Jazz Articles

Steve Smith/Michael Zilber: Reimagined, Vol. 1: Jazz Standards

by Jack Bowers
September 25, 2003

Saxophonist/arranger Michael Zilber has been “Zilberizing" popular and jazz standards for more than twenty years, and drummer Steve Smith, with whom he has played in various groups for the past six, suggested that he record an album of his “reimagined" tunes, which is what we have here. Reimagining, writes Zilber, is “the process where[by] everything in the tune except some form of the melody (sometimes rewritten) is fair game, from changes to meter to form to tempo."

The album's subtitle ...

Nat Simpkins: Crescent City

by Mike Perciaccante
December 13, 2002

Crescent City is tenor saxophonist Nat Simpkins' fourth CD and undoubtedly his best. Simpkins has created a hard-boppin', soul-jazz masterpiece, giving his sound a touch of that old Nawlins funk. The result is a gumbo of sorts that is rollicking and yet sentimental.

Simpkins brought together a stalwart group of New Orleans musicians to perform six originals and four covers. Crescent City has a timeless quality: the album sounds as if it would not be out of place ...

Henri Smith: New Orleans Friends & Flavors

by Mike Perciaccante
December 5, 2002

Those familiar with the New Orleans radio and television community (WWOZ-FM and WSJZ-FM and the “New Orleans Live" show) have undoubtedly heard Henri Smith's deep, resonant voice and his suave smooth delivery -- first as a disc jockey and then as a TV host. Henri has also parlayed his high Crescent City profile into roles in many TV commercials and more recently parts in major Hollywood movies including: Double Jeopardy , Primary Colors and A Lesson Before Dying. ...

Nick Rolfe: The Persuader

by Reid Thompson
December 1, 2001

Bluejay Records is an inspirational company that was founded by Cecil Brooks III and Nat Simpkins several years ago and is based out of Manchester, MA. Its existence shows that plenty of initiative still exists in the jazz world, and that artists today are striving to maintain the integrity that comes from doing something independently. Their recording artists have netted high-profile musicians Steve Turre, Don Braden, Bryan Carrott, and Steve Wilson as sidemen and have generally shown to be solid ...

Mark Griffith: Drumatic

by Reid Thompson
December 1, 2001

Bluejay Records is an inspirational company that was founded by Cecil Brooks III and Nat Simpkins several years ago and is based out of Manchester, MA. Its existence shows that plenty of initiative still exists in the jazz world, and that artists today are striving to maintain the integrity that comes from doing something independently. Their recording artists have netted high-profile musicians Steve Turre, Don Braden, Bryan Carrott, and Steve Wilson as sidemen and have generally shown to be solid ...