Jazz Articles

like 586

Joe Corsello: Strong Second Act

by David A. Orthmann
April 19, 2010

In the notes to an unfinished novel, the celebrated 20th Century author F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “there are no second acts in American lives." The vicissitudes of the lives of many jazz musicians, some of whom drop out of sight for years or even decades, are exceptions to Fitzgerald's often quoted dictum.The first act of Joe Corsello's career as a jazz drummer was in the 1970s, when he worked in a number of noteworthy mainstream ensembles, ranging from ...

like 493

Daniel Kelly, Gary Peacock & Marc Copland, Allison Miller: Solo, Duo, Trio

by J Hunter
April 18, 2010

It can be argued that a quartet offers jazz listeners maximum effect with minimal personnel. It allows for two solo voices without compromising the rhythm section, and gives a composer access to a wider range of colors than could be provided by a smaller group. Then again, there are players doing much more with much less. Here are three examples.

Daniel Kelly Portal Self Released 2009

Keyboardist Daniel Kelly ...

like 357

Chris Davis: Baile Bonita

by Raul d'Gama Rose
April 18, 2010

Just over a year ago in 2009, trumpeter Chris Davis debuted at Vancouver's Cellar Restaurant and Jazz Club and was captured on the Cellar Live label. A Night Remembered launched the recording career of a fine young musician who had moved northwest of the border, from Florida. Davis displayed the broad, round tonal legacy of Fats Navarro and the curvilinear harmonics of Clifford Brown, even as he was a singular voice with a burnished tone and a way with making ...

like 332

Mitch Marcus Quintet: Countdown 2 Meltdown

by Glenn Astarita
April 18, 2010

Caution: The music on Countdown 2 Meltdown is not for wimps or the squeamish. With his third quintet release, saxophonist Mitch Marcus and his exciting quintet continue to dish out bold and serious-minded progressive jazz amid a mark of distinction compared to many others of this ilk. After consummating a highly-praised ten-year residency in San Francisco, Marcus returned to his native New York City in 2009. Here, the quintet pulls out the proverbial stops, blasting into the cosmos via blazing ...

like 514

Windfall Light: The Visual Language of ECM

by Nenad Georgievski
April 18, 2010

Windfall Light: The Visual Language of ECM Edited by Lars Müller Softcover; 448 pages ISBN: 978-3-03778-157-9 Lars Müller Publishers 2010

There have been many independent record labels through the years that have made profound changes to the music industry, and have had remarkable pools of artists that have made timeless and inspiring music. But few of them have made such an impact or enjoyed such a status as the German ...

like 227

Tom Harrell: Roman Nights

by Robert Dugan
April 18, 2010

Since signing with the HighNote label in 2006, Tom Harrell has released the most significant CDs in his three decades-plus of recording. It's no coincidence that, for this same period, he has been leading a true dream band of younger players. His previous output for RCA was of the highest quality, particularly Paradise (2001), a unique date with strings, and the exemplary Live At The Village Vanguard (2002). Lately, Harrell sounds more intensely engaged than ever, and thoroughly enjoying the ...

like 744

Claudia Acuna Casts Her Flamenco Jazz Spell in Amsterdam

by Guy Zinger
April 18, 2010

Claudia AcunaBimhuisAmsterdam, NetherlandsApril 3, 2010 Much like a modern-day matador, Claudia Acuna took the stage of the Bimhuis, dressed for the occasion. A performer filled with passionate dramatic tension on the one hand and tender jazz intimacy on the other--strength and grace, intertwined. Singer-songwriter Claudia Acuna, born in Santiago, Chile, Acuna began singing music native to her country. At the age of 15 she became acquainted with her musical models--Frank Sinatra, Erroll Garner and Sarah ...

like 403

Paulinho Garcia: Portrait in Black and White

by Javier AQ Ortiz
April 18, 2010

Paulinho Garcia milks much from sheer simplicity. The liner notes state that he recorded Portrait in Black and White “as if I was in my own living room." Garcia succeeded. Accompanied by his Spanish guitar, this release is characterized by its overall openheartedness and cool intimacy.

His cozy voice travels through a well-trodden repertoire of Brazilian and jazz compositions singing in English and Portuguese with “Adiós mi Sueño" being the sole exception in Spanish. His slightly accented English ...

like 556

Miss Sophie Lee: Tallulah Moon

by James Nadal
April 18, 2010

Vocalist Miss Sophie Lee's Tallulah Moon is a throwback to simpler days, when a song took its own sweet time to develop and tell the story. Right from violinist Matt Rhody's intro on “Delta Bound," there is a mellow New Orleans flavor which is performed with genuineness by the accompanying musicians.

Lee has steeped herself in the traditional sounds of the Crescent City, where she is making a name for herself by singing the music from the early acoustic days ...

like 290

Whitney James: The Nature of Love

by Raul d'Gama Rose
April 17, 2010

It is more than likely that Whitney James was born to sing, proving once again the Latin adage (relating, albeit to poetry), that poeta nascitur non fit. And it was probably only a matter of time before she was discovered. Happily there was not that long a wait, for here, on The Nature of Love, is the proverbial “perfect debut" from a courageous young lady. Not only does James pick and successfully tackle a challenging repertoire, but she handles that ...