Articles by Rob Rosenblum
Nick Brignola: Between A Rock And The Jazz Place, Part 2
by Rob Rosenblum
Part 1 | Part 2 This interview was originally published in 1969 in an Albany, New York area arts publication called Transition. It documents a time when saxophonist Nick Brignola was in the process of trying to break out of the confines of bebop and incorporate some of the elements of fusion that was beginning to dominate the jazz market. There are many references to a recording he was in the process of making. It was ...
Continue ReadingThe Changing Times of Cecil McBee
by Rob Rosenblum
It was 1971 and the jazz scene was struggling and jazz musicians were grabbing gigs wherever they could. Many were moving to Europe where they felt they had greater acceptance. It was at that time when Albany, New York area saxophonist Nick Brignola connected with the State University of New York and produced the first and only SUNY Jazz Festival. Because Albany is only 150 miles from New York City musicians eagerly came upstate where the pay was far from ...
Continue ReadingChet Baker: A Conversation in 1977
by Rob Rosenblum
This interview took place in 1975 when Baker was making frequent trips to the Albany, New York area. At the time of this interview Baker, was playing with saxophonist Nick Brignola at Shaker's Steak House in Troy, N.Y. Back in the early 1950's, a young trumpet player whose personal appearance and demeanor was more that of an alley-way hood than of a suit and tie jazz musician, burst on the scene with a sound so gentle and lyrical ...
Continue ReadingDave Zinno: Fetish
by Rob Rosenblum
While it is obvious that bassist Dave Zinno put a lot of thought into the writing and arrangements here, it is the quality of solo performances that gives this album its worthy distinction. Some may be familiar with pianist Tim Ray from his inclusion in the trio backing one of altoist Greg Abate's albums and his own trio outing on Whaling City Sound label. But trumpeter Eric Benny Bloom and most impressively, the tenor mastery of Mike Tucker, were previously ...
Continue ReadingGreg Abate: Magic Dance: The Music of Kenny Barron
by Rob Rosenblum
Magic Dance is an offering by multi instrumentalist Greg Abate, who is a proud keeper of the bebop flame. In the 75 plus years that bebop has been around, there have probably been hundreds of thousands of quartet records with sax, piano, bass and drums, a few of which have been contributed by Abate. But this one is a departure from his previous releases, and because it isn't the bare bones presentation that jazz fans are accustomed to, it may ...
Continue ReadingGreg Abate: Man on a Journey
by Rob Rosenblum
After a warm up tune by the trio of Frank Puzzullo on piano, Sam Edwards on bass and Edwin Hamilton on drums, a medium sized fellow with slicked back hair and very casual attire walks on stage. He seems almost reticent as he acknowledges his audience at Fox's Music House in North Charleston, South Carolina—most of whom have never heard of him other than whatever scant advance publicity they may have come across. One might almost expect a quiet, polite ...
Continue ReadingJazz Musicians Up Against A Virus
by Rob Rosenblum
In the last year or so Good Times became the first jazz club in years to operate in Savannah, Forte Jazz Lounge sprouted up in Charleston and Middle C arrived in Charlotte. The Charleston Jazz Orchestra became a hub renamed to Charleston Jazz, providing both big band and small group concerts with unprecedented success. And, of course, the Spoleto festival showcased some of the most experimental and adventurous jazz concerts every Spring. Then came the Corona virus and all our ...
Continue ReadingDave Bass: No Boundaries
by Rob Rosenblum
While No Boundaries is technically led by pianist Dave Bass, it seems that the company is kind of burying the lead. The real headliner here is the multi talented Ted Nash. Nash certainly has a jazz pedigree, with both a father and an uncle who were top notch performers themselves. Nash has also been a frequent member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis. The back story on Bass is that he was ...
Continue ReadingTim Ray: Excursions and Adventures
by Rob Rosenblum
Although hidden away in classrooms at the Berklee School of Music or as the accompanying pianist with vocalist Tony Bennett, Tim Ray is a pianist of the highest order and this album offers all the evidence needed to prove the case. Ray's supporting cast are two exceptionally subtle and responsive players—John Patitucci, who is best known for his acoustic bass work with Chick Corea, and Terri Lyne Carrington, whose drumming reflects the sophistication of her mentor, Jack DeJohnette. ...
Continue ReadingEric Wyatt: The Golden Rule: for Sonny
by Rob Rosenblum
The Golden Rule: For Sonny sounds at times like a Sonny Rollins cover, especially on those tunes where Rollins' nephew and frequent sideman, trombonist Clifton Anderson, joins the front line, but a second listen shows that there is a lot more than slavish idolatry here. Wyatt is a talented young tenor player, whose admiration for Rollins is not only reflected in this album's title, but on some of the selections on the album and his phrasing. But Wyatt ...
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