Jazz Articles

The Jimmy Giuffre 3: Music for People, Birds, Butterflies & Mosquitoes

by Joshua Weiner
March 20, 2024

Has any musician who is not a pianist explored the trio as a basis for musical invention as thoroughly as Jimmy Giuffre? There have been many versions of the Jimmy Giuffre 3, from the initial 1950s unit with Jim Hall on guitar and either Ralph Peña on bass or Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone, through the truly remarkable band featuring Steve Swallow on bass and Paul Bley on piano (ECM's reissue of two Verve LPs on the 1961 set is ...

Chick Corea: Sardinia

by Mike Jurkovic
September 2, 2023

Coming amid a flurry of Chick Corea titles set for release in 2023--Candid Records' 10-LP set, Chick Corea Electric Band: The Complete Studio Recordings 1986-1991; the previously unreleased, Corea curated, 2-CD live Electric Band The Future Is Now and ECM's re-release of the pianist's first session for the label as a leader with Dave Holland and Barry Altschul, A.R.C. (1971)--it could be easy to overlook the exquisite music heard on Sardinia. But let's not. For there is something ...

Eliane Elias: Quietude

by Edward Blanco
December 7, 2022

Brazilian-born pianist/vocalist and multi-Grammy-winning artist Eliane Elias returns to her musical roots on Quietude, her 31st album as leader and a follow up to her Grammy Award-winning album Mirror, Mirror (Candid Records, 2021), a duet with the late Chick Corea and Chucho Valdes. Recorded in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and in New York, on this album Elias shares eleven of her own personal favorite bossa nova songs showcasing her sultry Portuguese vocals and relegating her talents on the piano to a ...

Eliane Elias: Mirror Mirror

by Jim Worsley
October 21, 2021

The Chick Corea composition “Mirror Mirror" made its debut on a record led by Joe Henderso. Compelled by the tune's conversational and interactive elements, the astute tenor saxophonist made it the title track. Mirror Mirror (MPS, 1980) featured the rhythm section of Ron Carter and Billy Higgins. Henderson's quartet was, not surprisingly, rounded out by Corea. Gleaned from Snow White—"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?"— Corea's vision is indeed of beauty. Beautiful melodic sensibilities mirrored ...

Eliane Elias: Mirror Mirror

by Edward Blanco
September 30, 2021

Pianist and composer Eliane Elias reveals a wonderful reflection of piano madness on the dazzling Mirror Mirror, capturing the mastery of two piano legends and the fabulous key work of a third legend in the making. One can simply not go wrong listening to the late great Chick Corea and Cuban-born master Chucho Valdes providing amazing call and respond to Elias's own keyboard play. The result is compelling, tasteful, light jazz performed with elegance and grace. An album ...

Nate Najar: This Is Nate Najar

by Edward Blanco
February 26, 2017

Hailing from St. Petersburg, FL, guitarist Nate Najar unveils his third full length recording for the Candid Records label on the simply-titled This Is Nate Najar where he touches on the music of Chick Corea and Antonio Carlos Jobim as well as delivering a straight jazz sound with several cover tunes and a couple of originals. A fingerstyle guitarist on the acoustic classical guitar, Najar is one of the few in the modern jazz genre utilizing the nylon-string guitar employing ...

Kyle Eastwood: Songs From The Chateau

by Bruce Lindsay
April 16, 2011

Kyle Eastwood's career encompasses the writing of film soundtracks, as well as the life of a jazz composer, bandleader and bassist. On those seemingly rare occasions when he isn't working, Eastwood spends much of his time in France. Songs From The Chateau is his fifth album since 1998's debut, From There To Here (Sony), and his fourth for British Candid label. It finds Eastwood recording in the country he loves, at the 15th century Chateau Couronneau in the Bordeaux region. ...

Kyle Eastwood: Metropolitain

by Jim Santella
August 23, 2009

Recorded in Paris, Kyle Eastwood's Metropolitain achieves an original jazz sound that combines the tradition of his father, Clint's record collection with a new generation of influences. He hasn't fallen prey to any gimmicks of style and is carving out his own musical voice with elements that combine to appeal to a broad audience. Anyone who has seen a movie recently will realize that modern jazz remains a big partner in bringing emotions to life.

Eastwood and writing ...

Sheila Cooper: Tales of Love and Longing

by Michael P. Gladstone
September 6, 2008

This is a most impressive album from Sheila Cooper, accompanied by pianist Fritz Pauer. The identity issue here is further complicated by the fact that alto saxophonist Cooper/vocalist Cooper makes this recording a veritable trio album by virtue of her musicianship.

Cooper, originally from Canada, is now based in Vienna, Austria, pairing with Pauer for her third album. These ten tracks are mostly vocals with one unaccompanied instrumental beauty upon which Cooper plays an impressive version of Green ...

Keith Shadwick: Free Time

by Chris May
August 7, 2008

Keith Shadwick--the well loved British journalist and author who passed away on July 28, 2008--was in his early twenties a jazz and jazz/rock musician playing saxophone, flute and piano. Then based in Australia, Shadwick was a founder member of the Sydney group, Sun.

Managed by Horst Liepolt (who later ran Sweet Basil's in New York), Sun released one album, Sun 1972 (RCA Australia, 1972), before splitting up and going their separate ways. To celebrate Shadwick's life, Candid Records ...