Jazz Articles

like 317

The Trio (Peter Erskine / Chuck Berghofer / Terry Trotter): Live @ Charlie O's

by John Kelman
May 31, 2010

Three Los Angeles session men with a massive collective résumé as sidemen but, with the exception of one--drummer Peter Erskine--diminutive discographies as leaders; one set of largely iconic standards; and one live set from a club where the players, called simply “The Trio," perform on a regular basis. Live at Charlie O's is a loving tribute to two men: Charlie Ottaviano the club's founder, who sadly passed away in 2008, at the age of 66; and Edmond Demirdjian, a Bulgarian ...

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Frode Gjerstad: A Feral Storm from Norway

by Clifford Allen
May 31, 2010

In February 2010, Norwegian alto saxophonist and clarinetist Frode Gjerstad took the collective Circulasione Totale Orchestra to the United States for a few select performances, the first time the multinational group had been convened on American soil and a massive undertaking and feat of organization for the 62-year-old improviser. The orchestra consists of musicians from Norway, England, South Africa and the United States and grew out of a desire on Gjerstad's part, in the 1980s, to bring some of the ...

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Jeff Antoniuk and the Jazz Update: Brotherhood

by Woodrow Wilkins
May 31, 2010

A master teacher at the Washington Performing Arts Society and the Capitol Jazz Project, saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk has led jazz camps and performed at several festivals. His quartet Jazz Update, featuring Tom Baldwin on bass, Wade Beach on piano and rhodes, and Tony Martucci on drums and assorted percussion, has released its second album, entitled Brotherhood. “Screwball," the opening track, is a toast to Antoniuk's son, Aidan, who somehow earned that as a nickname. The ...

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Take Five with Andrew Hartman

by AAJ Staff
May 31, 2010

Meet Andrew Hartman:Andrew grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and became involved in music at a very young age. Moving to Columbus to attend the Ohio State University, Andrew received a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the school in 2004. In addition to his private studies with Tim Cummiskey and Kim Pensyl, Andrew had the opportunity for lessons with modern jazz greats Ben Monder, Kenny Werner, and Rick Peckham. While pursuing his ...

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Laurie Antonioli: American Dreams

by Dan Bilawsky
May 30, 2010

Calling American Dreams a jazz album is too narrowing a description. This record is actually an odyssey through the American musical landscape. After recording Foreign Affair (Nabel, 2004), with a multi-cultural cast of musicians while living abroad, vocalist Laurie Antonioli's mind drifted back toward thoughts of home. In exploring her vision of America, Antonioli touches on standards, country, folk and patriotic music. These entries are nestled within a collection that also includes a good amount of material resulting from a ...

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Silent Solos: Improvisers Speak

by Jakob Baekgaard
May 30, 2010

Silent Solos: Improvisers Speak Soft cover; 174 pages ISBN: 978-3-00-030557-3 Buddy's Knife 2010

Improvisation, at its best, is about instinct. At its worst, it's an intellectual exercise, cold and theoretical, without an emotional perspective. Fortunately, the beautifully produced Silent Solos: Improvisers Speak avoids the pitfalls of theoretical nonsense and opts instead for the opportunity to translate the difficult notion of improvisation into poetic meaning. The book is ...

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Nicole Mitchell's Sonic Projections: Emerald Hills

by Lyn Horton
May 30, 2010

All four of flutist Nicole Mitchell's groups reveal specific tangents which her music can follow. One of those groups--Sonic Projections, whose evolution grew out of paying tribute to George Lewis' book A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music (University of Chicago Press, 2008)--shows what Mitchell believes to be her rebellious side. Mitchell is herself a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Music (AACM).

Sonic Projections consists of Mitchell, pianist Craig Taborn, tenor saxophonist ...

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David Benoit: Earthglow

by Woodrow Wilkins
May 30, 2010

Having emerged at a time when many smooth jazz artists seemed to be in competition to sound alike, David Benoit has always been able to distinguish himself. The pianist has earned five Grammy nominations, and has successfully moved from orchestral to jazz to pop, sometimes mixing all three with other sounds. Those other sounds include Latin and Brazilian, which are woven into the tapestry of Earthglow. Accompanying Benoit is a varied supporting cast that includes trumpeter Rick Braun, ...

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Take Five With Shaun Mahoney

by AAJ Staff
May 30, 2010

Meet Shaun Mahoney:Shaun Mahoney began studying music at eight years old. He took piano lessons for four years before switching to the guitar. During high school, after attending summer music camps, he decided to study jazz guitar at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Upon graduation, Shaun stayed in Wilmington, NC working as a music teacher and performer for four years. He moved to New Jersey in 2008 and continued to work as a teacher and performer. ...

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Travelling the “Rhythm Road”: Jazz Ambassadorship in the Twenty-First Century

by Victor L. Schermer
May 30, 2010

When asked to define jazz, Count Basie, said, “Tap your feet!" Rhythm brings people together, and is part of what makes jazz America's musical bridge to the world. “Jazz ambassadorship," a concept which came on the scene over half a century ago, continues into the New Milennium. One current basis for its longevity is that every year since 2005, under the combined auspices of the U.S. State Department and Jazz at Lincoln Center, ten selected musical groups circumnavigate the globe ...