Articles by Christopher Shoe

Adam Birnbaum: Travels

by Christopher Shoe
May 26, 2009

Travels is the long awaited debut album for one of the younger voices in jazz piano. The term debut, however, is ill suited for someone like Adam Birnbaum, who has spent his short career opening for, and performing with, some of the better-known names in the industry such as saxophonist Greg Osby and pianist Brad Mehldau. As a result, the music presented in this album reflects a well thought-out, technically proficient, and quite simply, talented pianist who is at the ...

Dred Scott Trio: Live At The Rockwood Music Hall

by Christopher Shoe
February 6, 2009

This album is the Dred Scott Trio's tribute to one of its most frequent gigs in New York. In a city where regular engagements are more and more scarce it is a beautiful thing to see the relationship this band shares with a venue; Live at the Rockwood Music Hall is a beautiful showcase of this dynamic piano trio. Right away the listener is drawn in to the group's lively energy. “Well, You Might" is a solid ...

Bobby Previte: Verge: Pull To Open/Bump the Renaissance & April in New York

by Christopher Shoe
March 10, 2008

Bobby Previte Verge: Pull To Open/Bump the Renaissance Zoar/Sound Aspects -- Nothing on Television is True 2007 Bobby Previte April in New York Nothing on Television is True 2007

A great many things come to mind when asked to describe drummer Bobby Previte: adventurous and original, creative and bold, authentic and edgy, always ...

Falkner Evans: Arc

by Christopher Shoe
November 10, 2007

Falkner Evans is an accomplished composer, and the number of ASCAP award-winning compositions present on Arc attests to that and more. Comprised of nine tunes, ranging from original material to jazz and pop standards, this statement from Evans' trio with bassist Belden Bullock and drummer Matt Wilson is sure to leave listeners with a pleasant aftertaste and a desire to come back for more. Evans' career has spanned a variety of musical genres and that has naturally ...

Leslie Pintchik: Quartets

by Christopher Shoe
November 9, 2007

Leslie Pintchik is a newer face on the jazz scene and Quartets is a respectable contribution that keeps in tide with her growing reputation. Pintchik's approach to jazz does not rely on flashy lines or complex chordal movement like many of her peers; instead, it focuses on strong improvised material backed by a solid group of musicians who both complement her and add their own voice when the time comes for them to solo. Quartets is no ...

Coltrane: Mating Call, Traneing In, Soul Trane & My Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport

by Christopher Shoe
September 8, 2007

Tadd Dameron Mating Call Prestige-Concord 2007 John Coltrane Traneing In Prestige-Concord 2007 John Coltrane Soultrane Prestige-Concord 2007 John Coltrane My Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport Impulse-Verve 2007

Jazz, in some respects, is an intricate recipe ...

Todd Herbert: The Path to Infinity

by Christopher Shoe
July 19, 2007

If there is one thing done right on this album, it is the entourage of musicians that join tenor saxophonist Todd Herbert: pianists George Colligan and David Hazeltine, bassists Dwayne Burno and John Webber and drummers Darrin Becket and Joe Farnsworth. Herbert's two groups add an irreplaceable touch to the album. Their distinct personal talent and sensible musicality make Herbert shine. The Path to Infinity has an abundance of titles that lean towards the idea of the ...

The Bad Plus: Prog

by Christopher Shoe
June 13, 2007

Since its appearance on the music scene in 2003, The Bad Plus has been at the forefront of numerous debates within the world of jazz and beyond. Questions of genre placement and definition terminology seem to plague this esoteric band. Its newest disc Prog certainly won't answer these questions or solve these debates. In fact, it might just spur these arguments on. However, there is a solid truth to be found regardless: these three musicians--Reid Anderson (bass), Ethan Iverson (piano) ...

Bob Mintzer Quartet: In The Moment

by Christopher Shoe
June 2, 2007

Bob Mintzer has been an active and successful member of the jazz community for some time now. He has been involved in numerous projects ranging from a fifteen-year stint with The Yellowjackets and his local New York big band to countless side gigs and projects with some of the most well-known figures in jazz. Something he has not done in a while, however, is release a small group recording. So after six long years of silence, the Bob Mintzer Quartet ...

Wayne Escoffery: Veneration: Live at Smoke

by Christopher Shoe
May 22, 2007

Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery's music is influenced by a long line of musicians, and on Veneration: Live at Smoke he takes a moment to pay homage to some of them. However, this live album, recorded at the New York club Smoke, is much more than a dedication to great musicians of the past. The disc showcases some of New York's finest musicians now, who add a spark of their own originality to well-known tunes. The listener is first ...