Articles by Pierre Giroux
Dave Stryker: Blue Fire - The Van Gelder Session
by Pierre Giroux
Dave Stryker's Blue Fire--The Van Gelder Session features the guitarist performing at one of the most revered venues in recorded jazz, and the chosen setting is anything but incidental. Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's legendary Englewood Cliffs studio in July 2025, the album benefits from the ambiance itself. Its warmth, clarity, and a sense of history, while showcasing a deeply rooted guitar-organ-drums trio that understands groove as both discipline and release. Joined by organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter, ...
Continue ReadingConvergence: Reckless Meter
by Pierre Giroux
Colorado has long nurtured a quietly serious jazz scene, and Reckless Meter makes a compelling case that Convergence ranks among its most seasoned examples. This is not a band formed for convenience or novelty; it is an ensemble built through years of shared bandstands, rehearsals, and the kind of musical debates that foster trust. Pianist Eric Gunnison, trumpeter Greg Gisbert, saxophonist John Gunther, trombonist Mark Patterson, bassist Mark Simon, and drummer Paul Romaine perform here with the relaxed authority of ...
Continue ReadingGregory Groover Jr.: Old Knew
by Pierre Giroux
With Old Knew, tenor saxophonist Gregory Groover Jr. offers a mature and deeply rooted statement that gracefully balances reverence for tradition with openness to spontaneous expression. Recorded without rehearsal and driven by a diverse group of top-tier collaborators, including Joel Ross on vibraphone, Paul Cornish on piano, Harish Raghavan on bass, and Kendrick Scott on drums, this 11-track set reveals a leader eager to let the music flow, communicate, and develop in the moment. The result is a highly interactive ...
Continue ReadingLa Tanya Hall: If Not Now, When...
by Pierre Giroux
With If Not Now, When... , La Tanya Hall emerges not just as a vocalist but as a storyteller, deeply connected to the quiet power of a well-chosen song. This is her most personal statement yet, an album crafted with intention rather than for show, where each track earns its place through lyrical depth and emotional impact. Hall avoids the obvious, assembling a selection of lesser-known material that invites the listener inward, asking for attention rather than applause. Supporting this ...
Continue ReadingKeith Oxman: Home
by Pierre Giroux
Tenor saxophonist Keith Oxman has long been regarded as a steadfast guardian of the jazz tradition. With Home, he offers perhaps his most personal and heartfelt statement yet. The album, a warm blend of joyful explorations, reflective ballads, a touch of blues, and elegant bossa nova, is dedicated to those who shaped his life and artistry. Oxman's smooth tone, clearly rooted in the lineage of Sonny Stitt and Charles McPherson, remains warm, centred, and unhurried, giving the entire ...
Continue ReadingBill Coon: Standard Elegance
by Pierre Giroux
Guitarist Bill Coon's Standard Elegance stands as a finely crafted tribute to the timeless appeal of well-made melodies and the skilled artistry needed to refresh them without losing their essence. True to the tradition of great solo jazz guitar recordings, the album finds Coon exploring familiar territory while conveying a deeply personal sense of phrasing, touch, and warm reflection. Whether he chooses his archtop electric or nylon-string instrument, Coon approaches each selection with the restraint and clarity of a musician ...
Continue ReadingBrandon Sanders: Lasting Impression
by Pierre Giroux
Brandon Sanders' 2025 release, Lasting Impression, is a heartfelt reaffirmation of the core values that have shaped jazz drumming for generations. Instead of chasing novelty for its own sake, Sanders grounds the album in straightforward clarity that honours the legacy of those countless craftsmen who viewed swing as a personal responsibility. From the opening bars, he demonstrates he is a drummer dedicated to supporting the ensemble and allowing the music to breathe. The stellar band, assembled for this purpose, includes ...
Continue ReadingSacha Boutros: Sacha: Paris After Dark
by Pierre Giroux
With Sacha: Paris After Dark, vocalist Sacha Boutros, delivers an elegant and lovingly crafted tribute to a century of French and American song, drawing on the enduring traditions of both genres with the care of someone deeply familiar with their roots. Recorded with a seasoned Franco-American ensemble including trumpeter Stéphane Belmondo, pianist Franck Amsallem, guitarist Hugo Lippi, bassist Thomas Bramerie, and drummer Tony Rabeson, the album reminds us that timeless material, presented with sincerity and respect, can still sound fresh. ...
Continue ReadingMark Sherman: Bop Contest
by Pierre Giroux
Vibraphonist and composer Mark Sherman has long been recognized as one of the music's most articulate advocates for straight-ahead values, grounding his virtuosity in the clarity and craftsmanship that define the bop lineage. Bop Contest, his 2025 release, continues that tradition with poise and conviction. Surrounded by a top-tier rhythm section comprising pianist Donald Vega, the legendary bassist Ron Carter, the exuberant drummer Carl Allen, and guest trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, Sherman delivers a program that balances reverence for ...
Continue ReadingJason Forsythe: It's About Time
by Pierre Giroux
Trombonist and composer Jason Forsythe's debut recording as a composer, It's About Time, acts as both a declaration and a reflection: a declaration that his extensive apprenticeship with New York's jazz and Latin bands has cultivated a distinctive compositional voice, and a reflection of the various stylistic influences that have shaped his artistry. The nine-track album, performed by a top-tier sextet featuring trumpeter Brian Lynch, tenor saxophonist Walt Weiskopf, trombonist Steve Davis, pianist Michael Weiss, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer ...
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