Jazz Articles

like 323

Polkastra: Apolkalypse Now

by Elliott Simon
August 31, 2009

The 2010 Grammy ceremonies will have one less award to give out with the decision to drop the Polka category from the official Best Album listing, the stated reason being that the awards need to remain “pertinent within the current musical landscape." No matter that the musical landscapes in places like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo are still filled with the happy sound of Polka music or that bands like Brave Combo and Headless Household have been creatively redefining and ...

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Benny Goodman: Benny Goodman Yale University Archives Volume 1

by Andrew Velez
August 31, 2009

The sound of the opener is unmistakable; it's the familiar, driving urgency of Benny Goodman's clarinet, which made him the undisputed “King of Swing," heard again in all its electrifying glory on “Sweet Georgia Brown," the 1967 take which opens this collection. Recorded live in New York's old Rainbow Grill, Goodman is in solid company with pianist Bernie Leighton, bassist George Duvivier and especially saxophonist Zoot Sims. With a simpatico honed by playing together over the decades, Sims' sleek, rhythmic ...

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Corina Bartra & Her Azu Project: Afro-Peruvian Jazz Celebration

by Chris M. Slawecki
August 31, 2009

Corina Bartra does more than compose and sing in a style that merges music from North and South America--she lives this style by splitting her days between her native Peru and adopted hometown of New York City. Celebration, her fifth release, blends traditional Afro-Peruvian music with contemporary vocal and instrumental jazz, a fusion brought to life by her band of all-stars from both Peru and NYC. You cannot tell which passages are composed and which are improvised. Neither can you ...

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John Surman: From Boy Choirs to Big Horns

by John Kelman
August 31, 2009

It's increasingly risky to be a musician on the road. When British saxophonist John Surman was traveling from his home in Oslo, Norway, to New York City in September, 2007 for a recording session, he almost lost his baritone saxophone to the airlines. “It is a nightmare traveling now," says Surman, “and hardly a tour goes by without something going missing, and of course there's the damage problem. Nowadays you get one handbag, which of course is my soprano, so ...

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Samuel Quinto Trio: Salsa' N Jazz

by Raul d'Gama Rose
August 30, 2009

There is something about Brazilian-born pianist Samuel Quinto that strikes a vibrant chord in the inner ear. Perhaps it has to do with his wonderful grasp of the joy that abounds in the Brazilian northeast... his sense of “alegria." Perhaps it also has to do with his mature approach, wonderful use of dynamics, his expression and his innate ability to allow the tonal center of his music to shine. He has an exquisite ear and his hands are independently controlled ...

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Lorraine Feather: You're Outa Here (a neo-soundie)

by Carl L. Hager
August 30, 2009

If, like Bruno Ganz's character in Wim Wenders' 1987 film Wings of Desire, Frank Sinatra happened to magically return to life this summer, the Chairman of the Board would not only have a cup of coffee with a cigarette, he would enthusiastically charter a committee of jazz fans to search the world over for the earthly delights that were/are his idea of real excitement and entertainment. “Just to be very clear on this," he'd say, “I want to hear a ...

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Red Mitchell / Warne Marsh: Big Two

by Chris Mosey
August 30, 2009

In the 1950s, critics talked of East and West coast jazz. It was a way of playing the racial card, with East coast representing black, played from the gut; while West was white, played from the mind. As far as the dogmatists were concerned: East good, West bad. The word “cerebral" became a term of abuse. No group of musicians was more cerebral than the one centered around Lennie Tristano, a pianist and teacher, based awkwardly in ...

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Narthex: Formnction

by John Eyles
August 30, 2009

Narthex Formnction Potlatch Records 2009

The music on Formnction was produced using unusual experimental methods. The process is described by Narthex--saxophonist Marc Baron and bassist Loic Blairon--in a useful introductory sleeve note. It's worth reading:

“(1) We record six improvised pieces of 30 minutes each, in six different locations, numbered in chronological order from one to six. All pieces were recorded in France by our means. (2) The sound recording ...

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James Carney Group: Ways & Means

by Jerry D'Souza
August 30, 2009

Keyboardist James Carney framed the compositions on this recording from a cinematic perspective. Three of the tunes are improvisations and Carney succeeds with both his stances. He and his artful band bring in plenty of drama, a sense of adventure and pure emotional force.

Carney is an accomplished pianist who finds his groove in several styles. As a composer, he is a perspicacious designer of sound fathoming in it his harmonic concepts and the abundant field for his ...

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Take Five With Coto Pincheira

by AAJ Staff
August 30, 2009

Meet Coto Pincheira:Chilean-born pianist Coto Pincheira is an internationally experienced pianist and musical leader with over 20 years of education and experience. He plays a variety of musical styles which include but are not limited to classical, jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, Cuban salsa, and pop music. Coto Pincheira & The Sonido Moderno Project released a brand new CD with music from the Bay area to the whole world.

Coto started his studies of music at ...