Jazz Articles

like 265

Burton Greene and Perry Robinson: Two Voices in the Desert; Groder&Greene; The Spirits at Belle's

by Clifford Allen
February 6, 2010

Perry Robinson and Burton GreeneTwo Voices in the DesertTzadik2009 Brian Groder and Burton GreeneGroder&GreeneLatham Records2009 Jimmy Bennington-Perry Robinson QuartetThe Spirits at Belle'sCadence2009 It's unfortunate that certain artists are associated so completely with a certain decade or time period that the evolution of their ...

like 325

Globe Unity: Russia

by A. Henkin
February 6, 2010

Anthony Braxton / Maral YakshievaImprovisations (Duo) 2008SoLyd2009 Alex RostotskyPictures at an Exhibition or Promenade with Mussorgsky One Records-JazzBass Theatre2009 Vyacheslav Guyvoronsky/Andrei Kondakov/ Vladimir VolkovIn Search of a StandardLeo2009 Russia may be better known these days for its quasi-authoritarian government than its creative music scene. Both realms ...

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Drummer Leaders: Ted Sirota, Tim Kuhl and Nasheet Waits

by George Kanzler
February 6, 2010

Ted SirotaSeize the TimeNaim Jazz2009 Tim KuhlKingWJF2009 Nasheet WaitsEqualityFresh Sound-New Talent2009 Three young drummers bring their own distinctive rhythmic cast and musical concept to these projects, all put together from at least elements of working bands. Their approaches range from Ted Sirota's open, rolling propulsion and ...

like 468

Dick Oatts: Bridging the Gap & Saxology

by Fred Bouchard
February 6, 2010

Terell Stafford/Dick OattsBridging the GapPlanet Arts2010 Jerry Bergonzi/Dick OattsSaxologySteeplechase2009 You can't call Dick Oatts a 'fixture'--he's peripatetic and bouncy on his alto sax and ebullient, energetic and sprightly as a person--yet he's surely been a Gotham mainstay since arriving from the Midwest a mere 35 years ago, both as reedman (33 years as lead alto in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis > Vanguard Jazz Orchestra) ...

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Joe McPhee: Live in Vilnius & The Damage is Done

by Marc Medwin
February 6, 2010

Trio XLive in VilniusNo Business2009 Joe McPhee / Peter Brotzmann / Kent Kessler / Michael ZerangThe Damage is DoneNot Two2009 Though conjuring quite different and sometimes problematic soundworlds, these Joe McPhee projects are satisfying as they blend tradition with innovation. Trio X' 2006 concert activity receives further documentation on the double ...

like 346

Jeff Johnson: Seattle Sounds

by Elliott Simon
February 6, 2010

Jon Alberts / Jeff Johnson / Tad BrittonApothecaryOrigin Records2009 Chad McCulloughDark Wood, Dark WaterOrigin Records2009 Bassist Jeff Johnson is an integral part of a vibrant Seattle scene. His approach is an emotive one and his work as a leader--check out Free (Origin, 1999)--derives its power from a contagious soulful openness. But it is as ...

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Two Tributes to Bille Holiday: Dee Dee Bridgewater and Stepanie Nakasian

by Joel Roberts
February 6, 2010

Dee Dee Bridgewater Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie with Love from Dee Dee Emarcy 2010 Stephanie Nakasian Billie Remembered: The Classic Songs of Billie Holiday Inner City 2010 Dee Dee Bridgewater, one of the premier singers of her generation, as well as an acclaimed actress and radio personality, has had an extremely close relationship ...

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Erica Lindsay / Sumi Tonooka: Initiation

by Raul d'Gama Rose
February 5, 2010

The naked emotion of Initiation can be so heartfelt at times that the urge to block out all external sound and focus solely on the music that issues out of the speakers is often overwhelming. Tenor saxophonist Erica Lindsay and pianist Sumi Tonooka have made a journey here that has taken them right to the center of their respective beings with some truly soul-searching music. Fortuitously they have been doubly blessed on this outing by one of the most erudite ...

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Sackville: 40 Plus Years of Great Jazz

by Ken Dryden
February 5, 2010

Although involved in jazz for decades, John Norris never envisioned a jazz career. During a recent interview, he recalled, “I discovered jazz in 1951, it was just a hobby." While working in London, he started a jazz club within Shell Oil. He relocated to Montreal in 1956 and moved to Toronto in 1957. “Every Wednesday night, a traditional jazz trumpeter named Mike White led a band in a Toronto restaurant, playing mostly for expatriate Europeans. Mike and the guy who ...

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Copenhagen JazzHouse: The Evolution of a Jazz Club

by Nick Catalano
February 5, 2010

On a recent visit to Denmark I was able to spend a couple of evenings at the Copenhagen JazzHouse and digest some of the cutting edge ideas of the club's artistic director composer/ bassist Lennart Ginman.

Years ago I had initially encountered the Danish jazz scene at Cafe Monmartre and found it thriving as Thad Jones had, during the '60s, infused the Danish Radio Big band with new ideas and energy. The room was one of the most intriguing European ...