Jazz Articles

like 398

Dirk "Mont" Campbell: Music from a Walled Garden

by John Kelman
February 13, 2010

When Mont Campbell—the driving force behind late-1960s British progressive group Egg and musical mentor for its keyboardist, Dave Stewart—emerged from over two decades of obscurity with Music from a Round Tower (ESD, 1997), fans of his earlier work were more than a little puzzled. First, the name change back to his real name, Dirk; without the nickname “Mont," most fans wouldn't have been aware that Round Tower was his. Second, rather than continuing in Egg's rock-centric vein, drawing heavily on ...

like 468

Chris Potter / Steve Wilson / Terell Stafford / Keith Javors / Delbert Felix / John Davis: Coming Together

by Edward Blanco
February 13, 2010

Brendan Edward Romaneck was a young twenty-four-year-old saxophonist and composer preparing for his first recording date in the spring of 2005, when on April 20th he passed away just two weeks after his birthday. Coming Together was to be Romaneck's debut disc, containing eight original compositions and three covers. It now serves as a tribute to the young man, when his parents moved forward with the project in memory of their son. Romaneck had already lined up trumpeter Terell Stafford, ...

like 928

My Best Jazz Experiences Through the Decades

by Larry Taylor
February 12, 2010

I've been a jazz fan since I was a teenager in the late forties, growing up in Southern California. From grammar school on, I listened to pop tunes of the day--the hit parade songs and big band music that were in the air on the radio. As I entered junior high, I became aware of rhythm and blues, at that time called “race music." My friend's father worked for a record distributor selling music recorded ...

like 359

Colin Towns / HR-BigBand: Visions of Miles: The Electric Period of Miles Davis

by John Kelman
February 12, 2010

With the 2009 release of the 70-CD The Complete Columbia Album Collection, attention continues to focus on the late Miles Davis, a trumpeter who may have had equals or betters in the technical department, but was unparalleled in terms of relentless reinvention. It's gratifying to find an increasing number of tributes to Davis' post-1968 electric era--ranging from the ambient washes of In a Silent Way and denser Bitches Brew (both from 1969) to the jungle funk of Agharta (1975) and ...

like 936

Lee Morgan: Search for the New Land

by Matt Marshall
February 12, 2010

Lee Morgan Search for the New Land Blue Note / Music Matters 2009 (1964)

Backed by what may have been his most emphatically modern group, trumpeter Lee Morgan did indeed set out on an exploratory quest in this follow-up to his smash, hard bop gem, The Sidewinder (Blue Note, 1964). The title track, which kicks off the album, is more in-line with the music saxophonist John Coltrane was making at the time--a spiritual, meditative ...

like 374

The Godforgottens: Never Forgotten, Always Remembered

by Mark Corroto
February 12, 2010

A Scandinavian supergroup of sorts, The Godforgottens met for this recording session in 2006 and pianist Sten Sandell happened to spot a Hammond B3 organ in the corner. Having never played one before, he instantly shaped the direction and feel of this performance out of this spontaneous decision to have a go at it. The three musicians joining Sandell--trumpeter Magnus Broo, bassist Johan Berthling and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love--have all collaborated on various projects in the past. This combination might be ...

like 570

Take Five With Stephan Earl

by AAJ Staff
February 12, 2010

Meet Stephan Earl:Embodying elements of Jazz, Rock, Down-tempo and New Age, composer / producer Stephan Earl's music flows across stylistic boundaries yet is focused on the principals of melody, harmony and rhythm. Enchanting and thought-provoking, Stephan composes music that is harmonically interesting and complex, yet accessible to the average listener. His music is the perfect fit for a nu-jazz world, something Stephan eagerly embraces. There are so many styles of music that I enjoy, said Stephan. Yet I ...

like 440

Various Artists: Murder. Songs From The Dark Side Of The Soul

by Nic Jones
February 12, 2010

Themed compilations such as Murder. Songs From The Dark Side Of The Soul afford opportunity to hear just how diverse a range of interpretations a theme can provoke. Here the title is self-explanatory and that element of diversity exists in abundance.

Sonny Boy Williamson's “Your Funeral My Trial" is still as irresistible as ever; the intro, in particular, is the kind of thing from which The Rolling Stones took countless cues when its time was high. Williamson's delivery ...

like 218

Jason Adasiewicz's Rolldown: Varmint

by Jerry D'Souza
February 12, 2010

Vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz brings a wide ranging sensibility to his compositions. He has a strong feel for mainstream jazz that he pursues and invigorates with a range of free idioms. The music thrives and blossoms, not only in the potency of the mix, but also in its invention and surprise. His band mates enrich the tunes with their own visions even as they acknowledge the written note.

Adasiewicz wrote all the music for this record, except for Andrew Hill's “The ...

like 261

Erica Lindsay and Sumi Tonooka: Initiation

by Woodrow Wilkins
February 12, 2010

Tenor saxophonist Erica Lindsay and pianist Sumi Tonooka began working together at a jazz club in Albany, New York. Their combined creativity brings something out in each other, leading them to Initiations. Lindsay and Tonooka have been playing together since 1994, but Initiations is their first studio collaboration. They're accompanied by bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Bob Braye, who sadly died after the session. The lively, lounge jazz “Mari" opens the set, featuring some ...