Articles by Graham L. Flanagan

British Jazz

by Graham L. Flanagan
June 12, 2010

Stan TraceySenior MomentReSteamed2009 Stan TraceyThe Later WorksReSteamed2010 Various ArtistsThe Flamingo Connection: Great British Modern JazzEmber-Future Noise2009 The United Kingdom's recent political crisis surprised a world unused to seeing this powerful nation in such an unstable state. However, if there's one thing about jolly-old England that you ...

Dick Hyman: Century of Jazz Piano

by Graham L. Flanagan
May 16, 2010

Dick Hyman Century of Jazz Piano Arbors Records 2010

This intimidating, six-disc set (five CDs and a DVD) succeeds on two key levels. Rarely do we find a release that is equally effective in terms of its value as both an educational tool and a source of entertainment. Dick Hyman remains one of the most important figures in jazz today and--with this set--you soon find out why. What makes ...

Ahmad Jamal: A Quiet Time

by Graham L. Flanagan
May 12, 2010

As one of the most highly influential jazz musicians on earth, pianist Ahmad Jamal enhances that sparkling reputation with his outstanding new studio effort A Quiet Time. The disc features two of the strong supporting players from his previous release, It's Magic (Dreyfus, 2008): James Cammack (bass) and Manolo Badrena (percussion), with Kenny Washington replacing Idris Muhammad on drums. While the title may imply a relaxed, ballad-heavy session, Jamal takes plenty of opportunities to swing at medium ...

Kenny Burrell: Prime: Live at the Downtown Room

by Graham L. Flanagan
March 7, 2010

Guitarist Kenny Burrell remains one of the few living jazz giants to emerge from the hard bop movement of the mid-1950s. Set to turn 79 this summer [2010], Burrell still occasionally performs, when he isn't too busy with his position as Head of Jazz Studies at UCLA, including a week at Yoshi's that was culled into 75th Birthday Bash Live! (Blue Note, 2006). Prime: Live at the Downtown Room showcases six straight-ahead cuts recorded live at a Buffalo club in ...

Modern Jazz Quartet: 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival

by Graham L. Flanagan
March 4, 2010

For nearly half a century, the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) endured as one of the most well-renowned ensembles in jazz. The original MJQ came together in 1946 as the rhythm section in Dizzy Gillespie's orchestra: Milt Jackson on vibes and John Lewis on piano, as well as bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny Clarke. Brown and Clarke were replaced early on by Percy Heath and Connie Kay, respectively, but Lewis and Jackson would remain mainstays of the MJQ all the ...

Count Basie: Live in Berlin & Stockholm 1968

by Graham L. Flanagan
January 30, 2010

Count Basie Live in Berlin & Stockholm 1968 Impro Jazz 2009

Every jazz fan, while listening to an album by one of their favorite legends of the genre, occasionally closes their eyes to imagine what it might have been like actually to be there for the recording itself. Due to the fact that jazz performances and recording sessions were in the past so rarely filmed (and because time travel has yet to ...

Bobby Sanabria: Kenya Revisited LIVE!!! (feat. Candido)

by Graham L. Flanagan
January 10, 2010

Led by percussionist Bobby Sanabria, the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra delivers a worthy tribute to one of the greatest AfroCuban jazz recordings ever made: Machito's Kenya. Recorded in 1957, Kenya exists for many as one of the essential albums of its kind. It's absolutely appropriate that, more than half a century later, someone should honor its legacy with a live performance. The Afro-Cuban Orchestra proves to be worthy of tackling such a massive endeavor. ...

John Medeski: Mad Science

by Graham L. Flanagan
January 1, 2010

The sight of John Medeski performing on stage--his brow furrowed by intense concentration--can be intimidating. Armed with an arsenal of instruments both traditional and unconventional, he concocts sonic combinations most listeners would never have otherwise conceived. It's obvious that he's there to work--not play. Like a mad scientist who's been stuck in his lab for months, Medeski proudly shows off the results of his experiments, making the listener sit up and take notice...perhaps even notes. The doctor is in session.

Oscar Peterson: The Quintessence & Oscar Peterson and Nelson Riddle

by Graham L. Flanagan
December 12, 2009

Oscar PetersonThe QuintessenceFremeaux2009 Oscar Peterson and Nelson RiddleOscar Peterson/Nelson RiddleRecord Label #2Year This month marks the two-year anniversary of Oscar Peterson's passing. The jazz legend continued to perform live until a year before he died at 82. While music lovers may be deprived of hearing him play at clubs and concert halls, his legacy ...

Cellar Live: Cory Weeds & Ross Taggart

by Graham L. Flanagan
October 4, 2009

For Canadians, it sure is a good time to be a jazz fan. Much of the reason can be attributed to Cory Weeds; he owns a popular Vancouver venue called the Jazz Cellar, runs record label Cellar Live and—on his “down time"—plays the tenor sax in his own ensemble.On Everything's Coming Up Weeds, the jazz mogul leads a quintet of Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Ross Taggart (piano), John Webber (bass) and Willie Jones III (drums). The group tackles nine ...