Jazz Articles

Our daily articles are carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. You can find more articles by searching our website, see what's trending on our popular articles page or read articles ahead of their published dates on our Coming Soon page. Read our daily album reviews.

Album Review

Ada Rovatti: The Hidden World Of Piloo

Read "The Hidden World Of Piloo" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
September 14, 2024

Ada Rovatti's curiously titled album, The Hidden World of Piloo, has a tale attached (and a tail). Piloo is an affectionate name Rovatti's father has called her since childhood, after a “naughty" cat in a favorite children's book. She adopted it for her label as well (Piloo Records). Rovatti grew up in Mortara, Italy, outside of Milan, in an unusual household. Her mother was a semi-pro softball player and her dad a geologist, professional hunter and purveyor of cars. The ...

Album Review

Randy Brecker & Ada Rovatti: Brecker Plays Rovatti: Sacred Bond

Read "Brecker Plays Rovatti: Sacred Bond" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
November 25, 2019

Jackie and Roy Krall, Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Marian and Jimmy McParland--all musically fruitful jazz marriages. The progression continues with Sacred Bond from trumpeter, Randy Brecker and saxophonist spouse Ada Rovatti. In some of the aforementioned cases, specifically Jackie and Roy, the duo are stylistically tied at the hip. Here, the respective styles of Brecker and Rovatti merge spectacularly--two stellar musicians who happen to be an item. The result? A superb performance. Rovatti, a technically outstanding ...

Album Review

Ada Rovatti: Disguise

Read "Disguise" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
September 22, 2015

An initial spin of saxophonist Ada Rovatti's Disguise says she hasn't lost a step since 2009's The Green Factor (Piloo Records). There's still the judicious funk grooves, the tight arrangements, and catchy and distinctive melodies that make for an engaging and edifying listening experience. And she's still a wonderfully soulful saxophonist. These are quintet, quartet and sextet offerings. In small group jazz outings, there has to be something that sets the effort apart. With Rovatti--especially on Disguise--that “something" ...

Album Review

Randy Brecker: RandyPOP!

Read "RandyPOP!" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
September 9, 2015

This album gives new meaning to the idea of rewriting history. Before trumpeter Randy Brecker had ascended to the top rung on the jazz ladder he was making his mark as a hired gun in studios and on stages. His horn can be heard on numerous classic recordings, including those of James Brown, Donald Fagen, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, and, of course, Blood, Sweat & Tears. Now, just as Brecker is about to enter the septuagenarian club, he's taken an ...

Extended Analysis

The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion

by John Kelman
October 25, 2013

With the tragic passing of Michael Brecker in 2007 at the all-too-young age of 57, it seemed that the flagship group the Brecker Brothers, co-led by the saxophonist with his trumpet-wielding older brother Randy, was also to be a thing of the past. But some things never die; as it was, during the saxophonist's lifetime, the horn-led band that defined the term “downtown funk" and an edgy, urban sound that could only have come from New York City seemed to ...

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Album Review

Bartosz Hadala Group: The Runner Up

Read "The Runner Up" reviewed by Paul J. Youngman

by Paul J. Youngman
October 22, 2010

Bartosz Hadala is a name of which more people should be made aware. Based in Poland, he is a world-class pianist and a contemporary composer with serious jazz chops. His debut, The Runner Up--a winner in every way--finds him in superb company, with some top names in jazz. Ten solid, fresh compositions--all original tunes, with the exception of Dizzy Gillespie's “A Night In Tunisia"--feature excellent performances by all parties, most of the songs performed by a septet. Up front, the ...

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Album Review

Kerry Politzer Quartet: Blue in Blue

Read "Blue in Blue" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
August 15, 2010

Two of the most enduring and popular ensemble set-ups in jazz are the piano trio--piano/bass/drums--and the piano trio, with a saxophone joining in. Pianist Kerry Politzer combines formats on Blue in Blue, with six tunes featuring her trio and four more with guest saxophonist Donny McCaslin.While You Took Me In (Polisonic Records, 2007) featured Politzer in a more pop-leaning mood, Blue in Blue finds her back in mainstream jazz land, sculpting a sound that mixes up piano influences ...

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Album Review

Ada Rovatti: The Green Factor

Read "The Green Factor" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins

by Woodrow Wilkins
April 27, 2009

Italian-born Ada Rovatti possesses talent as both an ensemble player and a bandleader. Versed in several styles of music, the saxophonist brings an eclectic blend of Irish, Celtic, jazz, and a few other flavors to The Green Factor. A scholarship winner from the Berklee College of Music, Rovatti spent time living both in the United States and Italy. She has appeared in many festivals and has worked alongside such artists as Bob Mintzer, Don Alias, Mike Stern, ...

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Album Review

Ada Rovatti: Green Factor

Read "Green Factor" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
April 6, 2009

If a label is necessary, Italian saxophonist Ada Rovatti--who is now based in New York--could probably be tagged a straight-ahead jazz artist. On her Airbop (Aria Records, 2005), Rovatti showed off a top shelf set of chops along with first rate writing and arranging skills, to go along with a bunch of soul and an energetic and imaginative way of going after a solo. It may have been mainstream, but there was a definite funk tint to the sound.