Jazz Articles
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Bob Holz: Honoring Larry Coryell
by Glenn Astarita
The late Larry Coryell, widely hailed as the godfather of jazz fusion, devoted decades to blending jazz improvisation with rock vitality. His influence on guitar technique still cuts across generations. Drummer and bandleader Bob Holz, a prominent West Coast fusion figure, pays homage through these two vibrant 2015 live sessions. Rather than a static relic, the album engages Coryell's spirit in fresh conversation, delivered by an ensemble intent on pushing forward rather than polishing a tombstone. Coryell's bold ...
Continue ReadingBob Holz: Night Watch
by Glenn Astarita
Bob Holz, an acclaimed drummer and composer, has been a significant figure in the jazz and fusion scenes for several decades. With a background that includes collaborations with legends such as Larry Coryell and Stanley Clarke, Holz's drumming prowess is marked by superior technical abilities and depth. His experience and deep understanding of various musical styles are vividly reflected in Night Watch. Notably, talented keyboardist Billy Steinway composed most of the tracks, adding a cohesive and dynamic touch to the ...
Continue ReadingBob Holz: Live in New York & L.A.
by Dan Bilawsky
While Live in New York & L.A. is a split-scene production crossing coasts, spanning several years and utilizing different personnel lists, it offers a cohesive playlist. Not surprisingly, Bob Holz ties everything together with his kit and charisma. Mixing standards and originals to good effect, this Berklee-trained drummer, who previously worked with everybody from guitarist Larry Coryell to trumpeter Randy Brecker to bassist Stanley Clarke, is always in his element. Frontloading the album with half a dozen ...
Continue ReadingBob Holz: Silverthorne
by Glenn Astarita
Here's a solid jazz fusion album sans the megalomaniacal soloing sprees and impossibly complex time signatures brought to us by highly regarded session drummer and bandleader Bob Holz, who reaps the benefits of A-listers such as guitarist Mike Stern, trumpeter Randy Brecker and other notables. And while drummers are not frequently heralded for their compositions and arrangements, Holz excels in these areas via his several originals that are enhanced with tuneful choruses and assertive soloing ventures. Moreover, the artists translucently ...
Continue ReadingBob Holz: VISIONS: Coast to Coast Connection
by Glenn Astarita
Jazz fusion drummer Bob Holz and longtime friend, bassist extraordinaire Stanley Clarke (Return to Forever) record together for the first time, namely on two tracks, also featuring bassist Ralphe Armstrong (Mahavishnu Orchestra) and a stellar cast of East and West Coast musicians. Nonetheless, Holz doesn't reinvent the wheel here, but conveys a cheerful vibe via his solid compositions and buoyant arrangements that equate to a contemporary slant on jazz fusion. With that notion in mind, Holz and associates have not ...
Continue ReadingPhoton Band: Pure Photonic Matter Volume 1
by Glenn Astarita
The Philadelphia-based Photon Band conspicuously unites Indie rock with an amalgamation of psychedelics and spacey overtures amid occasional nods to the British punk rock movement and hard-driving proto-punk ensembles such as MC5. This limited edition vinyl release was largely created by the band's leader, guitarist/bassist/vocalist Art di Furia. Some of the rewarding elements can be attributed to the diverse track mix. With stinging psychedelic guitar licks and fuzzed-out chord voicings, di Furia's rather polite vocal delivery institutes a palpable asset ...
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