Jazz Articles

Mike Pope: Cold Truth Warm Heart

by John Kelman
July 22, 2014

Cold Truth Warm Heart isn't Mike Pope's first album as a leader (it's his third), but in the 12 years since The Lay of the Land (Whaling City Sound, 2002), the bassist has, in addition to some serious life-changers, forged a relationship with two musicians of unequivocal significance. First appearing on Joe Locke's State of Soul (Sirocco, 2002), Pope has worked with the superb vibraphonist and equally fine pianist Geoffrey Keezer in the by turns incendiary and profoundly lyrical Joe ...

Mike Pope: Cold Truth, Warm Heart

by Dan Bilawsky
May 22, 2014

More than a decade separates Cold Truth, Warm Heart and bassist Mike Pope's previous album, but he hasn't exactly been sitting by idly and twiddling his thumbs in the intervening years. His professional life has been filled with high profile work, as he's held down the fort for everybody from vibraphonist Joe Locke to guitarist Chuck Loeb to drummer Bill Bruford during that span of time, and his personal life has seen highs and lows; the birth of his two ...

Pascal's Triangle: Pascal's Triangle

by Franz A. Matzner
May 14, 2013

Bringing together three of contemporary jazz's young power players, Pascal's Triangle is an energized, adeptly executed endeavor.All three performers have already proven themselves innovative and exciting musicians in many venues. Here the three meld their individual voices well and take advantage of Le Boeuf's astute compositional talents to deliver eight tunes firmly grounded in today's modern jazz idiom, while harkening back to the long history of jazz trios as a venue for group exploration and musical “conversation." It ...

Michael Blanco: No Time Like The Present

by Edward Blanco
March 29, 2013

A talented in-demand Broadway/jazz bassist, Michael Blanco's No Time Like The Present announces his second album as leader presenting a collection of refreshing new jazz originals offered by a dynamic quintet that features veteran saxophonist John Ellis and New York guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg among the cast. The two-time recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award, designs a sparkling session of riveting modern-style jazz not to be missed. Though it's Blanco's compositional skills that carry the date on this ...

Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra: Bloom

by Dan Bilawsky
January 10, 2013

The difference between a “big band" and an “orchestra" in jazz is usually more than nominal in nature. On the surface, they may seem the same, but their intent, musical scope and arranging/compositional methodology are usually very different. While it can be seen as a bit of a generalization, the “band" tag often refers to groups that take the straightforward path, while the “orchestras" tend to take the road(s) less traveled. Duke Ellington paved the way for every adventurous jazz ...

Tim Collins: Castles and Hilltops

by William Grim
November 10, 2011

This is an excellent album by one of the finest vibraphonists on the scene today. Tim Collins combines the harmonic adventurousness of Gary Burton with a swinging style reminiscent of Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson. Castles and Hilltops consists largely of original compositions that run a wide gamut of styles and expressive content. “Army Brat," a straight-ahead swinger, is reminiscent of the Modern Jazz Quartet, when Milt Jackson's vibes would seemingly explode in contrast to John Lewis' ...

Le Boeuf Brothers: In Praise of Shadows

by Mark F. Turner
October 20, 2011

Projects such as the Le Boeuf Brothers' In Praise of Shadows should help quiet the debate on whether or not jazz is stagnating. The twins--keyboardist Pascal and saxophonist/clarinetist Remy--are talented musicians and award-winning composers who are a part of the new breed of young artists, like trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist John Escreet and bassist Esperanza Spalding, who channel their influences, environments, and resources into works that reflect their own identities. As in their self-released 2009 debut, House ...

Greg Ward's Fitted Shards: South Side Story

by Glenn Astarita
October 20, 2010

Saxophonist Greg Ward's moderately esoteric spin on jazz signals an artist who has traversed diverse paths, including stints with electronica artist Prefuse 73, and stalwarts of progressive jazz, such as drummer Hamid Drake and saxophonist Von Freeman. Here, Ward compiles a textural and hard-hitting modus operandi, largely evidenced on “Step Forward." This piece is dabbled with metal-jazz overtures, spiced by the saxophonist and keyboardist Rob Clearfield's brute force attack.Clearfield multitasks via crunching synth sounds and fluid electric piano ...

Pete McCann: Extra Mile

by Mark Corroto
August 9, 2009

Pete McCann may be a kind of a guitar superman, considering his work with bands led by Patti Austin, Lee Konitz, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Kenny Garrett, Peter Erskine, Gary Thomas, Greg Osby, Brian Blade and Maria Schneider.

Since moving to New York in 1989, McCann has lent his skills to these diverse leaders, which shows his chameleon-like approach. He is equally comfortable playing pre- and post-bop jazz, as well as electric fusion, acoustic, Latin and rock--all of ...

The Chris Tarry Group: Almost Certainly Dreaming

by John Kelman
December 29, 2007

With few bassists in jazz making electric their primary axe--and a recent AAJ interview with Canada-born, New York-based Chris Tarry finding him playing more acoustic bass than ever before--on the follow-up to The Chris Tarry Group's debut, Sorry to Be Strange (Cellar Live, 2006), the bassist's focus remains on the electric variety. He claims, “I never set out to make the electric bass sound like the acoustic bass. My goal was to make it function like the acoustic, and find ...