Jazz Articles

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Mike Reed's People, Places & Things: Stories And Negotiations

by Martin Longley
June 11, 2010

This third album by Mike Reed's People, Places & Things (PP&T) takes its position as the most direct manifestation of the combo's agreed purpose. The Chicago drummer has begun a journey of rediscovery, or even introduction, to the old jazz sounds of that city's late '50s period. Reed's concept is not to reproduce, but to respond to vintage sounds via the platform of a modern-day band. Usually, PP&T takes the shape of a quartet, but for this ...

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Jacky Terrasson: Push

by George Kanzler
June 11, 2010

Since winning the Thelonious Monk Piano Competition 17 years ago, Jacky Terrasson has ranged far and wide from his original, striking early trio (with minimalist drummer/percussionist Leon Parker), exploring formats from solo and various duos to larger ensembles. For this, his first album for a new label, he returns with a new trio, featuring recent Monk Competition-winning bassist Ben Williams and drummer Jamire Williams, augmented by guests. While Terrasson has been likened to Keith Jarrett and Herbie Hancock, ...

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Take Five With Ava Lemert

by AAJ Staff
June 11, 2010

Meet Ava Lemert: Ava Lemert is a Sacramento siren of soul. She is a passionate singer, songwriter, as well as an impressive saxophonist. Her original songs range from the richly arranged '70s soul-tinged “You Know You Got It," which feature her singing lead, harmonies, and layers of her alto and tenor saxophones, to her haunting, emotive and sexy instrumental “Rhodelea." Ava has the vocal and sax chops to make quite an impression on fans and critics alike.

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Jazz Incognito

by Changamire
June 11, 2010

"Let's try it again," he said, staring at the flat-screen monitors and twisting dozens of knobs and buttons. “That one was a little sharp. One more time."From a bedroom in his red brick rambler in Oxon Hill, MD, hip hop producer Adrian “BuBu the Producer" Barnes is guiding me, a jazz singer, through a recording session. He has been producing for A-list artists since 1992, and I am hoping to leave his house today with a great record.

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David S. Ware: Gravitation

by Martin Longley
June 10, 2010

It wasn't the kidney transplant that brought saxophonist David S. Ware very close to wheelchair confinement. Last September (2009), there were early signs of organ rejection, so he was placed on a course of steroids. These came with side effects that were more debilitating than last year's operation itself. Since then, Ware has been in a state of recuperation, although his definition of resting is nowhere near the same as that understood by most folks. Even in healthier ...

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Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol V: Stuttgart May 25, 1981

by C. Michael Bailey
June 10, 2010

Art Pepper Unreleased Art, Vol V: Stuttgart May 25, 1981 Widow's Taste 2010Since 2006, alto saxophonist Art Pepper's discography has grown by a CD of previously unreleased or limited released performances per year. This bounty is due to the diligence of Pepper's widow, Laurie, who has been accumulating material from her own and other private collections and releasing them on her Widow's Taste label. This has proven fortunate for Pepper-ophiles and students ...

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Ellen Rowe Quartet: Wishing Well

by Raul d'Gama Rose
June 10, 2010

Ellen Rowe's uniquely modern sensibility echoes throughout Wishing Well. Rowe is a virtuoso pianist who blends the dreamy abstractions of nineteenth century impressionism with the nervous energy of a bebop player. She plays as she breathes--sometimes in shallow gasps indicating an extreme sense of urgency, and at other times in seemingly endless runs with dallying notes and interminable phrases as if her lungs, filled with air, have propelled her arms and fingers into an endless sequence of events. Both aspects ...

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Mads Vinding: Bubbles & Ballads / Bass & Bones

by Chris Mosey
June 10, 2010

With the death of Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen in 2005, the keys to the kingdom of double bass playing in Denmark passed at long last to Mads Vinding. Only two years separated the two men--Pedersen was born in 1946, Vinding in 1948--but “young" Vinding always found himself in the giant shadow cast by Pedersen. Both men were at different times house bassist at Copenhagen's renowned Montmartre jazz club, accompanying some of the best instrumentalists in the world. Both ...

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Relocator: Relocator

by Glenn Astarita
June 10, 2010

Progressive-rock and jazz-rock often share a common bond, yet many artists either tilt the scale towards technical gymnastics or focus on strong song-form and fine-tune the balance of justice with judicious soloing spots. This eponymous release marks the first album by Relocator, a band which has experienced personnel changes and a breakup, spanning the recent past. Here, founding members--guitarist Stefan Artwin and bassist Michael Pruchnicki--enlist eminent prog-metal keyboardist Derek Sherinian to round out a multinational quintet.

The musicians ...

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Take Five With Tiffany Apan

by AAJ Staff
June 10, 2010

Meet Tiffany Apan:Tiffany Apan is a vocalist/songwriter with a background in classical music (voice and piano) and musical theatre. She had a musical turning point when she portrayed a free style jazz singer in Marta Effinger's Whispers Want to Holler, where she was coached by Billy Harper. This opened the door to her expanding to different styles of music as well as her approach to writing and performing music.She released her debut album, Poet, in 2008 ...