Jazz Articles

Ed Schuller: Ong Song (Music for Acoustic Bass)

by Mark F. Turner
April 12, 2002

The rap chant “Give it up for the bass players some!" is appropriately echoed on the final selection on bassist Ed Schller’s solo recording “Ong Song". The funky selection ends with a tribute to all bass players with a Bassist’s roll call, which includes the likes of Charles Mingus, Dave Holland, Charlie Hayden, and Stanley Clarke. Ong Song is a complete solo recording for the acoustic bass which was conceived over four years to express and highlight the instrument in ...

Ran Blake Trio: Sonic Temples

by Glenn Astarita
November 1, 2001

The legendary Gunther Schuller has the utmost respect for pianist/educator Ran Blake, as he profoundly states: “I have never encountered anyone who can do some of the things that Ran can do with the utmost ease and naturalness." Here, Schuller produces Blake's inaugural piano trio recording, which in retrospect seems somewhat amazing when considering the artist's forty-year recorded legacy.

Along with the chivalrous assistance of bassist, Ed Schuller, drummer George Schuller and guest artist, saxophonist Nicole Kampgen Schuller, Blake invites ...

Mosaic Sextet: Mosaic Sextet

by Glenn Astarita
July 1, 2001

No doubt, the folks at “GM Recordings” have done a great service for modern jazz aficionados by reissuing one previously hard to find German import CD and another CD featuring previously unreleased material by a true cutting edge, band known as “The Mosaic Sextet”.

Fans of trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas, violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Joe Fonda and pianist Michael Jefry Stevens should have something to get all worked up about, with this smartly packaged 2-CD set! Recorded between 1988-1990, this ensemble ...

Mosaic Sextet: Mosaic Sextet

by Glenn Astarita
July 1, 2001

No doubt, the folks at “GM Recordings” have done a great service for modern jazz aficionados by reissuing one previously hard to find German import CD and another CD featuring previously unreleased material by a true cutting edge, band known as “The Mosaic Sextet”.

Fans of trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas, violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Joe Fonda and pianist Michael Jefry Stevens should have something to get all worked up about, with this smartly packaged 2-CD set! Recorded between 1988-1990, this ensemble ...

Andy Biskin: Dogmental

by Mark Corroto
September 1, 2000

Jazz history is chock full of stories of popular jazzmen who began on clarinet, later shedding the black stick for the much cooler, chick-magnet saxophone. But times change, and just as America’s richest man, a pocket-protector wearing nerd is somehow admired, the clarinet has shed its stigma. Like Don Byron, Marty Ehrlich, and Chris Speed, Andy Biskin’s clarinet explores a thoroughly modern music. Like Byron’s Bug Music Biskin’s original music explores the territory once tread upon by John Kirby and ...

Lisa Thorson: Resonance

by Jim Santella
May 1, 1999

Members of the Boston area Lisa Thorson Five have been friends for eleven years; the group’s firm cohesiveness is a direct result. A student of Sheila Jordan, the singer/leader presents modern mainstream vocal art with obvious nods to Erik Satie and Thelonious Monk. Each artist solos and everybody works together on the thrilling arrangements. Spontaneity and surprise show up in the arranged phrases as well as the improvised work.

Thorson’s flexible voice fills several roles: scat singer, quasi-horn player, lyrical ...

Orange Then Blue: While You Were Out

by Glenn Astarita
May 1, 1999

Orange Then Blue takes a “new wave” and thoroughly modern approach to the traditional big band concept. Their new release “Hold The Elevator” (see April ’99 AAJ review) is ambitious, bold and refreshingly new. The 2 CD set While You Were Out was released in 1994 on Gunther Schuller’s GM Recordings label.

Over the years OTB have maintained a relatively consistent personnel with changes here and there; however, on While You Were Out trumpeter-composer Dave Douglas joins the already estimable ...

Orange Then Blue: Hold The Elevator-Live in Europe and other haunts

by Glenn Astarita
April 1, 1999

Brand new from GM Recordings is Orange Then Blue’s “Hold The Elevator-Live In Europe And Other Haunts”. OTB have released several excellent recordings since the mid 90’s as these musicians are among modern jazz’s best and brightest.

The opener, “Alino Oro” by saxophonist Chris Speed, parallels some of the recent work and involvement with the innovative band “Pachora” (see April 99 AAJ review). “Alino Oro” is a vibrant composition which establishes the ensemble’s large brassy sound as this piece sounds ...

Jimmy Weinstein: Sound Emotion

by Jack Bowers
February 1, 1999

There are times when the music on drummer Weinstein’s album is quite pleasant, others when it’s as exasperating and elusive as the abstruse liner notes. The over–arching idea, I suppose, is to present a varied menu, and that is good; on the other hand, some of what is presented is as welcome to me as broccoli or hominy grits. Those whose tastes encompass a wider sphere may look with favor on everything at this banquet table. I prefer the meat ...