Articles by Judith Insell

Gunther Schuller: Heralding Charles Mingus

by Judith Insell
November 16, 2006

Gunther Schuller, one of jazz's foremost scholars, arrangers, composers and conductors, takes the stage with the Mingus Orchestra at New York's Merkin Hall this month. All About Jazz spoke with the octogenarian musical icon about his longstanding association with [bassist/composer] Charles Mingus and his travels through the jazz and classical music genres.

All About Jazz: Could you tell me about the upcoming Merkin Hall concert?

Gunther Schuller: I am simply what we normally call a “guest ...

Nomo: New Tones

by Judith Insell
September 30, 2006

The Detroit-based NOMO begins New Tones with the sound of the electric kalimba, leading the listener to believe that they are in for an adventurous musical experience, but as the disc progresses, it takes on the feel of an endless dance track. To composer/arranger Elliot Bergman's credit, he incorporates electric saw blade, gamelan, farfisa organ, nu-tone cymbals, canister and various other percussion instruments into the music, but the sounds are not really used to create new soundscapes, ...

Day and Taxi: Out

by Judith Insell
August 5, 2006

The Swiss Day and Taxi trio was formed in 1988 as a quartet, eventually transforming into the group presently led by and composed for by saxophonist Christoph Gallio. The group is rounded out by bassist Christian Weber and drummer Michael Griener. At times, this musical offering could be considered a collection of expressionist or serial works, appearing to mimic the style of Arnold Schoenberg's Viennese School, a style that had its glory days at the turn of ...

Herbie Hancock: The Essential Herbie Hancock

by Judith Insell
July 13, 2006

The Essential Herbie Hancock, a double-CD set spanning a forty-year body of work, presents a sample of Hancock's bold explorations of various jazz styles. The compilation runs in nearly chronological order, highlighting releases on major jazz labels like Blue Note, Columbia and Verve. The track order makes very clear the varying creative avenues that Hancock has traversed over many decades. Bob Belden is to be commended for providing excellent liner notes which help the listener towards an overall perspective of ...

The Claudia Quintet: Semi-Formal

by Judith Insell
July 6, 2006

To paraphrase the great Bill Evans, “jazz is not so much a style, but a process of making music. John Hollenbeck's Claudia Quintet is deeply immersed in this process. Semi-Formal is an interesting synergy of improvisation, Steve Reich-like minimalism and changing moods effected by varying grooves: techno rave drums, pseudo and authentic hip-hop, and polyrhythmic patterns. Semi-Formal harkens back to some forms of Gagaku, an ancient Japanese court instrumental music where each timbre, instrumental or chordal development ...

Big Band: Live in Molde, Rhapsody in Blue, Pola

by Judith Insell
May 29, 2006

Chick Corea and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra Live in Molde MNJ 2006 Michel Camilo Rhapsody in Blue Telarc 2006 Now Orchestra with Marilyn Crispell Pola Victo 2005 When three established jazz pianists pair up with three large ensembles, how could you go wrong? In these three cases ...

Ryan Kisor Quintet: This is Ryan

by Judith Insell
March 9, 2006

This is Ryan continues to confirm that trumpeter Ryan Kisor is more than a “young lion, a label he received after winning the Thelonious Monk Competition back in 1990. At the still young age of 32, he is continuing in the tradition of the modal-minded trumpet players who preceded him, sounding like he comes from the direct lineage of the great Woody Shaw. His excellent trumpet technique, especially clear in the upper register, makes possible seamless solo lines. This is ...

Mark Whitecage: BushWacked: A Spoken Opera

by Judith Insell
February 22, 2006

BushWacked takes a bold political stand, presenting a feeling through each track of anger, outrage and distrust of George W. Bush and his political regime. Joining Whitecage (alto sax and clarinet) are the members of the Bi-Coastal Orchestra: Rozanne Levine (alto and soprano clarinets), Bill Larimer (piano), Robert Mahaffay (drums) and Scott Steele (guitar), all of whom appear throughout as presenters of the spoken word material. The CD takes its text from news media excerpts (The Nation, ...