Jazz Articles

like 427

Leo Blanco: Africa Latina

by Mark F. Turner
December 18, 2009

The ubiquitous expression that is “world music" is becoming less relevant as musicians across the globe speak a common language that embraces varied cultures and people. Pianist, composer, and arranger Leo Blanco emphatically proves the point on Africa Latina, a mesmerizing recording that explores the unique connection between African and Venezuelan music. Whereas the similar recording by pianist Omar Sosa's Across The Divide: A Tale Of Rhythm & Ancestry (Half Note, 2009) spoke of Afro-Cuban and American ...

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Home Away From Home: Avishai Cohen in Paris

by David Miller
December 18, 2009

Avishai CohenAlhambraParis, FranceNovember 26, 2009 Hypnotic. Mesmerizing. Religious. These three adjectives come to mind when reflecting on Avishai Cohen's concert at Alhambra in Paris, the last of a three-night engagement at the intimate venue close to Place de la République. A sorrowful piano/percussion duo--Shai Maestro's weeping piano accompanied by Itamar Doari's melodic percussion--set the stage for what was to be a celebration of not just the talents of the five musicians in ...

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Hanjin: Raw Jazz

by Jim Santella
December 18, 2009

With this album of vocal standards accompanied by a rhythm trio, Hanjin climbs the ladder of contemporary male jazz singers and ranks up there with the all-time best. Wordless scat singing that oozes rhythm, convincing lyric interpretations with laid-back attitude, a fine sense of humor that sparkles, and vocal acrobatics that very few will attempt give this memorable performance a boost. He's unforgettable.

Originally from Singapore, Hanjin is known throughout Southeast Asia and China for his unique delivery ...

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John Geggie / Josh Rager / Paul Meyers: Ottawa, Canada November 28, 2009

by John Kelman
December 18, 2009

John GeggieGeggie Concert Series: 2009-10, #3 National Arts Centre, Fourth Stage Ottawa, Canada November 28, 2009

For the third in his 2009-10 Geggie Concert Series, Ottawa bassist John Geggie once again demonstrated his astute ability to bring together musicians who have not previously played together, but who share enough common ground that--with minimum rehearsal--sound as though they'd been band mates for years.Geggie Concert Series, Ottawa bassist John Geggie once again demonstrated ...

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Mark Moultrup: Dar Cho

by Edward Blanco
December 18, 2009

Chicago pianist Mark Moultrup embraces the Tibetan spiritual call for spreading good will and compassion to all known as Dar Cho, the Tibetan word for “prayerflag," and dedicates this new musical project to the same cause. An innovative composer and vocalist, Moultrup fashions a cleaver session of modern and mainstream jazz through a landscape of ten new originals--some sprinkled with a touch of bebop and elements of light classical music, and rounding out the repertoire with new interpretations of three ...

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Adam Rogers: Sight

by John Kelman
December 17, 2009

Guitarist Adam Rogers returns with Sight, an album that continues his exploration of heady originals and standards, in the trio format that, with Time and the Infinite (Criss Cross, 2007), took a left-turn from his earlier quartet and quintet records. Surrounded by friends old and new on Time, with Sight Rogers returns to longtime drummer Clarence Penn after that brief hiatus. John Patitucci may replace equally longtime bassist Scott Colley, but they're hardly new acquaintances. Rogers spent plenty ...

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Jaco Pastorius: Portrait of Jaco - The Early Years 1968-1978

by John Kelman
December 17, 2009

Jaco Pastorius Portrait of Jaco: The Early Years 1968-1978 Holiday Park Records 2009

If only every jazz artist had an advocate like label owner/project producer Bob Bobbing. Bass wunderkind Jaco Pastorius seemingly leapt into the jazz scene in 1976 with the quadruple punch of his remarkably mature debut, Jaco Pastorius (Epic), a trio date with guitar-god-in-the-making Pat Metheny on Bright Size Life (ECM), a stunning reinvention of the singer/songwriter space with Joni ...

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Eric Legnini Trio: Trippin'

by Bruce Lindsay
December 17, 2009

Trippin', the third album from the Paris-based Eric Legnini Trio, is a stylish collection of tunes named in honor of The Meters' third album, Struttin' (Josie, 1970). When Legnini takes to the Fender Rhodes, on “Trippin'" or “Doo Goo" for example, the influence of The Meters' organ-driven sound is clear--both tunes are uplifting, dance-oriented numbers with “Doo Goo" featuring some irresistible and funky rhythms. But this album is much more than a tribute album to New Orleans rhythm and blues--the ...

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The David Leonhardt Trio: Bach to the Blues

by Edward Blanco
December 17, 2009

Pianist David Leonhardt presents a tasteful marriage of classical music and jazz, sprinkled with a touch of the blues on Bach to the Blues, an improvisational statement on classical themes that is surprisingly entertaining. Leonhardt reinterprets the music of Bach, Schubert, Beethoven, Chopin, and others with a creative improvisational approach producing a texture of light classical jazz that is most enjoyable. With bassist Matthew Parrish and drummer Alvester Garnett, The David Leonhardt Trio offers eleven pieces from eight great composers ...

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Django Reinhardt Festival, Steve Gadd, Steve Grossman, Bucky Pizzarelli and Ken Peplowski

by Martin Longley
December 17, 2009

The 10th Anniversary Django Reinhardt NY FestivalBirdlandNovember 4, 2009 This six-night residency celebrated a decade of Djangofests at Birdland, where the principle aim is to see how many Reinhardt guitar disciples can be jammed onstage at any one time. Over the years, the organizers, Pat Philips and Ettore Stratta, have built up a virtual repertory company, some of whom are destined to make return visits. This time, the chief guitarists were Sweden's Andreas Öberg ...