Articles by Walter Kolosky

John McLaughlin

by Walter Kolosky
August 28, 2015

Few tasks are more daunting than picking just ten of a great jazz artist's albums for a library collection. Each record adds in its own way to the appreciation of any artist. But in the case of guitarist John McLaughlin (b. 1942), choosing representative albums is made an even more difficult chore because so many of his records run at odd angles to each other. He seems to change styles so often that just keeping track can be a daunting ...

Rave Tesar Trio: You Decide

by Walter Kolosky
October 30, 2007

New York pianist and composer Rave Tesar has been on the scene since the early 1980s. His strong playing, highlighted by his inventive improvisational skills, has made him an in-demand session player for years. His acoustic trio for this straight-ahead recording is rounded out with Kermit Driscoll (Bill Frisell, Buddy Rich, Patti Austin) on bass and Rave's brother Bill (Angela Bofill, Bob Berg, Mark Feldman) on drums. They present ten of Rave's compositions, expertly recorded. They are, without exception, finely ...

Billy Cobham: Rhythm Is A Sonic Mirror

by Walter Kolosky
October 16, 2007

The universe is engaged in a miraculous rhythm that is the ultimate timekeeper. Due to his pivotal role in an important new documentary film, Billy Cobham, a master timekeeper himself, is now more aware of this than he has ever been.

Early in Cobham's career he played with Horace Silver, Miles Davis and in the pre-fusion band Dreams. But he is best-known as the propulsive drummer of the genre- twisting Mahavishnu Orchestra, who ruled the jazz-rock ...

Joe DeRenzo: On the Comeback

by Walter Kolosky
May 1, 2007

You might say that jazz drummer Joe DeRenzo has a history of vocational commitment problems. After all, he has successfully pursued several careers and then abruptly left them behind. He was an up-and-coming pro drummer in fusion's heyday. He then left the music business to become an actor and was once offered help by a future Oscar winner!

He then became obsessed with a very unique and strange-looking camera he came across. He saw it as ...

Two Degrees of Separation: Mitchel Forman, Stu Goldberg and Gary Husband

by Walter Kolosky
December 31, 2006

There are three outstanding piano albums now in release that need your immediate attention. Each is the product of a fertile imagination, unique approach and virtuosic skill. Mitchel Forman, Stu Goldberg and Gary Husband are among the strongest voices on piano in the last 25 years. Each has taken a different and exciting journey to the place they are now at. But, they all share a degree of separation from guitarist John McLaughlin and, therefore, a 2 degree separation from ...

Meeting Of The Spirits: A Celebration Of The Mahavishnu Orchestra

by Walter Kolosky
December 9, 2006

There's been a rush of Mahavishnu Orchestra related projects during the last two years. First there was Mahavishnu keyboardist Jan Hammer playing Mahavishnu music with guitarist Jeff Beck in Europe. Then there was the Jeff Richman-produced tribute album, Visions Of An Inner Mounting Apocalypse. There is the ongoing success of the Mahavishnu Project band and its VishnuFest. And just this month, Hammer shows up on the new album from drummer Billy Cobham. There's plenty more too. The ...

Bonobos Convergence: Who's Chuck Fimp?

by Walter Kolosky
November 19, 2006

I know what you are thinking. Who are the bonobos and why are they converging? I wondered too. A little bit of research informed me that the bonobo is considered the most “human-like of the chimpanzees. They share many of our hand gestures and facial expressions, and will even walk upright when they want to. Scientists postulate that the bonobos can feel and show sympathy, kindness, altruism and many more human emotions and traits. Unlike their chimp cousins, the bonobos ...

Carl Orr: Deep Down

by Walter Kolosky
August 20, 2006

Deep Down is quite a departure for jazz, rock and funk fusioneer Carl Orr. The guitarist has been known to use some pretty heavy-duty distortion and effects over the years, in Billy Cobham's band and his own groups. This outing is an effort to make more with less. Orr eliminates most of the distortion and treble and goes for a purer sound in service of bossa nova, organ-based jazz and some solo pieces. Recorded over the space ...

John McLaughlin: Industrial Zen

by Walter Kolosky
August 8, 2006

Industrial Zen is an amalgam of past lives, current beats and digital pastiches that finds John McLaughlin creating yet another musical mosaic to hang on his crowded walls. This fresh, vital and most importantly, relevant music will set your head and feet in motion. “For Jaco is a fitting tribute. McLaughlin clearly has Pastorius on his mind these days, after just completing the sound mix of the Trio of Doom (Pastorius, McLaughlin and Tony Williams) tapes from ...

Van Davis: Have You Seen This Band?

by Walter Kolosky
June 19, 2006

This power trio, named after two inspirations, Van Halen and Miles Davis, seems to be having a lot of fun on Have You Seen This Band?. Fun is generally a plus; it can make bad music tolerable and good music better. Luckily, in this case, we are talking about the latter. I would add two more influences to the mix, the Flecktones and ZZ Top. The Flecktone influence is heard in guitarist Jake Ezra's arpeggios and Jon Price's thumping bass. ...