Jazz Articles

Our daily articles are carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. You can find more articles by searching our website, see what's trending on our popular articles page or read articles ahead of their published dates on our Coming Soon page. Read our daily album reviews.

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Album Review

The Leslie Drayton Orchestra: By Request

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 1999

By Request encompasses more than a dozen songs recorded on at least four occasions some years ago by trumpeter Leslie Drayton’s orchestra; I can’t say how much of what is included was previously released, but unless you’re an ardent and well–informed connoisseur of the big–band scene, the chances are better than even that Drayton’s gregarious charts (he arranged everything and wrote all but “Stormy Monday”) will be as fresh and charming to you as they were to me. He adroitly ...

Album Review

Leslie Drayton: Urbanesque

by Dave Hughes
February 1, 1999

While the saxophone, keyboards, and guitar are still the most common lead voices heard in the contemporary jazz genre, more and more trumpeters are trying to claim a place for their instrument on the airwaves. While many turn to harmon mutes to make their voice softer and mellower, Leslie Drayton presents his wide-open trumpet and flugelhorn in a pleasing collection of all original material. Drayton occasionally enlists a saxophonist or a vibraphonist to share the lead lines, and ...