Articles by Johanna McKenna

Gary Husband: Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2

by Johanna McKenna
March 8, 2012

Multitalented drummer, keyboardist, composer, and arranger Gary Husband continues to raise the bar with each successive release, and 2012's Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 is no exception. Volume 2's collection of originals and fusion classics follows Dirty & Beautiful Volume 1 (Abstract Logix, 2010), featuring many of the same collaborators, but with some additional powerhouse guitarists rounding out this heady lineup.Of particular interest is the appearance of young Grammy-nominated guitarist Alex Machacek, who contributes his original “Lock, Stock ...

Bill Bruford's Earthworks Celebrates Twenty Years with Four-Night Run at Iridium

by Johanna McKenna
January 20, 2007

Bill Bruford's seminal jazz quartet Earthworks packed the house for most of its ten shows at NYC's Iridium Jazz Club, November 2-5, showcasing some new pieces and treating the audience to favorites from the group's repertoire as well as from Bruford's solo career. Joining the leader and his longtime collaborator Tim Garland were electric bassist Laurence Cottle (credits: Eric Clapton, Brian Eno) and young Welsh virtuoso pianist/composer Gwilym Simcock.

Bruford's tune selections ranged from the “aromatic (his description) ...