Jazz Articles
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Art Pepper: An Afternoon in Norway: The Kongsberg Concert
by Jack Kenny
This album is not just music; it is a glimpse into one of the most compelling stories in Art Pepper's musical history from the impossibly handsome alto saxophonist with Stan Kenton's orchestra to a drug-fueled inmate in San Quentin, culminating in a glorious renaissance. The sheer logistics surrounding this album are impressive. Consider this whirlwind: finishing a stint at Ronnie Scott's, early on early Sunday morning, a dash to Heathrow airport, a flight to Oslo, Norway, a car ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: In Norway: The Kongsberg Concert
by Ian Patterson
The release of In Norway: The Konsberg Concert coincides with the sixtieth anniversary of the Konsberg Jazz Festival. Double cause for celebration. The steady flow of archival Evans recordings shows no signs of abating, with In Norway: The Konsberg Concert, recorded in 1970, coming hot on the heels of the previously unreleased Bill Evans: Behind The Dikes: The 1969 Netherlands Recordings (2021), Bill Evans: Treasures: Solo, Trio and Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969) (2023) and Tales: Live in Copenhagen (1964) ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: In Norway
by Dan McClenaghan
Pianist Bill Evans' career lasted from the late 1950s until his passing in 1980, but beginning around about 20 years into the 21st century CD releases under Evan's name have been rolling along at a brisk clip, thanks to the Resonance, Elemental and Ess- thetics Record labels. Zev Feldman, often called “The Jazz Detective," has played a big part in this steady release of mostly laudable recordings, uncovering lost or shelved tapes of Evan's concerts, resulting in albums like Bill ...
Continue ReadingYusef Lateef: Atlantis Lullaby - The Concert From Avignon
by Pierre Giroux
Yusef Lateef's performance in Atlantis Lullaby is a masterclass in communication and demonstration of synergy. In this previously unreleased performance recorded in Avignon, France in 1972, Lateef, on soprano sax, tenor sax and flute, is accompanied by Kenny Barron on piano, Bob Cunningham on bass and Albert “Tootie" Heath on drums. This two-CD package is being released by Elemental Music and produced for release by Zev Feldman. It contains a 23-page booklet with stories and reminiscences about Lateef from Feldman, ...
Continue ReadingCannonball Adderley: Poppin In Paris: Live At L'Olympia 1972
by Mike Jurkovic
In his most natural setting--onstage alongside brother Nat Adderley--and accompanied by pianist George Duke, bassist Walter Booker and the trusty Roy McCurdy on drums, Cannonball Adderley pops and bops to all heart's content on Poppin' In Paris: Live at the Olympia 1972 . Appearing as part of the Paris Jazz Festival, the band holds true to its unspoken credo--defy expectations--and steams straight ahead into Duke's epic rent party stomp “Black Messiah." It is a colorful jazz-rock fireworks display ...
Continue ReadingCannonball Adderly: Burnin’ in Bordeaux: Live in France 1969
by Mike Jurkovic
Intent on burning down the house, Burnin' in Bordeaux: Live in France 1969 finds Cannonball Adderley gleefully passing out the matches. Captured very, very, very live at the Bordeaux Jazz Festival in March 1969, Adderley and his fired up co-arsonists--pianist Joe Zawinul, cornetist Nat Adderley, Jr., bassist Victor Gaskin, and drummer Roy McCurdy--go scorched earth from the flare-up with Zawinul's spiky ember, the uber-toned “The Scavenger." It rips, it roars. It runs wild the rapids and holds strong the ramparts. It ...
Continue ReadingMal Waldron / Steve Lacy: The Mighty Warriors
by Karl Ackermann
Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy first played together in 1958 at the Bowery neighborhood's Five Spot. Their association was long, if not necessarily prolific on record. Though their personal styles contrasted, they frequently existed in a parallel universe. Both expatriates lived in Paris, were predisposed to the avant-garde, and shared a deep appreciation for Thelonious Monk's music. They performed and recorded until 2002 when Waldron died. Barcelona-based Elemental Music Records acquired the previously unreleased recordings of Lacy and Waldron from ...
Continue ReadingMal Waldron - Steve Lacy: The Mighty Warriors
by Dan McClenaghan
Producer/jazz detective Zev Feldman is still at it, ferreting out unreleased recordings from jazz giants of the past and releasing them with buffed-up sound quality and first-rate packaging. Long lost recordings from pianists Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Art Tatum and Ahmad Jamal have seen the light of the twenty-first century, thanks to Feldman, as has newly discovered music from trumpeter Chet Baker. Now it is pianist Mal Waldron (1925 -2002) and soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy's (1934 -2004) turn, with The ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Tales: Live in Copenhagen (1964)
by Mike Jurkovic
Maybe it is and maybe it isn't as historical in scope as some of the previous ten archival Bill Evans releases from that master of jazz discovery, Zev Feldman, and Evans' estate, but Tales: Live in Copenhagen (1964) is sure fire proof you got nothing but the best on any given night at any given gig by Evans and his cohorts. From the get go, this set--recorded by Evans, bassist Chuck Israels and drummer Larry Bunker at Danish ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Treasures: Solo, Trio and Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969)
by Mike Jurkovic
At first one might wonder how long good fortune can last so that previously unheard and unreleased Bill Evans sets such as Treasures: Solo, Trio and Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969) seemingly fall from the heavens on a regular basis. Is it not fact that all good things must come to an end is the cruelest of ironies? But it would appear, at least for the expectant moment, that we are living in the best of times. So ...
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