Jazz Articles

like 297

Pascal Battus & Christine Sehnaoui Abdelnour: Ichnites

by John Eyles
July 11, 2010

On Ichnites Pascal Battus plays rotating surfaces; these consist of small motorised components from inside old Walkmans or cassette players, which are used as exciters on different objects reacting as vibrators and resonators : sheets of paper, cardboards, plastic, wooden, metal, polystyrene pieces, and stems connected to cymbals. The results are small resonant sounds that hover somewhere between percussion and drone.

Alongside Battus, Christine Sehnaoui Abdelnour plays alto sax with such restraint, care and attention to detail that ...

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John Mellencamp: On The Rural Route 7609

by Mike Perciaccante
July 11, 2010

John MellencampOn The Rural Route 7609Island Def Jam2010While guitarist/vocalist John Mellencamp's four-CD box set spans his entire career, it is not a collection of hits alone. On this retrospective of his musical career, the Indian-bred rocker has chosen to include 54 songs, 17 of which are previously unreleased, and packaged them within a 72-page book containing many rare pictures, lyrics and commentary.The collection contains many of Mellencamp's hits ("Jack And ...

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Tessa Quayle: Tessa Quayle: Whisper Not

by Matthew Warnock
July 11, 2010

Whisper Not is a fresh take on the traditional jazz repertoire by New Zealand vocalist Tessa Quayle. A gifted melodicist and improviser, Quayle brings a unique and personalized approach to these ten jazz and American Songbook standards. While she may not be a household name, yet, Quayle gives a performance that stands on its own two feet, firmly solidifying her as a singer to watch for as she moves forward in her budding career. Quayle has chosen a ...

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Sun Ra Arkestra: Live At The Paradox

by Dan Bilawsky
July 10, 2010

Few groups have travelled as far--cosmically and musically--as the Sun Ra Arkestra. While Ra's Saturnian schtick brought him great attention and notoriety, his music goes well beyond that one area. The roots of swing, bop-leaning sounds, extra-terrestrial experimentalism and free jazz of the most ferocious kind are all part of Ra's repertoire. Ra departed planet Earth in 1993, but the Arkestra soldiered on under the direction of longtime saxophonist John Gilmore. When Gilmore passed away in 1995, ...

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Phish Live Summer 2010: Back to Back at SPAC

by Doug Collette
July 10, 2010

PhishSaratoga Performing Arts CenterSaratoga Springs, New YorkJune 19 & June 20, 2010 Early in their second set on June 19th in Saratoge, Phish played “Free," one of a number vintage tunes offered that night interspersed with the occasional newer tune such as “Joy." But the ringing guitar refrain combined with the soaring harmonies on the former had special resonance here in 2010. A year after the comeback of 2009, the quintessential jamband are indeed ...

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Martin Küchen / Keith Rowe / Seymour Wright: (No title)

by John Eyles
July 10, 2010

Curiously, this untitled CD is released as part of Another Timbre's Guitar Series. True, Keith Rowe has a long and distinguished career as an improvising guitarist, dating back to the mid 60's and before. But over recent years he has steadily reduced the role of the actual guitar and correspondingly increased the role of electronics to the point where they are now dominant. At the time this recording was made, the only vestigial trace of a guitar in Rowe's set ...

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Peter Frampton and Yes at the Nikon Theater at Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY

by Mike Perciaccante
July 10, 2010

Peter Frampton and Yes Nikon Theater at Jones Beach Wantagh, New York June 26, 2010

According to Yes bassist Chris Squire, his band and Peter Frampton hadn't played together since the early 70s. For many in attendance at Jones Beach on Saturday, June 26, 2010, the double-billed concert was the closest thing to time travel.

By opening with a Humble Pie number ("Four Day Creep"--sometimes known as “I Want You To Love Me"), ...

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Pascal Niggenkemper Trio: Urban Creatures

by Nic Jones
July 10, 2010

The Pascal Niggenkemper Trio is one that covers a lot of ground, and they deserve praise for that. But the trouble is that a distinct musical identity only emerges infrequently despite the fact that all three players are clearly well versed in the territory they map out.

Of the three of them drummer/pianist Tyshawn Sorey is perhaps the best known name, and any project he's involved in cannot be dismissed lightly. In this instance however the music is often marked ...

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Jamie Ousley: Back Home

by Edward Blanco
July 10, 2010

One of the most in-demand bassist in South Florida, Jamie Ousley comes Back Home with an eclectic collection of songs on his second album featuring nine originals, one standard and a Latin shaded rendition of a Frederic Chopin composition. Originally from Tennessee and now residing in Miami since 1998--where he teaches at Florida International University--the bassist used the international stage from where he draws much experience, to record part of this album. With his core trio band mates of pianist ...

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Freihofer's Jazz Festival 2010: 33rd Edition is Strong

by R.J. DeLuke
July 9, 2010

2010 Freihofer's Jazz FestivalSaratoga Springs, NYJune 26-27, 2010 Watching Kendrick Scott's Oracle band in the warmth and sunshine of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center recently brought into focus everything that's good about the two-day event created by legendary impresario George Wein in 1978 and carried on more than capably by Danny Melnick's Absolutely Live production group (in conjunction with SPAC) since 2007.

The event, held June 26-27 in Saratoga Springs, NY, features bands on ...