Jazz Articles

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Jacqui Naylor: You Don't Know Jacq

by Guy Zinger
December 2, 2009

You Don't Know Jacq is all about Jacqui Naylor, exemplifying her vocal range, warm voice, interpretive qualities and style--"Acoustic Smashing," which, in essence, means jazz standards done along rock/pop rhythm lines, or vice versa. The disc features new arrangements of the most requested songs from her previous six albums, as well as new material including the first single, “Celebrate Early and Often," now being used for many a wedding across the United States. You Don't Know Jacq is ...

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John Funkhouser, Angelica Sanchez, David Arner: 3 x Piano 3

by Mark Corroto
December 2, 2009

It's unclear why anyone would desire the end result, but as the saying goes, “there are many ways to skin a cat." Setting aside the vivisection angle for a moment, there are countless approaches to the classic jazz piano trio. Ever since ragtime, boogie-woogie and stride pianists caught the attention of popular music listeners, jazz pianists have gobbled up new and inventive approaches to the 88 keys, incorporating blues, bebop, classical, free jazz and hip-hop. Perhaps mentioning those numerous ways ...

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The Jeff Hamilton Trio: Symbiosis

by Jerry D'Souza
December 2, 2009

Jeff Hamilton's presence as a drummer is pervasive both with his trio and as part of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra which he co-leads with bassist John Clayton. Hamilton's reach as a drummer goes well beyond these two outfits, his history as a musician complementing Oscar Peterson, Warren Vache, and Phil Upchurch among others. Style and approach may have differed, but Hamilton let his drums signal captivating rhythmic signposts.

The trio setting is a compact one. The interaction between ...

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Lyle Lovett: Natural Forces

by John Kelman
December 2, 2009

After emerging with the triple punch of Pontiac (Curb, 1988), Lyle Lovett and His Large Band (Curb, 1989), and Joshua Judges Ruth (Curb, 1992), singer/songwriter Lyle Lovett's career took a few detours. My Baby Don't Tolerate (Curb, 2003)--Lovett's first album of original material in five years, following a serious farm accident--warned that Lovett's characteristically dry wit was on the wane. Happily, with It's Not Big It's Large (Curb, 2007), Lovett returned with an album that comfortably blended blues, country, folk, ...

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Marc Copland: Alone

by John Kelman
December 1, 2009

Following a couple of years where, uncharacteristically, he's released but a single recording, pianist Marc Copland returns to his usual, prolific self with Alone, his third 2009 album following the conclusion to his New York Trio Recordings trilogy, Vol. 3: Night Whispers, and Insight, his dark, intimate duet record with bassist Gary Peacock. Like the other two, Alone is also on the German Pirouet label, and the fact that Copland has parked his car permanently at Pirouet headquarters is no ...

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Manuel Mengis Gruppe 6: Dulcet Crush

by Mark Corroto
December 1, 2009

Experiencing the music of trumpeter Manuel Mengis, a standard list of musicians and musical styles heard in his music comes to mind. This is a disservice, because his methodology is quite original.

Still the temptation to explain his third disc for hatOLOGY following The Pond (2008) and Into the Barn (2005) in terms of others sounds, persists. His band has had a small change in personnel, Reto Suhner steps into the alto saxophone and clarinet seat, but the core remains ...

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Portico Quartet at Norwich Arts Centre, UK

by Bruce Lindsay
December 1, 2009

Portico Quartet Norwich Arts Centre Norwich, UK November 16, 2009 Portico Quartet is establishing itself at the forefront of the British jazz scene--a young band with a distinctive and recognizable sound that is both immediately accessible and also full of complex patterns and melodies that repay repeated listening. Their first headlining performance at Norwich Arts Centre saw the band play two sets to a packed, and hushed, auditorium. This date ...

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Duck Baker: Everything That Rises Must Converge

by Bruce Lindsay
December 1, 2009

Richard “Duck" Baker's four decade career as a guitarist has encompassed folk, ragtime, blues, jazz, and avant-garde improvisation. Everything That Rises Must Converge is firmly located within the latter genre--indeed, it's sub-titled “Free Jazz Guitar Solos"--but much of the music on this enjoyable record could only have been made by an artist with a firm grasp of the more “traditional" approaches to playing the guitar. The album is the result of two recording sessions--eight pieces from a ...

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Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadic: Live in Zagreb

by Nenad Georgievski
December 1, 2009

Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav TadicLive in ZagrebHarma2009 (CD & DVD) Creativity is something that cannot be forced and the most distinctive and rewarding artistic fellowships are those that follow a natural path to fruition. What brought together guitarists Vlatko Stefanovski and Miroslav Tadic 15 years ago was an act of faith. They were introduced to each other by another musician who was aware of their mutual love for guitars and Macedonian ...

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Jacques Pellarin Trio: Sound of Philadelphia

by Raul d'Gama Rose
December 1, 2009

Sound of Philadelphia is not a novelty record--one that some critics might dismiss as world music. Jacques Pellarin's music is inflected with myriad cultural influences, so this rather empty epithet is likely to be used on the composer. This labeling is especially tough on an artist who is as seriously talented as the French/Basque musician. Pellarin is a master of the bayan, a Russian, chromatic button accordion developed in the early 20th century that is deceptively easy to play, and ...