Jazz Articles

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Lorraine Feather: Ages

by Nicholas F. Mondello
February 22, 2010

It is immediately evident listening to the work of lyricist-vocalist Lorraine Feather that she is a gracious, respectful lover of words. As a brilliant writer and performer, she revels in the power, dynamic intricacies, kooky parallels, and yin-yangs of words and funhouse-mirror entendres. And when she adds to that love a sensitive vocal style that is smart, slick, and swinging, the result is an extraordinary word-song feast. All of these qualities are evident in her terrific CD, Ages.As ...

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Monster Cable's Miles Davis Tribute In-Ear Headphones

by John Kelman
February 22, 2010

With 2009 the 50th anniversary of legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis' biggest selling and highly influential Kind of Blue (Columbia/Legacy, 1959), it's no surprise that folks are coming out of the woodwork to capitalize on this significant milestone. Collector's, Legacy and vinyl editions of the album have all been released by Columbia/Legacy, not to mention tributes ranging from drummer Jimmy Cobb (the only surviving participant on the original date) and his touring So What tribute band to Reggae Interpretations of ...

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Peter Brotzmann Trio at Cafe Oto, London

by John Sharpe
February 21, 2010

Peter Brotzmann, John Edwards, Steve Noble Cafe Oto London January 30, 2010

As the crowd gathered outside north London's Cafe Oto waiting for the doors to open, a solitary figure stood spotlit under a streetlamp just up the road. German saxophone iconoclast Peter Brotzmann was savoring a moment of calm reflection, smoking on a cigar, alone with his thoughts and the cold night air. Such quiet made for a stark contrast to the ...

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Lorraine Feather: Ages

by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
February 21, 2010

Lorraine Feather, daughter of famous jazz critic Leonard Feather, is a seven-time Emmy nominee who once sang backup for Petula Clark and Grand Funk Railroad and has released eight well-received recordings of her own, including Language, (Jazzed Media, 2008). It does not diminish her musicality, charm, or wit to say that, more often than not, Ages sounds like a “chick disc."

For example, it's hard to imagine the man who could easily identify with “The Girl with the Lazy Eye," ...

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Youth Orchestra of The Americas at Americas Society, Feb 17, 2010

by Ernest Barteldes
February 21, 2010

Youth Orchestra of The Americas Americas Society February 17, 2010 New York, NY

The chamber ensemble of the YOA took the stage at Upper East Side's Americas Society for a short showcase of the music they've been exploring since their inception in 2001. Starting off with a string quintet (Ana Drobac, Darwin Aquino: violins; Nicolas Giordano: viola; Sarah Steeves: cello; Rodrigo Becerra: bass), the group started things off with two romantic works by ...

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Hadley Caliman: Straight Ahead

by C. Michael Bailey
February 21, 2010

The most appealing thing about Hadley Caliman, save for his very eloquent name, is his equally eloquent and understated tenor saxophone playing. Firmly in a post-Coltrane context, Caliman plays a virile and muscular tenor saxophone whose tone compels because of its carefully crafted rough edges. Straight Ahead follows up his 2008 Origin release Gratitude.

Caliman joins a ratified group of Left Coast jazz musicians who interrupted their careers, including Art Pepper, Frank Morgan, Ed Reed, and Dexter Gordon ...

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Nels Cline / G.E.Stinson: Elevating Device

by Ian Patterson
February 21, 2010

It is entirely appropriate that Sounds Are Active's fiftieth release since its inception in 1999 should be Elevating Device by Nels Cline and G.E. Stinson , two of the freer spirits of contemporary music. This recording, like much of the music from this label, provides challenging listening with music of a spirit unrestrained by convention and devoid of cliché, leading to a totally individualistic listening experience. Here, beauty and austerity slug it out without either one forcing the other into ...

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Cara Campanelli: So Near

by Dan Bilawsky
February 21, 2010

Harry Nilsson said that “one is the loneliest number" and another common phrase is that two's company and three's a crowd. Keeping this in mind, vocalist Cara Campanelli wisely chose the middle road and seems right at home crafting duo readings of standard gems from an era long gone. Campanelli is a New York native who received accolades in Downbeat Magazine as a high school student and, years later, shared the stage with Roberta Gambarini at the 2008 Lionel Hampton ...

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Jason Adasiewicz’s Rolldown: Varmint

by Nic Jones
February 21, 2010

Varmint is the second release from vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz's Rolldown, following its self-titled 2008 debut on 482 Music. It's clear, from this program, that Rolldown is not content to stay in one place; no mean feat, considering the extent to which this music pays homage to Blue Note's documentation of artists like Andrew Hill and Sam Rivers almost half a century ago.

The term homage is especially pertinent, as these performances don't merely flirt with the repertorial. Instead, they invoke ...

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Paco de Lucia: Live in Belgrade at the Guitar Art Festival

by Nenad Georgievski
February 20, 2010

Paco de Lucia Guitar Art FestivalSava Centar Belgrade January, 12, 2010

Flamenco music is full of intense passion, fire, boiling emotions and grace. It is a profound and moving experience for everyone witnessing a true artist performing in this tradition. The music evokes a wide range of emotions--joy to despair, serenity to anger, happiness to sadness. The amount of emotion and passion displayed by these artists can be so overwhelming and enchanting that ...