon. However, although they inhabit completely different worlds, both projects had a very long gestation and originate in Davies' reactions to specific events in her life, the latter to her interaction with painter Serge Vandercam, while the former to living in ...
read moreJohn Martin: The Hidden Notes - Spirit Of Adventure
by Budd Kopman
The Hidden Notes--Spirit Of Adventure by saxophonist John Martin and his quintet (Ralph Wyld on vibes, guitarist Rob Updegraff, drummer Tim Giles and Tim Fairhall on bass) (mentioned briefly here) is a project that has had a four-year gestation. Calling the naturally occurring harmonics that are produced over the fundamental by all instruments the “hidden notes," Martin has put enormous effort into bringing out and controlling the harmonic possibilities of the saxophone through multiphonics, controlling the overtone patterns through different ...
read moreTim Langedijk Trio: Up North
by Budd Kopman
One of the hallmarks of a truly creative jazz musician is that his or her musical vision is immediately identifiable, and guitarist Tim Langedijk is one of those players. His trio's latest album, Up North is a marvelous document of his elegance, intensity, surprising musical choices and understated technique. When combined with the equally subtle playing of bassist Udo Pannekeet and drummer Hans Van Oosterhout, the music on the album almost glows in the dark. Everything has been ...
read moreSatoko Fujii: Invisible Hand
by Budd Kopman
Pianist and composer Satoko Fujii, otherwise known by the cognoscenti as “the Ellington of free jazz" and “musical citizen of the world," has produced an enormous body of work as a leader, co-leader or sideman that now numbers around 80 CDs in many configurations ranging from solo to big band. After spending even a short time listening to her oeuvre, her style, as varied as it is over the different formats and through the years, becomes immediately recognizable as “Fujii." ...
read moreAlexander Balanescu / Zlatko Kaucic / Javier Girotto: East West Daydreams
by Budd Kopman
East West Daydreams is one of those recordings that grabs one's attention immediately, only to be quickly and completely overwhelmed by the musicianship, drama and intensity of the music. The trio of violinist Alexander Balanescu, percussionist Zlatko Kaucic and Javier Girotto on woodwinds have collected five live recordings from a number of years ago in cities all over Europe: Vienna, Austria at the Porgy & Bess Jazz Club (October 8, 2009), Florence, Italy at the Pinocchio Jazz Club ...
read moreFrancois Carrier: Freedom is Space for the Spirit
by Budd Kopman
Saxophonist Francois Carrier had quite a week in late May of 2014. It began when he and his long-time percussionist Michel Lambert played with bassist John Edwards and pianist Steve Beresford at the Vortex Jazz Club in London on May 25th and ended with the duo performing with acoustic bassist Rafal Mazur at the Alchemia Jazz Klub in Krakow, Poland on June 1st and then recording the following day. Sandwiched between London and Krakow was a trip to ...
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