Jazz Articles
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BARI-ed Alive: Put It There
by Pierre Giroux
In an era teeming with standard horn sections and predictable lineups, BARI-ed Alive's Put It There stands out as a bold and sonorous declaration of individuality. The sextet's audacious choice to feature three baritone saxophones--masterfully played by Alex Dean, Shirantha Beddage, and Chris Gale--creates a sound that is muscular, bottom-heavy, and perhaps surprisingly buoyant. Rounded out by Jeff McLeod on the Hammond B-3 organ, Andrew Scott on guitar, and Morgan Childs on drums, this group knows how to have fun ...
Continue ReadingMike McClelland Rm 210: You'll Hear It: The Music of Bob Fenton
by Pierre Giroux
The Mike McClelland Quartet in this release has adopted the title of Mike McClelland Rm 210, led by McClelland on drums and joined by a stellar trio of Toronto musicians, including Mike Murley on tenor and soprano saxophones, Reg Schwager on guitar, and bassist Neil Swainson. The band pays a heartfelt tribute to pianist and composer Bob Fenton with You'll Hear It-- The Music of Bob Fenton . Fenton left an indelible mark on the Toronto jazz scene, ...
Continue ReadingMatthew Halpin, Stefan Bauer, Matthias Akeo Nowak, Terry Clarke: Mosaic
by Pierre Giroux
Mosaic, a live recording from Dachtheater, Warendorf and Domicil Dortmund in Germany, captures the thrilling spontaneity of four master musicians coming together for the first time. They are Matthew Halpin on tenor saxophone, Stefan Bauer on vibraharp, Matthias Akeo Nowak on bass and Terry Clarke on drums. With two exceptions, all compositions were written by Bauer, and they unfold like conversations among strangers who, nonetheless, find a common universal language in jazz. The result is an interplay that is both ...
Continue ReadingBarry Elmes Quintet: Night Flight
by Pierre Giroux
Barry Elmes is a drummer and composer who, over the years, has made notable contributions to the Canadian jazz scene. On the release Night Flight, he pays tribute to several iconic composers such as Charles Mingus, Cedar Walton, Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans and Hank Mobley each of whom had made a deep musical impression on Elmes. He showcases this through his creative voice, using their compositions as the framework. Joining Elmes for this pianoless release are ...
Continue ReadingMike Murley and Mark Eisenman: Recent History
by Pierre Giroux
Mike Murley and Mark Eisenman are well-recognized jazz musicians known for their considerable talent and contributions to the jazz genre. Their collaborative album Recent History is a testament to this music, showcasing their ability to create a cohesive and engaging musical conversation. Added to this satisfying outing is the internationally acclaimed rhythm section of bassist Neil Swainson and drummer Terry Clarke to complete the quartet. The make-up of this mainstream session is four Murley/Eisenman duo tracks ...
Continue ReadingGuido Basso: One More For The Road
by Pierre Giroux
Guido Basso, known for his mastery of the flugelhorn and trumpet, died in February of 2023. From his earliest days in Montreal playing with the Maury Kaye band, to working in the US with top performers such Vic Damone and Pearl Bailey, Basso gained a reputation as a consummate musician who was capable of working in a variety of settings. Deciding not to remain in the U.S., Basso returned to Canada and settled in Toronto. Here, he established himself as ...
Continue ReadingThe Rob McConnell Sextet: Old Friends / New Music
by Pierre Giroux
Rob McConnell was a valve trombonist, arranger, composer and leader of the big band called the Boss Brass, which set a new standard for jazz writing through the use of complex passages and close section harmony, and in 1983 won a Grammy. In this digital-only release by Cornerstone Records, McConnell leads a sextet comprised of Guido Basso on trumpet/flugelhorn, Rick Wilkins on tenor sax, Ed Bickert on guitar, Steve Wallace on bass and Terry Clarke on drums in a session ...
Continue ReadingRichard Whiteman: Very Well & Good
by Edward Blanco
One of the finest jazz musicians on the Canadian jazz scene, Toronto-based pianist / bassist Richard Whiteman lays down what he considers, perhaps, his best recording to date on the audacious Very Well & Good. A long established pianist for decades, Whiteman picked up the double bass in 2004 and has not put it down since. On this sparkling album the pianist performs on the double bass, leaving the keys to Amanda Tosoff, and presents nine of his best compositions ...
Continue ReadingJohn Abercrombie and Don Thompson: Yesterdays
by Don Phipps
The late John Abercrombie's outstanding and extensive recorded legacy includes two duet albums with fellow guitarist Ralph Towner, Sargasso Sea (ECM 2008) and Five Years Later (ECM, 2014), four Gateway trio albums (with bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette), and three Baseline Trio albums (with bassist Hein Van de Geyn and drummer Joe LaBarbera). Like those albums, Yesterdays finds him at his guitar-picking best, collaborating on this one with bassist Don Thompson. Recorded live in 1992 at ...
Continue ReadingMike Murley: Taking Flight
by Don Phipps
Mike Murley's Taking Flight is a candlelight romance of well-chosen covers and two original compositions. At times, Murley's sax sound is slightly reminiscent of Ben Webster while, when he plays ballads, one can hear echoes of John Coltrane. In short, his sound is sweet and warm. Combining this sound with the elegant contributions of his bandmates gives the album a sophisticated appeal, like sipping a cosmopolitan in black tie at a glass bar. Eschewing a drummer, Murley's ensemble ...
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