Jazz Articles

like 387

The Gordon Grdina Trio: . . . If Accident Will

by Jerry D'Souza
December 4, 2009

Guitarist/oudist Gordon Grdina is one of those rare musicians who is at home in several genres, bringing a strong presence to his music. He is as adept in improvised music as he is in Arabic Taqaism or Indian music. He can let his oud sing a rapturous song and make his guitar rock loud and heavy. But it is his merging of different streams that gives the greatest credibility to his artistry and his vision. And he can build a ...

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John Hebert: Byzantine Monkey

by Stuart Broomer
December 4, 2009

John Hébert's Byzantine Monkey begins with a loop of the traditional “La Reine de la Salle" sung by Odile Falcon in an ancient reedy voice, Hébert's improvised bass joining in, his lines at once swift and empathetic, lyrical and microtonal, his sound deeply resonant and every metallic buzz of string and finger captured. It's an arresting moment, Hébert's Louisiana roots as palpable as his bass. Those roots are just as apparent when loop and bass cede the foreground to Tony ...

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Mike Clark: Blueprints of Jazz, Volume 1

by Elliott Simon
December 4, 2009

For their Blueprints of Jazz series, Talking House Records decided to give free studio reign to individuals who have significantly influenced modern jazz but, for whatever reason, have not been given their due. Drummer Mike Clark has influenced several generations since his time with keyboardist Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and inaugurated the series. While additional releases showcase tenor saxophonist Billy Harper and drummer Donald Bailey, Clark was the first to be given the heady opportunity to handpick a band to construct ...

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Joris Teepe: We Take No Prisoners

by Ken Dryden
December 4, 2009

A native of The Netherlands, bassist Joris Teepe has long since established himself as a jazzperformer and educator in New England, though he does return to his homeland to teach and perform on occasion while most of his recordings have been for European labels. Teepe's big band evolved from music he was commissioned to write for the North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, which his quartet joined for a concert. Following a guest appearance with the Radio Big Band in Bucharest, Teepe ...

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Gregory Thomas: Ain't But a Few of Us

by Willard Jenkins
December 3, 2009

Like most of the participants in our ongoing dialogue with African American music writers, Gregory Thomas has both feet and hands in several camps. Thomas' byline has been featured in numerous publications, including Salon.com, Guardian Observer (London), American Legacy, Africana.com, BlackAmericaWeb.com, Daily News (New York, NY), TBWT.com, Callaloo, The Village Voice, and others. He was the founding editor-in-chief of Harlem World magazine.

Additionally, Thomas has taught jazz education at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Thurgood ...

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Splashgirl: Arbor

by John Kelman
December 3, 2009

Doors. Keys. (AIM)--coupled with a 2008 performance at Kristiansand, Norway's annual Punkt Festival--introduced Splashgirl as one of 2008's most intriguing new groups. Arbor affirms Splashgirl as one of improvising music's quietest ensembles.

The same core trio is back. Pianist Andreas Stensland Løwe, bassist Jo Berger Myhre, and drummer Andreas Lønmo Knudsrød all play in a number of groups showcased each year at the opening Punkt Elope mini-fest, which Løwe produces to bring attention to a vibrant ...

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Slivovitz: Hubris

by Nic Jones
December 3, 2009

For fusion to have any auditory impact these days it arguably has to be played with a twist, something to take it beyond the level of a series of technical exercises. As a band, Slivovitz seems to realize this, but the degree to which it transcends the self-imposed limits of the idiom is questionable, especially when the music often breaks down into technical display--the only contrast to which appears to be more of the same, with added flourishes drawn from ...

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December 2009

by Mr. P.C.
December 3, 2009

Dear Mr. P.C.: I would appreciate your candid advice on a recurring issue I've been having. As a trombone player, my slide has occasionally speared someone at my gigs. Once I even managed to mangle the manager of the hotel! What do you recommend to avoid these awkward moments: Yellow traffic cones marking the “danger zone"? Soft padding on the end of the slide? or Attaching a bayonet and ...

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Verve Originals: Gato Barbieri / Paul Desmond / Gerry Mulligan / Wes Montgomery

by Chris May
December 3, 2009

Verve's admirable, no frills, reissue series, “Originals," includes a mixture of masterpieces and also-rans from its own and its associated labels' archives. This trio of albums from the September 2009 batch includes one near masterpiece, saxophonist Gato Barbieri's Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata; an outstanding blowing session, saxophonists Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond's Blues In Time; and one career footnote, guitarist Wes Montgomery's Down Here On The Ground.

Gato Barbieri Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata

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Various Artists: Jazz Around The World

by Raul d'Gama Rose
December 3, 2009

Putumayo World Music is a unique record label. It is a label of “various artists" projects, but what sets it apart from other labels that produce compilations of music is that Putumayo compilations are well off even the road less travelled. First of all, the label compiles not so much songs by artists, but music that provides a glimpse of a cultural ethos. Secondly, Putumayo has designed the “musical-cultural" encounters to be almost like a meaningful huddle ...