Jazz Articles
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Will Vinson: Planted and Growing in New York
by R.J. DeLuke
Like many musicians of his generation, growing up in the rock-and pop-dominated 1980s, saxophonist Will Vinson got his indoctrination to jazz from the sounds emanating from the stereo system in his home, hearing the likes of Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and Count Basie from his father's record collection. He took a liking to them. Especially Basie, as Vinson started out playing the piano as a youngster. But there were a few obstacles. Vinson, 33, is a native of ...
Continue Reading...Riviera Maya Jazz Festival: Day Two, November 26, 2010
by Chris M. Slawecki
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival Playa del Carmen, MexicoNovember 25-28, 2010 Painting in bold colors from different corners of the Latin American musical spectrum, guitarist Al Di Meola drew from his acclaimed, historic collaborations with Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucia and Argentinean tango master Astor Piazzolla for his Friday, November 26, 2010 set at the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival.Prior to the ...
Continue Reading...Brass Jaw: Branded
by Bruce Lindsay
Branded is Brass Jaw's third album since baritone saxophonist Allon Beauvoisin formed the band in 2005. It appears at the end of a hectic year for the Scottish quartet which has included performing at the Rochester Jazz Festival, and gathering great reviews for its series of London Jazz Festival gigs. The band's name is a little misleading, for the line-up actually features three saxophones and a trumpet. Brass Neck might be more appropriate, because this is a band that brims ...
Continue Reading...Wadada Leo Smith / Ed Blackwell: The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer
by Dan McClenaghan
The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer is a set full of brash, in-your-face spontaneity, which is a meeting of expectations when the musicians at hand are trumpeter/multi-instrumentalist Wadada Leo Smith and the late drummer, Ed Blackwell. Smith's contribution to the free jazz cannon stretches back to his days with Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), while Blackwell rose to prominence as a member of Ornette Coleman's legendary quartet.The set, recorded live at Brandeis University in 1986, ...
Continue Reading...Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble: Blueprints
by Nicholas F. Mondello
When cooking a marvelous soup or stew from scratch with all the finest ingredients, there's that special moment when the culinary creation rushes to a boil and marvelous flavors burst out explosively into the air. It's the penultimate moment only surpassed by the delicious devouring. Contentment follows. The selections contained in the Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble's fine Blueprints are wonderfully reminiscent of a musical recipe that simmers slowly and then bursts into a fiery buffet. This is ...
Continue Reading...Turtle Island Quartet: Have You Ever Been....? : The Music of Jimi Hendrix and David Balakrishnan
by Ernest Barteldes
While Jimi Hendrix has been an inspiration to many guitarists, regardless of their musical inclinations, few classical musicians have taken a deep look at his music. This changes on Have You Ever Been....? by Turtle Island Quartet; a group that has taken on the works of John Coltrane on A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane (Telarc, 2007 amongst others. The disc opens with a four-part suite of the songs from Hendrix's Electric Ladyland (Reprise, 1968), ...
Continue Reading...Art Pepper: Unreleased Art Vol. 5: Stuttgart May 25, 1981
by Chris M. Slawecki
Recorded during a European tour by Pepper's “comeback quartet" with drummer Carl Burnett, bassist Bob Magnusson and pianist Milcho Leviev, Unreleased Art Vol. 5: Stuttgart May 25, 1981 is a genuine labor of love: Not only the performers' love of music but also the devotion of this alto saxophonist's fans, who sent their own recordings of this date to Pepper's widow, Laurie, who turned them over to producer Wayne Peet for remastering and sequencing into this two-disc set.The ...
Continue Reading...Riviera Maya Jazz Festival: Day One, November 25, 2010
by Chris M. Slawecki
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival Playa del Carmen, MexicoNovember 25-28, 2010In the language of their spoken words during the pre-performance press conferences, and in the language of music through their concerts, the performers at the 2010 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival spread the message of love and respect throughout the beaches and skies of beautiful Playa del Carmen.The opening bill on Thursday, November ...
Continue Reading...The Outtengrand Orchestra: The Outtengrand Orchestra Presents A Dangerously Groovy Christmas
by C. Michael Bailey
Bassist Norm Stockton has a lot of irons in the fire, both in the contemporary jazz and contemporary Christian music arenas. One such project, his Outtengrand Orchestra, released a finely crafted adult contemporary holiday offering in 2006, The Outtengrand Orchestra Presents A Dangerously Groovy Christmas. Contemporary jazz, made by the likes of The Rippingtons and Yellowjackets, is immensely popular among listeners who otherwise would not listen to a genre called “jazz." In the case of A Dangerously Groovy Christmas, this ...
Continue Reading...Chamber Jazz
by Nick Catalano
The term “chamber jazz" has risen steadily in prominence in recent years and dealing with its essence is not a simple matter. Jazz seems to constantly involve itself with terms (swing, hard bop, fusion) that defy meaningful compartmentalization. I spend hours discussing some of these terms in my jazz class at Pace University and often fail to give my students word pictures of these terms that are precise enough for their needs. I have referenced “chamber jazz" ...
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