Jazz Articles

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A Peep Into The World of Putumayo

by Raul d'Gama Rose
April 30, 2010

The Putumayo label has been doing a remarkable job of bringing music from different corners of the world to hungry new ears, always including an element of surprise in the repertoire. Almost every album is brimful with tracks that delight and are a reminder that there are many more musicians out there than the industry is willing to accommodate. Putumayo packaging is spectacular too--brilliantly illustrated by the British artist Nicola Heindl and often including fabulously exotic food recipes from far ...

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Take Five with Ralf Krebs

by AAJ Staff
April 30, 2010

Meet Ralf Krebs:The native Berliner began his musical career at the age of 11, taking lessons in drumming and latin percussion. He was much in demand as a drummer and percussionist in numerous local bands and counted amongst his influences Salsa, Fusion and the Jazz Rock of the 70s and 80s.His love of harmony and melody led him to undertake the transition from drums to guitar. The experience he gained in his first instrument is still ...

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Fabrizio Sotti: Inner Dance

by John Barron
April 30, 2010

Italian-born guitarist Fabrizio Sotti straddles the fence between straight-ahead jazz and pop-oriented instrumentals on Inner Dance, a muscular guitar extravaganza featuring Sotti's original compositions. Sotti gives equal attention to electric and nylon string acoustic guitars throughout, striking a balance between chops-heavy showcases and reflective pieces with an emphasis on song structure. His electric playing has an aggressive punch, incorporating blazing, single-note runs with a rocked-up edge. At times, his style is reminiscent of fusion guitar giant Mike Stern, ...

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New York Art Quartet: Old Stuff

by Jerry D'Souza
April 30, 2010

The New York Art Quartet was a short-lived group. Its first recording was the eponymous New York Art Quartet (ESP Disk, 1964), with the original line-up of alto saxophonist John Tchicai, trombonist Roswell Rudd, bassist Lewis Worrell and drummer Milford Grave. It was a highly intense band that parlayed free jazz into stunning directions. Worrell left the band at the end of 1964 and was replaced by Reggie Workman who played on the second record, Mohawk (Fontana, 1965). ...

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VW Brothers: Muziek

by Raul d'Gama Rose
April 29, 2010

Muziek is much too nondescript a name for an album, but then it is signed off with humility as being by “VW Brothers." While this fact is likely to add to the album's mystique, it demands immediate redress, for this is the memorable document of a musical journey that began years before the Van Wageningen Brothers--that is who the VW Brothers are--arrived in the US from their native Netherlands. The Euro-centric origin of drummer Paul and his bass playing brother ...

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Andre Matos: Fantasies Realized

by William Carey
April 29, 2010

There is no doubt that André Matos has chops to burn. Placed firmly in the tradition of John Abercrombie and Pat Martino, with a bit of Sonny Sharrock at moments, a lot of Berklee (College of Music) influence is readily apparent, but with a bit of headiness that also reflects the guitarist's time at the New England Conservatory. Quare (2010), released on saxophonist Greg Osby's record Inner Circle Music label, serves as a nice introduction to Matos' compositional skills as ...

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Peter Asplund: Asplund Meets Bernstein

by Chris Mosey
April 29, 2010

This reverent but highly accessible and creative tribute to Leonard Bernstein, by Swedish trumpeter Peter Asplund, will undoubtedly be a leading contender for his homeland's next Golden Record (Gyllene Skivan) award. It's the most important jazz album to emerge from the Nordic Area in a good long while. Asplund's collaboration with Mats Hålling--a composer and arranger who writes everything from modern classical music to Swedish pop--brings to mind, in a low key kind of way, Miles Davis' ...

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Blue Koi Collective at JZ Club in Shanghai

by Jenn Chan Lyman
April 29, 2010

Blue Koi CollectiveJZ ClubShanghaiApril 5, 2010JZ Club welcomed a special evening with free jazz group Blue Koi Collective on Monday night. Led by Italian pianist Gabriele Meirano, Blue Koi Collective has been playing at JZ Club for the past two years, performing their unique rendition of “free jazz" with stalwarts Alec Haavik on saxophone and Feng Hao on percussion, along with various special guests. Featured guest of the evening was Li Daiguo, an ...

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Tommaso Cappellato: Open

by Bruce Lindsay
April 29, 2010

Italian drummer and composer Tommaso Cappellato drives a strong and intelligent quartet on Open, his first album as leader, to create a rewarding and eclectic set of tunes that borrow innovatively from hip-hop, free jazz and funk. The album showcases Cappellato's writing talents as well as his percussion skills, while his choice of some exceptional fellow musicians--he formed the quartet in 2008--augurs well for his future as a bandleader. The album's first track, “Nowhere, Now Here," finds ...

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Rick Estrin and the Nightcats at The Toad Tavern, Denver

by Geoff Anderson
April 29, 2010

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats The Toad Tavern Denver, Colorado April 14, 2010

Frank Zappa asked, “Does humor belong in music?" Rick Estrin would not only answer “Of course!" He'd also look at you like, “What kind of jive ass question is that?" Estrin has been writing and performing jump blues with a hard comedic edge for well over 20 years now. Starting back in 1987, he and Little Charlie and the Nightcats ...