Articles by Michael P. Gladstone

Kate Schutt: No Love Lost

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 31, 2008

No Love Lost is an album from singer/songwriter/guitarist Kate Schutt, a U.S citizen living in Guelph, Ontario, Canada since 2005 Schutt offers a variety of moods, and her writing is always sharp regarding the state of her heart, via some tunes of love--some unrequited and some rather active. The overall mood of the album echoes the work of vocalist Madeleine Peyroux, who has achieved enormous success, as well as a drop of Norah Jones insofar as arrangement and delivery.

Tim Hagans: Alone Together

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 30, 2008

Despite the title of trumpeter Tim Hagans' Alone Together, from the Schwartz/Dietz love song, neither the titular tune--nor the majority of the album--is anything but a cooker. Hagans, who has received a lot of exposure by the Pirouet label in 2008, leads this beautifully rendered series of three standards and four originals from pianist Marc Copland--was has also been featured on several albums for Pirouet label of late.

Hagans has been in a growth mode since his debut ...

Andy Middleton: The European Quartet Live

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 25, 2008

The last time that saxophonist Andy Middleton was heard from he was providing a pro-environmental message on Re-Inventing The World, (Intuition, 2003) with such titles as “Three Mile Island," “Atlas Shrugged" and “At The Foot of The Hill." Middleton's most recent outing, The European Quartet Live (Q-Rious music, 2008), seems to have shifted gears with only one environmental warning ("Up The River").

A lot has occurred in Middleton's life since 2003. He is now living in Austria where ...

Central New York Jazz Orchestra (CNY): Then, Now & Again

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 24, 2008

CNY is not an acronym for Crosby, Nash and Young; it is the musical abbreviation for the Central New York Jazz Orchestra, formed in the mid-1990s and led by musical director Bret Zvacek. The band performs for schools as well as the public in upstate New York. The album consists of a CD and a short DVD which documents the orchestra's performance at the historic Hotel Syracuse in November 2007. The cover art of this package shows a blazing sunrise ...

Gato Libre: Kuro

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 18, 2008

This album is a bit unusual for trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and his group Gato Libre. While many of his other recordings are in a free jazz mode--notably as an accompanist for his wife, pianist Satoko Fujii--Kuro seems largely intent in showing a varying picture of Tamura's musical scope.

Fujii forgoes her usual piano for accordion on Kuro.On the opening “Sunny Spot," she provides a tandem accompaniment with guitarist Kazuhiko Tsumura that enhances this otherwise attractive melody. There is also a ...

Gene Bertoncini: Concerti

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 15, 2008

What could possibly be better than hearing guitarist extraordinaire Gene Bertoncini on Concerti? Simply, being ten feet away from the bandstand and viewing his quicksilver style of playing, astounding an appreciative audience. Bertoncini, over the course of several decades, has become an elder statesman plectrist, working in a number of settings--solo, duet, trio or larger ensembles. On Concierti , Bertoncini works with members of The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he has been ...

The Paul Carlon Octet: Roots Propaganda

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 4, 2008

For his sophomore effort as a leader, multi-reed player Paul Carlon has found quite an interesting project. Roots Propaganda retains most of the musicians from his debut, Other Tongues (Deep Tone, 2006), and also the impression that each track represents a totally different shade of Latin jazz. Although only two albums have been released, the octet has been playing together for the past six years.

Bennet Paster & Gregory Ryan: Grupo Yanqui Rides Again

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 3, 2008

This album is a winning effort that presents urban Latin jazz, led by pianist Bennett Paster and bassist Gregory Ryan. Grupo Yanqui Rides Again is a solid interpretation of mostly original material proffered up by the leading duo. The album contains the combination of Latin ideas and the talent of saxophonist Chris Cheek and trumpeter/flugelhornist/percussionist Alex Norris. In addition, hand percussionist Gilad certainly adds the flair of Latin jazz to the sound. For those not previously fond ...

Jamie Baum Septet: Solace

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 2, 2008

New Yorker or, more specifically, Brooklyn flutist and composer Jamie Baum has again realized a most ambitious album that repeats the success of her previous Moving Forward, Standing Still (Omnitone, 2004), with largely the same personnel. After an intensive homage to Bela Bartok on that album, Baum spends even more time here with the work of Twentieth Century classicist Charles Ives.

To explain Baum's compositions is a thorny enough affair. Her own work on flute offers up a ...

Roberta Duchak: Intersections

by Michael P. Gladstone
September 13, 2008

The title of Intersection refers specifically to the intersection of Broadway and 42nd Street in New York City. Singer Roberta Duchak has imagined and realized a concept album of songs from The Great White Way that works.

If album's eleven tracks were considered as a set list in any cabaret setting, Intersections would surely be a huge success. It mingles well-known tunes like the Lerner and Loewe classic “Almost Like Being in Love" (from the musical Brigadoon) and Jerome Kern's ...