Jazz Articles

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Artie Shaw: Classic Bluebird and Victor Sessions

by Samuel Chell
January 26, 2010

Artie ShawClassic Bluebird and Victor SessionsMosaic Records2009Shortly after its critically acclaimed box set comprising clarinetist Benny Goodman's essential recordings-- The Columbia and Okeh Benny Goodman Orchestra Sessions (2009), which was released to coincide with the centenary of the “King of Swing"--Mosaic Records has done it again. The Classic Artie Shaw Bluebird and Victor Sessions arrives in time for the 100th birthday (May 23, 2010) of the clarinetist who was the instrumental bobby-soxer ...

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John Turville Trio: Midas

by Chris May
January 26, 2010

If the carefully composed, monochrome cover art of the John Turville Trio's debut album suggests the ECM label's house style, the coincidence is appropriate. Midas is high-end piano trio jazz, beautifully recorded (in Italy). It consists in the main of tunes written by pianist Turville, is shot through with muscular lyricism, and resonates with the work of Keith Jarrett and John Taylor. In its occasional, forceful use of bass or drums as lead instruments, it also chimes with the late ...

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James Farm at Salle Pleyel in Paris

by David Miller
January 26, 2010

James FarmSalle PleyelParis, FranceJanuary 16, 2010 The musicians in James Farm walked out onto the stage purposefully--four hip cats. The dim lighting at Salle Pleyel accentuated their mysteriousness, casting shadows over their faces as they took up their instruments. Eric Harland stood out as the coolest of the bunch in his light jean jacket and shades, and his getup belied his playing. Regardless of the type of piece being played, Harland this evening was on ...

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Shawn Maxwell Quartet: Maxwell's House

by Matthew Warnock
January 26, 2010

Maxwell's House is a hard-swinging, deep in the pocket release by Chicago- based alto saxophonist Shawn Maxwell. The maturity displayed by all four musicians on the album is both refreshing and exciting. Instead of building energy and interest with long-streams of notes, Maxwell and pianist Matt Nelson favor shorter lines, longer-held notes and a strong focus on tone to draw in their audience. There is a solid sense of groove and swing across the quartet and the laid-back nature of ...

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Take Five With Daniel Volovets

by AAJ Staff
January 26, 2010

Meet Daniel Volovets: Daniel Volovets, 17, has been studying classical, brazilian, and flamenco guitar for almost 10 years. His love affair with music began at the age of 7, when he began studying with classical guitarist Anatoly Shapiro. He has also studied with Tony Hauser, concentrating heavily on Brazilian and flamenco music, and with James Flegel at the University of Minnesota. Daniel has performed extensively throughout the Twin Cities and has recorded three albums: Melodias Brasileiras, Watercolors of the World, ...

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Lorraine Feather: Ages

by AAJ Staff
January 26, 2010

As the daughter of respected jazz critic, Leonard Feather, Lorraine Feather comes to her jazz pedigree honestly, but more from natural talent than dogged filial loyalty. In possession of a pure, rich voice, she tried acting--along with some discouraging stints in the food industry--before finding her multi-colored niche in singing and composing. Ages, about the epochs that women of “a certain age" look back on, is full of artistry and humor.

Co-written with Yellowjackets pianist/arranger Russell ...

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Matthew Shipp: 4D

by John Sharpe
January 25, 2010

Matthew Shipp has become one of the most distinctive piano stylists operating in the free jazz continuum, recognizable after just a few notes. 4D, his sixth solo piano disc mirrors the format of its illustrious predecessor Harmonic Disorder (Thirsty Ear, 2009) though with pared back instrumentation. Altogether there are 16 cuts reflecting a wide range of approaches during a program just shy of an hour. One consequence of so many short tracks, with 10 clocking in at less than 4 ...

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Matthew Shipp: Traversing The Regions of the Mind

by Lyn Horton
January 25, 2010

On May 17, 2009, at 6 pm, Matthew Shipp walked through the front door of Roulette, a performance venue on the Lower East Side in New York City. His face appeared no more or less expressive than it normally does. He is wont to demonstrate his feelings facially, except through laughter and an occasional smile. On this day, his life was predetermined. He had arrived for a recording session for his sixth solo album, and his second for Thirsty Ear. ...

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Christian Scott: Yesterday You Said Tomorrow

by Chris May
January 25, 2010

Trumpeter Christian Scott started raising expectations in 2006, with Rewind That (Concord), and hit the spot again in 2007 and 2008. Those earlier promises of greatness are clinched by Yesterday You Said Tomorrow. Scott's fourth Concord album is a gym-ripped amalgam of edgy jazz, hip hop and rock rhythms, off-kilter ostinatos, intimate rhapsodies and full-on passions, all welded together by the New Orleans-born player's alternately caressing and searing horn, and by his most tightly focused band to date.

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Alexander Hawkins Quartet at the Vortex, London

by John Sharpe
January 25, 2010

Alexander Hawkins Quartet The Vortex London, England January 5, 2010

A very respectable audience braved the cold temperatures (for London where since global warming kicked in it rarely falls below freezing for very long) and further impending snow for the debut of the Alexander Hawkins new quartet at the Vortex. Hawkins continues to make waves having in the last month of 2009 enjoyed a successful meeting with Joe McPhee and his first ...