Jazz Articles

like 788

Windfall Light: The Visual Language of ECM

by John Kelman
March 21, 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

Long out-of-print, Sleeves of Desire: A Cover Story (Lars Müller Publishers, 1996) has become something of a holy grail for fans of the German ECM label; a book devoted entirely to the label's distinctive artwork, detailing ECM's first 25 years in a gorgeous, oversized, high-quality paperback. In addition ...

like 318

Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra (Koln) 1978

by Glenn Astarita
March 21, 2010

Composer and multi-reedman Anthony Braxton's complex and personalized compositional paradigms emanated in the 1960s, underscored by 12 language types, diagrams, and other methodologies to complement the improvisation aspect. On this double-disc, 2009 reissue of a 1978 concert, Braxton employs a diverse dream team including reedmen Marty Ehrlich and Ned Rothenberg and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler. Consequently, Braxton lays down his woodwinds and focuses on the conduction element throughout a mesmeric cycle of events.

The program parallels Braxton's 1970s Creative ...

like 459

Take Five With Gia Mora

by AAJ Staff
March 21, 2010

Meet Gia Mora:A Jane of many trades, Gia Mora (AEA) works as an actor and singer across the United States. Miz Mora headlines as a vocalist at venues including Blues Alley, Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret, Rusty Scupper, Henley Park Hotel, 49 West, and Bethesda Theatre. She also performs as Gladys in “the world's best band," Doc Scantlin and His Imperial Palms Orchestra. In 2008 she had the honor of singing at a command performance at the White House for ...

like 354

Frank Rosaly: Milkwork

by Mark Corroto
March 21, 2010

The very in-demand Chicago drummer Frank Rosaly takes time out from his duties in over twenty bands--ranging from experimental sound, jazz, rock, and improvised music--to make a solo recording of drumming and electronics. Milkwork is a nine-song LP (also available as a digital download), pressed on white vinyl in a limited edition of 500.

Rosaly's approach to music synthesizes varying musical genres and draws from a broad and diverse range of sources. He can be heard playing duo ...

like 288

Cindy Blackman: Another Lifetime

by Jerry D'Souza
March 21, 2010

In paying tribute to her friend and mentor Tony Williams through songs and other material associated with him, drummer Cindy Blackman proves that she is not a slavish imitator. Blackman has always been a tasteful drummer. Never obtrusive, she strikes the right combination of dynamics, harmony, and accent. At home both in jazz and rock, this is the perfect vehicle for her.

The moods on this release are varied. The textures on “Vashkar" are thrust into the open ...

like 248

Michael Janisch: Purpose Built

by Woodrow Wilkins
March 21, 2010

The first notes of Purpose Built's opening track draw attention, setting up a pleasurable jaunt into the world of Michael Janisch on this 30 year-old bassist's debut as a bandleader. Born in the United States and now residing in London, England, Janisch is skilled at both the acoustic and the electric bass. He has performed with various jazz luminaries, including vibraphonist Gary Burton, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, pianist Shirley Horn, and saxophonist Joe Lovano. For his premiere release, he ...

like 496

The State of Origin Classical 2010: Idit Shner, Yumiko Endo Schlaffer and Tom Collier

by C. Michael Bailey
March 20, 2010

Seattle-based Origin Arts has carved out an impressive niche in the jazz market with an edgy stable of regular musicians and some equally edgy releases. In April 2008, Origin Arts inaugurated the Origin Classical Label with the Seattle Trumpet Consort's After Baroque: Music for the Natural Trumpet.

Since then, the label has released six recordings, including Linda Tsatsanis and John Lenti's And I Remain: Three Love Stories and Daniel Berry's Music of the Spheres. While not abandoning the standard classical ...

like 362

Dominic Mancuso: Comfortably Mine

by Raul d'Gama Rose
March 20, 2010

Dominic Mancuso is one of the most distinctive voices in music. He is a paramount storyteller; a premier Sicilian griot of these times. He wails with the best. He cries the blues from the depths of his soul--bringing great measures of duende to the music. Mancuso can swoop, flutter, and rush in to every nook and cranny to dilate the mind's eye when he sings. At times he is like that blithe spirit inhabiting the hidden breath of music, the ...

like 505

John Geggie: Ottawa, Canada, March 6, 2010

by John Kelman
March 20, 2010

John Geggie Geggie Concert Series NAC Fourth Stage, Ottawa, Canada March 6, 2010

Following up his CD release party for Across the Sky (Plunge, 2010)--a quartet show that, featuring the effervescent saxophonist Donny McCaslin, burned up the stage at Ottawa's Fourth Stage in the National Arts Centre, bassist John Geggie returned with the fifth installment of his annual Geggie Concert Series with a group of high profile Canadian horn players (and one American). ...

like 379

Chris Standring: Blue Bolero

by Jeff Winbush
March 20, 2010

Playing jazz in America would serve as a great cover for someone in the witness protection program. A musician can labor at jazz for years and put together a nice body of work, but the music industry, the media, and the public may barely notice in their search for the next teenage pop star.

Chris Standring has never made an album quite like Blue Bolero. Standring could have stayed in a smooth jazz comfort zone of safe and innocuous music. ...