Jazz Articles

like 258

David Berger Jazz Orchestra: Colorizing the Classics: David Berger's Tribute to Harry Warren

by Tom Greenland
March 5, 2010

Arranger/recomposer David Berger's music is likely to prompt mixed reactions for its mixing of traditional values with creative originality, somewhat akin to Ted Turner's colorizing of classic black and white films. Colorizing the Classics is a big-band follow-up to I Had the Craziest Dream (Such Sweet Thunder, 2008), an octet outing also championing the works of Harry Warren, an important but under-recognized composer of movie musicals. Digging through the Warren family archives, Berger discovered a trove of ...

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Houston Person: Mellow

by Andrew Velez
March 5, 2010

Houston Person's Mellow could easily have been called “Up Close and Personal." With dozens and dozens of recordings to his credit, it's just the latest in a long list of exemplary sets that always evidence the warmth of his tone and the directness of his tenor sax phrasing. Also mixed in as well is a funky R&B feeling. That is particularly noticeable on the bouncy “Sunny" that opens the set. Everyone gets into a sweet heat, most notably when James ...

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Orrin Evans: Faith In Action

by Russ Musto
March 5, 2010

Ever evolving, keyboardist Orrin Evans continues to develop his personal voice and innovative vision of the jazz piano trio tradition, both in terms of repertory and dynamics. On Faith In Action, the versatile player joins forces with his regular rhythm-section mate from trumpeter Sean Jones' group, bassist Luques Curtis, and fellow TARBABY collaborator, drummer Nasheet Waits. The program is divided equally between compositions by the leader's former employer, saxophonist Bobby Watson, and works from his own Philadelphia household--three originals penned ...

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Farewell, Sir John

by Jack Bowers
March 4, 2010

Some of us are old enough to remember when Sir John Dankworth was simply Johnny Dankworth, and quite simply one of the finest jazz musicians Great Britain has ever produced. Johnny became Sir John in 2006 when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, nine years after his wife, the marvelous singer Cleo Laine, was made a Dame of the British Empire.

As befits a Knight of the Realm, Dankworth, who died February 6 at age 82, wore many hats during ...

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Frank Kimbrough: Rumors

by Dan Bilawsky
March 4, 2010

Timing is everything, whether discussing music, sports or life in general, and this certainly proves to be the case with the recording of Rumors. In September of 2009, jazz photographer and occasional producer Jimmy Katz made a last minute offer to record pianist Frank Kimbrough in a setting of his choice. Kimbrough, having just played with bassist Masa Kamaguchi and drummer Jeff Hirshfield at the Kitano in New York City, yearned to connect with these musicians again before Kamaguchi returned ...

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March 2010

by Mr. P.C.
March 4, 2010

Dear Mr. P.C.: I went to a jam session yesterday and am confused as to why I got evil stares from the band guys. I was very prepared. I brought five copies of my six-page arrangement to “Lush Life" (in B). Granted, I forgot to tape them and a few pages flew off the bandstand, but otherwise I thought it went well. I did have to stop and start the band several times because they just didn't understand ...

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Grosse Abfahrt: Vanity

by John Eyles
March 4, 2010

Grosse Abfahrt is a sizeable ensemble, here consisting of eight players. Leader Tom Djll is aware that a grouping of this size presents issues to be addressed. As he outlines in his sleeve notes, one of these is “the conflict between fluency and comfort among improvising compadres. Fluency between players' languages and approaches is desirable, of course; however, it can lead to complacency."Having eloquently outlined those issues in print, the ensemble's music presents solutions just as eloquent. The ...

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March 2010

by Michael Ricci
March 4, 2010

Dear fellow AAJ contributor,

It's been a couple of months since our last newsletter and we wanted to bring you up to speed on the latest happenings. For starters, we reskinned the website, we added a featured photos box to every page, we placed a local calendar on every page, we created an RSS feed for our featured interviews, we now offer a private message feature, we improved website security and we partnered with Mosaic Records to launch ...

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Elliott Sharp / Carbon: Void Coordinates

by Nic Jones
March 4, 2010

This is a reconvening for Elliott Sharp and his cohorts in Carbon--a band that spanned the period between 1991 and 1996--but anyone familiar with the guitarist's work will quite rightly take it for granted that this reunion has not resulted in the same old same old. If it has, in any degree, it's only as a result of familiarity. None of the music is an outgrowth of the tried and trusted, and indeed its sometimes indeterminate nature might be symptomatic ...

like 457

Take Five With Dena Taylor

by AAJ Staff
March 4, 2010

Meet Dena Taylor: Ask jazz vocalist, Dena Taylor, about turning 62 in October and the relevancy of her music in an age of youth and she'll first respond with one of the brightest smiles you could imagine. Then she'll shake her head and, most likely, respond that she hadn't counted on making it to 62 no less still making music. A jovial spirit with a contagious robust laugh is what you will find if you're fortunate enough to spend any ...