Jazz Articles

Barbara Jungfer: Vitamin B-3

by Scott Andrews
November 25, 2004

German jazz guitarist and composer Barbara Jungfer has been on the European jazz scene for over a decade. Her 2001 release Vitamin B-3 features eight original compositions and one standard in an organ trio format.

The mellow vibe of hollow-body guitar and sustained Hammond chords accentuates the somber mood of Jungfer's songs. The mid-tempo, finger-picked track “Back Home" opens with a blues shuffle. “Dawn Bird" and the Herzog/Holiday standard “God Bless the Child" ease through the middle of ...

Mind Gallery: Three Meals From Revolution

by Michael Askounes
September 1, 2000

Mind Gallery, and their latest release Three Meals From Revolution is a tough release to categorize. The band basically take the ideals of the 60’s, the prog rock musical structure of the 70’s, the loud grating keyboard sounds on the 80’s, and the oft over-simplified song composition (yes, simplified prog is possible – just listen to Marillion) of the 90’s and mixed all the elements together on their Year 2000 release. Do all these differing styles work when thrown together ...

Antonio Ciacca: Hollis Avenue

by Jim Santella
December 1, 1999

Italian pianist Antonio Ciacca’s modern mainstream quartet session breathes dramatic fire and still contains the necessary dollop of lyrical charm. Thirty years old, favoring Thelonious Monk’s compositional spontaneity, and aware of the need for balance in one’s work, Ciacca leads two different quartets through several standards and a few originals. Young lions all, the artists dish out tributes to Monk, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn while applying fresh ideas throughout.

The album’s title pays homage to Jaki Byard. The pianist, ...