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Rodrigo Faina and Change Ensemble: Different Roots
by Jerome Wilson
This is not the usual large ensemble jazz recording. Instead of having instrumental groups play against each other, this music moves largely as a massed force with only sparing solo statements. It carries the gravity and weight of classical music and mixes in the harmonies and colors of jazz composers like Gil Evans and Kenny Wheeler with occasional blasts of other musical forms like rock and tango. It is the work of Rodrigo Faina, a composer born and raised in ...
read moreRodrigo Faina and Change Ensemble: Different Roots
by Hrayr Attarian
The cohesive and captivating Different Roots is Rotterdam- based guitarist and composer Rodrigo Faina's cinematic debut for the Red Piano label. For this six-part suite, Faina draws inspiration from three literary works from his native Argentina, two by Julio Cortazar and one by Jorge Luis Borges. On this genre-defying release, Faina also conducts the Change Ensemble which consists of several accomplished European, primarily Dutch, musicians. In fact, Faina utilizes the orchestra as a single unit at times and ...
read moreFrank Carlberg/Gabriel Bolaños: Charity and Love
by Dan Bilawsky
While Frank Carlberg certainly rises to great heights in large-group settings, some of the pianist's most absorbing and thought-provoking work has been built around the intimacy of the duo. Whether we're talking about intrigue-laced meetings with fellow Finn (and drumming great) Klaus Suonsaari, a ballad set featuring tenor saxophonist Noah Preminger, some two-piano play with Ran Blake or a delightfully open dalliance with vocalist Christine Correa, the nature of pairings typically proves fruitful for Carlberg. Charity and Love, bringing him ...
read moreRan Blake / Christine Correa: When Soft Rains Fall
by Jerome Wilson
Pianist Ran Blake and vocalist Christine Correa have recorded several duo albums together including two on the music of Abbey Lincoln. Here they turn to another iconic singer, Billie Holiday, concentrating on the contents of her final album, Lady In Satin (Columbia, 1958). Lady In Satin is known for its lush orchestral and choral arrangements by Ray Ellis. This 2020 version is stripped down to a bare bones pairing of voice and piano. Correa's singing is raw and ...
read moreGabe Terracciano: In Flight
by Ian Patterson
Comes a time when every fledgling must leave the nest. Since making his recorded debut on Ron McClure's Crunchtime (Steeplechase Records, 2012), Portland-born, New York-based Gabe Terracciano has worked in everything from the riotous jazz-filtered bluegrass of the Harmolodic String Band and the groundbreaking chamber iconoclasts Turtle Island Quartet, to the Ghanaian National Symphony Orchestra. With In Flight Terracciano takes the leap with his debut as leader. Heading a line-up of some of New York's finest, Terracciano introduces six original ...
read moreAndrew Schiller Quintet: Sonoran
by Jerome Wilson
The Sonoran Desert lies across the American Southwest and Northwestern Mexico. It is where bassist Andrew Schiller was born and it is the inspiration for the music on this CD he has written that draws from jazz, folk and classical sources. Schiller's quintet has a front line of tenor sax, alto sax and bass clarinet which combine into a consistently interesting blend of sounds. On “Gambelii" the three leap around together in tight unison on the theme before ...
read moreDavid Bixler: In The Face Of Chaos
by Dan Bilawsky
In The Face Of Chaos marks a re-emergence, if not a complete artistic rebirth, for David Bixler. It serves as a true inspiration, drawing beauty from pain, and peace from personal struggle. Life took an unexpected turn for the saxophonist's family when his youngest son suffered a traumatic brain injury a number of years ago. With that, logically, came a need to re-evaluate priorities. So, Bixler took a step back and did what any loving parent would do; ...
read moreBruno Raberg Trio: Tailwind
by Mark Sullivan
Tailwind is the tenth album as a leader for Swedish-born, longtime Boston-resident bassist/composer Bruno Råberg. His most recent groups have been piano-less: Hot Box (Orbis Music, 2015) was a quartet with trumpet, saxophone and drums; For The Unknown (Orbis Music, 2016) brought back the same group sans drums, and was entirely based on freely improvised music. Both albums also featured Råberg's electronic post-processing. By comparison this is a much more mainstream affair: an acoustic trio with pianist Bruce Barth and ...
read moreRan Blake / Christine Correa: Streaming
by Jerome Wilson
Pianist Ran Blake has been known for his duo work with vocalists dating back to his 1962 collaboration with Jeanne Lee, The Newest Sound Around (RCA Victor). In recent years, he has been working with three individualistic singers, Sara Serpa, Dominique Eade and Christine Correa. The year 2017 brought a session of folk songs and soundtrack music with Eade, the excellent Town And Country (Sunnyside Records). This time it's Correa's turn in a program of mostly jazz and pop standards. ...
read moreBruno Raberg: Tailwind
by Gareth Thompson
In a 2005 interview, double bassist Bruno Råberg discussed how Scandinavian music reflects the country's vast mountains and forests. “You can see very far and that calmness and meditative spirituality comes through," he says. Born in Sweden, but a longtime resident of Boston, you sense Råberg still carries his homeland close to the heart. For sure his acclaimed composing has touched base with many cultures. His previous range includes the lush Music For Strings & Soloists (Orbis Music, ...
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