Jazz Articles

like 226

Rob Brown Trio: Live at Firehouse 12

by Jeff Stockton
December 11, 2009

Alto saxophonist Rob Brown has the lean physique and worried forehead of a typical free jazz improviser, but through his associations with the leading forces of the downtown scene (including Matthew Shipp and, most fruitfully, William Parker) he has positioned himself as an in-demand sideman as well as a creative and ear-catching leader. He has been a mainstay in the groups put together by Parker and has arguably done his most intensely impressive work with the Quartet, as well as ...

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Michael Attias: Renku In Coimbra

by Martin Longley
December 11, 2009

Within the realms of his Renku trio, the reed specialist Michaël Attias deliberately glides towards a contemplative space. His partners in sensitivity are bassist John Hébert and drummer Satoshi Takeishi. In this setting, Attias deliberately confines himself to the alto saxophone, although his sonic results are anything but self-shackled. Often, when Attias is playing around the city he'll be soloing more aggressively or crafting sharply jabbing themes as part of a thrusting frontline. Most of the pieces here inhabit a ...

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Dan Aran: Breathing

by David Adler
December 11, 2009

Dan Aran's Breathing arrived with a short, dour note from Luke Kaven, head of Smalls Records, on the shaky future of indie-label jazz. That's not news and yet Breathing underscores the stakes involved for artists whose work is too fine to go undocumented. Aran, an Israeli-born drummer, is such an artist. Breathing is very much a jazz record but not a straightforward band date. There are many musicians on the roster, some playing only small roles, although Aran ...

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Stewy von Wattenwyl Generations Band: Live at Marians

by Dan McClenaghan
December 10, 2009

Swiss pianist Stewy von Wattenwyl blasts into this high energy set, Live at Marians, with a blistering one-two punch of Wes Montgomery's “Fried Pies" and John Coltrane's “Moments Notice." The leader pounds the keys in a McCoy Tyner mode, and saxophonist Eric Alexander sounds raw and just barely tamed. This is not a sound that can be called laidback; this is a gale force wind gusting into town.Von Wattenwyl, a well-versed keyboardist, has a discography that includes a ...

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Tampere Jazz Happening 2009

by AAJ Staff
December 10, 2009

Tampere Jazz HappeningTampere, FinlandOctober 29-November 1, 2009A two-hour drive northwest from Finland's capital of Helsinki and situated between breathtaking views of lakes Näsij ...

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Dom Minasi String Quartet: Dissonance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

by Glenn Astarita
December 10, 2009

Legendary New York City guitarist Dom Minasi explores and projects dissonance in luminous detail on his affectionately titled Dissonance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder. On the heels of his 2006 The Vampire's Revenge (CDM), Minasi scales back a fifteen-musician ensemble to the more mobile quartet format for this release. Think avant-chamber, where the guitarist serves as the director of operations, while sustaining a dark tone that seamlessly interacts with the strings section from many perspectives.

Minasi guides the ...

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Kronos Quartet, Jessica Pavone, Futurist Noise Intoners & The Tori Ensemble

by Martin Longley
December 10, 2009

Kronos Quartet/Wu Man Carnegie Hall November 3, 2009 Although not officially part of Carnegie Hall's spectacular Ancient Paths, Modern Voices season of Chinese culture, this concert was certainly well-timed to sit beside its less innovative brethren. Perhaps the program's decidedly non-traditional stance was the main reason. Also, the Kronos collaboration with pipa player Wu Man was itself an advance taste of another Carnegie season. In 2010, Kronos will be initiating several further musical meetings as part of ...

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Bela Fleck: Throw Down Your Heart

by John Kelman
December 10, 2009

Béla FleckThrow Down Your Heart Docurama Films2009

With Throw Down Your Heart Rounder, 2009), banjo revolutionary Béla Fleck took his instrument full circle, back to Africa where the instrument originated. The third in his ongoing Tales from the Acoustic Planet series, it was the end result of a 2005, five-week trip to four African countries where Fleck met with local musicians, playing and exchanging ideas and values--musical and otherwise. While ...

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Anna Estrada: Obsesion

by Woodrow Wilkins
December 10, 2009

Laughter is said to be the best medicine, but music can be quite soothing as well. Anna Estrada, an emergency room physician, heals with a collection of love songs on Obsesion, her second release. The Bay Area vocalist studied medicine instead of fine arts. But with a mother who sang, music became her second calling. Accompanied by a variable lineup that includes co-producer Ray Scott on guitar, Estrada shares the love in a variety of ways.

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Gerry Hemingway: Songs

by Martin Longley
December 10, 2009

When drummer Gerry Hemingway decides to pursue a song-based project, the only predictable outcome is that it will be unpredictable. His approach to composition includes elements of rock, electronica, minimalism and Broadway intimacy, yet can't be deemed any of these things. As well as the music, Hemingway has also penned the words. His chosen voice is Lisa Sokolov, who skirts around most of the jazz clichés, without settling fully on any other shackled forms. Each song features echoes of fast-switching ...