Jazz Articles

like 401

Emilio Solla & The Tango Jazz Conspiracy: Bien Sur!

by Dan McClenaghan
February 6, 2010

The music on Bien Sur! carries the tag “Tango Jazz," but pianist/composer Emilio Solla, leader of the Tango Jazz Conspiracy that is responsible for the sound, says he has no idea what that is. The Argentine-born and now New York-based artist has been introducing himself to American audiences in a world msic vein over the course of seven CD releases, including the top notch nonet outing, Suite Piazzollana (Blue Moon, 2002), and the sparer, but just as fine Sentando (Fresh ...

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Craig Taborn: A Study in Contrasts

by Tom Greenland
February 6, 2010

Jonathon Haffner Life On Wednesday Cachuma Records 2009 Lotte Anker Floating Islands ILK 2009

Craig Taborn's seemingly innocuous musings have a way of sneaking up on you, revealing, upon closer listening, surprising density and intensity; two recent releases feature the empathetic yet independent keyboardist's complex musical mien. Alto ...

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The Story: The Story

by Terrell Kent Holmes
February 6, 2010

From its opening notes to the stop-on-a-dime ending, this debut album is an exhilarating shot in the solar plexus. A talented quintet serves up a diverse roster of tunes daring in both imagination and execution. Pianist John Escreet uses his repeated eight-note figure in the song “Misconception of Life and Death" as a starting point for more dazzling and emotional playing. Tenor saxophonist Samir Zarif plays flowing, deep-voiced riffs while altoist Lars Dietrich passionately throttles the upper ...

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Two to Tango: Bien Sur & Rollo Coaster

by Marcia Hillman
February 6, 2010

Emilio SollaBien SurFresh Sound-World Jazz2009 Chris Cheek/Victor PrietoRollo Coasterself-published2009 The Argentinean tango has formed a strong connection with jazz not unlike the Brazilian samba and bossa nova. As developed by Astor Piazzolla and those who came after him, classical tango has been widened to include the Folklorico of Argentina. Buenos Aires ...

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Gunter Baby Sommer / Manfred Schoof / Gianluigi Trovesi / Barre Phillips: Peitzer Grand Mit Vieren

by A. Henkin
February 6, 2010

This 1981 live set, taken from the Jazzwerkstatt Peitz at one time the biggest jazz festival in Germany outside of Berlin, organized by Ulli Blobel and Peter Metag, is a discographist's dream. It presents the earliest official recording of bassist Barre Phillips playing with trumpeter Manfred Schoof (predating Gunter Hampel's Jubilation (Birth, 1983) by over two years) and drummer Günter Baby Sommer (a trio date, Reserve (FMP, 1989), with Peter Brötzmann, was recorded in November 1988). Additionally, it is a ...

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Dreyfus Tributes to Django Reinhardt

by Stuart Broomer
February 6, 2010

Various Artists Generation Django Dreyfus Records 2009 Dorado Schmitt Family Dreyfus Records 2009 Biréli Lagrène Gipsy Trio Dreyfus Records 2009 Biréli Lagrène/ Sylvain Luc Summertime Dreyfus Records 2009 Rocky Gresset Rocky Gresset Dreyfus Records

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Tineke Postma: The Traveller

by David Adler
February 6, 2010

On Dutchwoman Tineke Postma's fourth outing, The Traveller, the young saxophonist leads a top-tier American lineup of Geri Allen (piano), Scott Colley (bass) and Terri Lyne Carrington (drums). Far from being overwhelmed, Postma holds her ground and even challenges the band with a set of strong original material, plus “Adagio 13," an adaptation of a string quartet movement by Heitor Villa Lobos. In particular, The Traveller finds Allen in brilliant form--swinging hard, turning static harmony inside out, ...

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Open Secrets: A Triumvirate of Israeli Guitarists

by Tom Greenland
February 6, 2010

Gilad Hekselman Words Unspoken LateSet Records 2009 Oren Neiman Frolic & Detour Noyman Music 2009 Yotam Silberstein Next Page Posi-Tone 2009

It's an open secret that Israeli jazz musicians are becoming a force on the New York scene, epitomized by three young guitarists, ...

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Mingus Tributes: Normand Guilbeault & Dok Wallach

by Kurt Gottschalk
February 6, 2010

Normand Guilbeault Ensemble Hommage a Mingus: Live at Upstairs 2008 Ambiances Magnetiques 2009 Dok Wallach Live in Lisbon Jazzwerkstatt 2009 It's common, although not common enough, for the great bassist and bandleader Charles Mingus to be granted revered composer status in the jazz canon. The efforts of his widow Sue Mingus have kept the ...

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Brothers in Jazz

by Elliott Simon
February 6, 2010

Curtis Brothers Quartet Blood, Spirit, Land, Water, Freedom Truth Revolution Records 2009 Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets + 2 Echoes of Ethnicity Owl Studios 2009 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble Hypnotic Brass Ensemble Honesst Jons Records 2009 While in a metaphorical sense we are all brothers and sisters in jazz there is an abundance of musicians who are genetically as well as musically connected. These releases highlight three stylistically diverse ...