Jazz Articles

like 465

John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble: Eternal Interlude

by Troy Collins
August 20, 2009

In addition to leading the unclassifiable Claudia Quintet and performing numerous sideman duties, composer and percussionist John Hollenbeck is renowned for his inimitable multi-layered writing. Hollenbeck studied under composer Bob Brookmeyer before charting a unique path in creative improvised music, incorporating elements of minimalism, post-rock and indigenous folk music into his eclectic compositions. As leader of a twenty piece Large Ensemble, he expands the sonic palette of traditional big band writing with his unorthodox approach.

Featuring a series ...

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Take Five With Michael Tinholme

by AAJ Staff
August 20, 2009

Meet Michael Tinholme: Michael Tinholme was discovered by Tom Fowler, a legendary bassist/producer for Ray Charles. They've been working together and recording non-stop with some of today's most talented artists and musicians. Achieving continual airplay since his debut, Michael's emotionally charged singing style is finding an enthusiastic audience all over the world.Instrument(s):Vocals, piano/keyboards, guitar, drums.Teachers and/or influences?Mrs. Winter, back in the fifth grade for seeing something in me. I learned a lot ...

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Etienne Charles: Folklore

by Larry Reni Thomas
August 20, 2009

Trumpeter Etienne Charles' Folklore is a wonderful, colorful, vibrant recording filled with Caribbean flavor, Latin grooves and solid jazz arrangements and solos. A percussionist and composer as well, the 26-year-old Charles has an extremely unique trumpet sound that is his and his alone. He doesn't sound like Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, or Miles Davis, nor does he sound like fellow West Indian native, the Jamaican-born Dizzy Reece (a trumpet sensation of the 1950s and 1960s and one the Caribbean's most ...

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Aaron Akins: Thinking Love

by Esther Berlanga-Ryan
August 20, 2009

Aaron Akins' music is something out of the ordinary. After all, a certain reminiscence of the voice of Nat “King" Cole wrapped up in the arms of a sophisticated Urban beat is not something heard every day. Jazz is an alive music. Its rawness leaves an open door for pure artistry to grow and develop at its own speed; and whether it is under the influence of Urban music, a rather elegant hip hop vibe, or a classic ...

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George Wein's CareFusion Jazz Festival 55 a Triumph

by R.J. DeLuke
August 19, 2009

There seemed to be a distinct feeling in the air at this year's jazz festival in Newport, R.I. It would be easy to imagine that there was something in the air, because the festival that was started by impresario George Wein way back in 1954 and became the model for all to follow had suffered an unexpected heart attack. As 2009 rolled around it “wasn't quite dead," like the resolute characters in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. But it ...

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Jerome Sabbagh: One Two Three

by Warren Allen
August 19, 2009

French tenor man Jerome Sabbagh has been exploring the sax trio format around New York City clubs for more than five years. One Two Three takes a selection of standards--some well-known, others less so--and gives them a good old-fashioned workout in the studio. The results are quality; like good red wine, it only gets better the more you drink it in. And it also shows that classic jazz is as full of life and vitality as ever, provided it's in ...

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Rez Abbasi: Things To Come

by Mark F. Turner
August 19, 2009

Pakistani/American guitarist Rez Abbasi has been a part of the emerging growth of South Asian jazz musicians which includes the very noted names of pianist Vijay Iyer, saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa and guitarist Fareed Haque, and celebrated recordings Apti (Innova Recordings, 2009) and Kinsmen (Pi Recordings, 2008). A brilliant technician, Abbasi is noted for blending shrewd chops with South Asian and Western concepts. Here he presents Things To Come , not just follow-up to 2006's Bazaar (Zoho Music) ...

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Steve Kuhn: On Japan

by Wayne Zade
August 19, 2009

Steve Kuhn's most recent CD, Mostly Coltrane (ECM, 2009), pays tribute to John Coltrane, having been the first pianist in the legendary saxophonist's quartet. He also has played as a sideman with Kenny Dorham, Art Farmer, Stan Getz and many others. Mostly Kuhn has led his own groups, largely trios with bassists including Buster Williams, Eddie Gomez and David Finck and drummers such as Al Foster and Billy Drummond.

Kuhn has a long association with ECM Records, which also ...

like 456

Remembering Les Paul... with Lyrics!

by Randee Mia Berman
August 19, 2009

They called him the Wizard of Waukesha, and we're not talking Harry Potter. I'd first heard about Les Paul from my parents. My Mom played mandolin; my Dad was a jazz pianist, who raised me on Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. I remember listening to the famous guitar/vocal duets between Les Paul & Mary Ford, only later learned that Mary sang duets and trios with herself in songs like How High the Moon and Blue Skies, using the ...

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Dave Holland / Gonzalo Rubalcaba / Chris Potter / Eric Harland: The Monterey Quartet: Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival

by John Kelman
August 19, 2009

A bonus of festival work is the opportunity to recruit musicians for new collaborations. It doesn't always work, but sometimes it does, and when Monterey Jazz Festival Records' General Manager Jason Olaine worked with Vision Arts manager Louise Holland to bring together bass icon Dave Holland, saxophonist Chris Potter, drummer Eric Harland and pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, it seemed like a match made in heaven.

It was. The Monterey Quartet: Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival, ...